Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
She swallows. He’s right. I wonder if he knows the second missing finger is Malek.
“I won’t bend the knee to a Trevino. And it goes without saying I won’t bend the knee to a woman.”
“Noted,” she says quietly. She’s shaken, but she’s doing a good job hiding the fact. She sits back down, eyes locked on him. “You, Joseph, may leave my house.”
He plants his feet, folds his arms across his chest.
“Remove him,” she says, not once taking her eyes off the man. It makes me proud.
I glance to the soldiers at the door who move to take hold of the man’s arms. Murmurs as they watch. This is her first test.
“These are not Moretti soldiers,” Joseph says, fighting them off. “And I’m not going anywhere.”
Allegra opens her mouth, but I step forward close enough to her that she can feel me.
“No, they’re my soldiers. I believe Ms. Moretti asked you to leave.”
“Mrs. Lombardi needs her family now. She has no need of a Trevino.”
I take a step toward him, but Allegra catches my arm.
“Cassian.” She shakes her head.
I look at her, then back at him. I draw a deep breath in.
I signal to the soldiers to let him go. “If you ever call her that again, I’ll cut out your tongue,” I say, tone casual, heart racing, because the thought of Malek married to Allegra makes me violent. Turns me into an animal.
Joseph, thinking himself victorious, stands taller.
“Allegra wanted me to give you a choice,” I start. I glance at her. “Out of respect for my future wife, I will do that.”
Joseph snorts and there are mutterings in the group. I draw a tight breath before continuing.
“You may walk away now. Out of this room. Out of this family.” It’s a lie. He knows he’s a dead man if he walks out, but he won’t walk out. He’ll stay and try to wrestle control.
“I’m not going anywhere. This is my family. And she is a married woman. Married to Malek Lombardi who will run this family.”
I step toward him. “What did I say about mentioning that again?” I ask tightly, the words short, my teeth clenched. I take the final step toward him as he reaches for his weapon. Before he can get to it, I grab his arm. Men rise to their feet, and I hear the cocking of pistols, hear Allegra’s gasp. What I see is the blur of the room around Joseph, my focus laser sharp on him.
I see Jet move across the room toward Allegra.
My soldiers step backward, keeping anyone from interfering. Joseph has the collar of my shirt with his free hand. He’s trying to push me off as I twist his arm backward.
“Cassian!” Allegra’s voice is a whisper.
The snap of bone follows it.
Déjà vu.
Michael’s wrist that first time I was here. Michael on his knees.
Jospeh lets out a groan. He’s reaching for his gun with his unbroken arm, but the moment he wraps his hand around the handle, I shove him to the floor and press my foot into his arm. I kick the gun out of reach and grab his head by his hair, forcing him to look up at me.
“What did I tell you would happen if you said those words again?”
He draws back as much as I allow him and spits, hitting my shoe.
“Cassian,” Enzo calls out.
I look at him and he holds up his switchblade. One I gave him on his sixteenth birthday. Even had it engraved. He tosses it to me, and I catch it with one hand. I then shift my gaze from the man on his knees to those gathered around. I look at each of them in turn, then back to Allegra who is on her feet, leaning on her hands on the desk, eyes wide.
She needs to witness this. More than witness it. As much as I vow to protect her from violence, she needs to be here for this. They need to see her be here for this.
I push the button and the knife flips open. It’s small, but sharp. Deadly.
Joseph’s eyes go wider.
I look at each man in the room.
“Michael Moretti is dead. Malek Lombardi will soon join him in the ground. From today onward, our families are joined. I will take Allegra as my wife. Moretti and Trevino are now united. Let me be very clear. Malek Lombardi does not matter. Now, anyone who wants to walk out may do so once I’m finished here. But out or in, if any of you disrespect Allegra I will take it as a personal offense to me.” I turn my gaze down to Joseph. “And you, Joseph, offend me.” With that, I jerk his head backward and even though he tries to keep his mouth shut, he’s forced to open it. The instant he does, I release his greasy hair and grip his jaw, crouching down. Forcing my fingers into his mouth, I take hold of his offensive tongue and I slice through it like I’m slicing an overripe pear.