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As I strolled into the living room, I could immediately sense everyone was antsy. Normal routines had been derailed, security the number one priority instead of completing deals. I didn’t like it any more than anyone else.

Genevieve was standing by one of the windows beside Bella, the young girl staring at me as if I was the enemy instead of the monsters determined to take down her sister. I was used to hatred coming from every angle, but the chill in the room was annoying. Even her brother was glaring at me, no doubt calculating when he could make a move.

I gave my bride to be a commanding look and she sighed, squeezing her sister’s arm before heading in my direction.

There was no time for pretense.

I took her hand, forcing us to intertwine our fingers. Her glare was intense.

“I’m not interested in hearing your views or comments. An alliance has been formed between the Torres and Morales empires. You will honor this decision, or you will be eliminated.”I wasn’t one to explain my decisions to anyone, although I’d found myself doing just that with Genevieve.

When I hesitated in continuing with the news, my bride to be cupped my jaw with her other hand, peering up at me as if thoroughly infatuated. Maybe I was the only one who could read her expressions and body language. She was plotting a way out of the contract we’d yet to sign.

“Why don’t you tell them the rest, darling?” The fact she was cooing almost made me laugh.

I tilted my head and switched my hand from hers to the back of her long, beautiful neck. When I squeezed, her eyes flashed, but no one could see her reaction but me.

“The lovely Genevieve and I are to be married.”

Bella gasped from where she stood behind us, several of the soldiers on both sides immediately on edge.

Nothing fazed her until her brother spit on the floor, puffing out his chest. “Te destruiré a ti y a todo tu mundo.”

His promise of destroying me and my entire world would normally cause an instant reaction with my soldiers. While they had their hands on their weapons, so did Genevieve’s people. I waved my hand as Genevieve pulled away, taking two long strides in her brother’s position.

“This is my decision to make and you will accept it,” she told him directly.

He realized he was being watched carefully, his eyes darting back and forth. “No, I won’t.” As he stormed from the room, I threw out my hand to prevent anyone from following him.

She immediately attempted to follow him, but I stopped her from walking away, pulling her close so only she could hear me. “Let me do it.”

Genevieve wrinkled her nose, throwing a look of hatred toward every one of my men who continued to have their hands on their weapons. “If you hurt him, I’ll kill you. Keep that in mind.”

“I don’t plan on hurting him,dulce ángel.”

She snorted at my reference. I headed from the room, finding Marco standing outside the front door. I didn’t bark at him immediately or attempt to jerk him back inside. I simply walked to his right, shoving my hands into my pockets. I wasn’t usually known as being a diplomat, but right now, it was what was needed.

Minutes ticked by.

The air was chilly after the storm, but at least the sun was out. I don’t know why I cared. I’d never taken more than a few seconds to give a damn about the weather.

He stood stoically, acting as if I wasn’t standing right beside him. What struck me was how much he reminded me of myself at his age. The real difference that I could see was that I’d already killed five men by that point.

“I heard you want to become a soldier,” I told him, trying to keep as much respect in my voice as possible.

“Yeah. I will. And when I do, I’ll kill anyone who stands in my way.”

I chuckled inwardly. Yes, he was exactly like I’d been. All anger and intolerance. And stupidity. “Have you ever killed anyone?”

The slight shift from foot to foot was my answer. “Almost.”

“There’s no such thing as almost, Marco. You were lucky in that you had a father who allowed you to be a teenager.”

“What the fuck does that mean?”

“It means my father groomed me to be a killer from the time I turned ten years old.”

At least I could tell I’d gotten his attention.