Page 89

“Business is business,” he replied with a shrug. “And right now, you're sitting on something I want.”

My eyes flicked to Serena. Her jaw was clenched tight, a muscle twitching near her temple. The tell-tale sign of her fury that only I would recognize. She wasn't here willingly, but she wasn’t afraid either. My Serena never showed fear.

“The Pier District,” Alexios continued. “Your territory butts up against my newest acquisition. I want it.”

“Not for sale,” I said flatly. It wasn’t mine to give, either. And the bastard knew it. The bigger question was, why would he even try?

Alexios smiled, all teeth and no warmth. “I thought you might say that. Which is why I arranged this little...incentive.”

He placed a hand on Serena’s bare shoulder.

I lunged, a growl clawing up my throat.

“Now, now,” he tsked. “We’re in public.”

“Damn them,” I swore, rising and planting my fists on the table. “Get your fucking hand off my wife.”

“I’m going to, and what’s more, I’m letting you two leave.” Alexios nudged her shoulder.

Serenabolted.

But the bastard caught her wrist before I could reach her.

“On one condition,” he added.

“Just say whatever the fuck you want, and quit playing these masculine pissing games,” Serena snarled, rounding on him. “I won’t come to your zoo again!”

Alexios chuckled. “You’re welcome back anytime, sweetMaria.”

My fingers grasped a utensil, and with a powerful force, I stabbed the fork into the table. “Get your fucking hands off my wife!”

Around us, conversation stopped, the chink of dinnerware faltered, and all eyes turned in our direction.

Serena was at my side a moment later. I wrapped a protective—a possessive—hand around her waist. The relief when she leaned into my side was magnificent.

She was here. She was withme.

“I want a favor from you,” Alexios said softly. “You give me your word of honor, and you two may leave. I’ll even send you home with dessert to sweeten the deal.”

Turning on my heel, I began to leave. Fuck him. He had no power over me.

But a handful of bulky men rose from the next table over.

“Markos,” Serena insisted, tugging on my suit jacket. “We can’t just walk out of here. We’re trapped.”

I glared back at Alexios. “A favor?”

“Why don’t you fucking sit, and let’s get a few things straight,” the scorpion princeling snapped.

I pulled Serena to me and returned to the seat. A waiter appeared from thin air and brought another chair.

“You elite pricks,” Alexios sneered. “You don’t deserve negotiations, but here we are.”

“I can level your territory, Skorpios.”

Alexios’s eyes lit with a bright fire. “In this war, you’re on the losing side.”

“And when did we go to war?” I pushed. One admission from this bastard, and the Twelve would give their blessing to begin the bloodshed.