Page 20 of Honor and Claim (A New Reign #2)

Chapter Twenty

Z

I never thought of myself as bloodthirsty.

That tends to be Ronan, but right now I’m salivating to draw blood, and Salvatore Amato isn’t the only man that I want.

It would be so easy to pull out the gun I have strapped to my ankle and take out three of these asses, all of whom have their eyes on my wife.

“Z.” War shoves a scotch into my hand. “Drink it,” he orders. I toss it back. It’s not enough to get me drunk or give me a buzz, but it might relax me. At least that’s War’s thought process. It’s not going to work. I’m already wound too tight.

“What are the odds that the Amato family happened to be in the same little town that Cosima had been in and are now here?”

“I was wondering the same.” Now both War and I are fixed on Sal, as he often refers to himself.

I never gave him much thought. The Amato family is high-ranking but not one of the top. They have strong ties but have never managed to move up. A marriage into the Marino family would give them that. Over my dead fucking body.

All of those politics are normal for this lifestyle, but one glaring issue I have is how they knew Cosima’s whereabouts in Italy, down to the small town she was staying in. It has my hackles rising.

I'll be digging into him and his family when this night is over. That is if I don't end up killing Sal before that. He touches my wife again and he’s gonna be a goner. I don’t give a fuck who his family is.

Cosima is on her best behavior right now, not lingering in any conversation with the men her father takes her to one by one. I see her glance my way repeatedly.

"Why don't we move to the dining room? Chef Marcello says dinner is ready," Tova announces over the room.

"Where is Ronan?" I ask War, lingering behind. I'm not leaving this room until Cosima does.

"Why? You want him to set up the red barn for you?"

"I would gladly do that on my own." We don't often use the barn. In fact, we haven't for years. War doesn't want to bring that kind of work home with him. We now use the dozens of warehouses we have, many of which are located right on the ocean.

"It would be like old times out there," War says with a hint of a smile.

I shake my head. "I know what Dario is doing. Did you?" I ask War as we follow everyone out of the room and toward the formal dining room that is only ever used for events such as this one.

"When I saw the list of people invited, I thought it could be the case, but he and I have had many conversations about Cosima, and I have made it clear I won't force her to marry."

War and Dario are still in a power struggle. Dario isn't letting the reins loose easily, but it doesn't matter. War, Ronan, and I have all been making plays behind the scenes.

I'm sure he would see that as dirty and underhanded, and maybe it is. But I get why War is doing it, and I know why I am. I won't be beholden to anyone except my wife at the end of the day.

Everything could go to shit, and I would still have solid grounding to keep my family safe.

I understand more than anyone how swiftly your entire world can vanish, leaving you with nothing.

I won't allow that to happen to me or Cosima.

It's why I have always had my fingers in other projects outside of the Marino family.

We follow everyone into the dining room. I pause right outside, motioning for Mickey to come over to me.

"The server that dropped the tray." He nods. "Tip him well." Mickey nods again, and I am confident that he will handle it.

It was a dick thing to do to the guy only trying to do his job, but in war, there are often casualties, and this is without a doubt a war for me.

When I fully enter the dining room, I see Cosima is sitting between Sal and Tova. That’s not happening. I don’t give a shit if I make a scene.

“Sal.” I walk over to him. “That’s my seat.”

“Your seat?” He chuckles. I stare down at him, letting him know I’m not fucking laughing and he won’t be in a few seconds if he doesn’t move.

“He’s fine,” Dario tries to say. I pretend I don’t hear him.

“Move,” I order him.

“Damn, man.” He pushes back from his chair. “Didn’t know you were so protective of your sister.” Sal stands, and I know he’s made that jab on purpose.

“Watch it,” I say to him, warning that he doesn’t really want to go down this road with me.

“Right.” The fucker smirks. “You’re a Marino. Not sure how I forgot that.” That glint in his eye suggests that there is more to that statement than he means. This motherfucker really does want to end up in the river tonight. Maybe I should take War up on his offer to use the barn.

“Z,” Cosima says, drawing my attention. “I don’t need a bodyguard.”

“You do.” I drop down in the chair.

“Z has always been protective of our Cosima. He has been since she came home from the hospital,” Rochelle tells the table.

"He forgets she's all grown up," Dario adds.

"Doesn't matter how old she is." I turn my head toward my wife. "I'll always watch out for Cosima." A soft smile pulls at her lips.

"He can drive me crazy at times, but he means well."

"You'll never find a husband that way," Aldo Gallo says, picking up his wine glass to take a sip. I'm letting that one slide.

"I don't think Cosima will have a problem finding a husband if she wants one," Tova chimes in.

Aldo’s son is the only one I don't need to worry about.

He hasn't glanced toward Cosima except in passing.

The man already has a lover he keeps hidden away.

It doesn't matter what decade it is. Some of the old fucks from previous generations are firmly entrenched in their beliefs and remain intolerant of same-sex relationships.

Yes, I know all the Gallo family secrets. It's difficult to keep them from me. This is particularly challenging in today's world. Especially when it's me searching for them.

I keep thinking the old man is going to end up dead any day now. I have no doubt Aldo would kill his son's lover. I don't understand why he doesn't kill his own father. I would.

There isn't a soul I wouldn't slaughter if I found them to be a threat to Cosima, family or not. They would die before any harm could ever come to her. I would make sure of it.

"This is why I miss the old days." Aldo sighs. "Women don't want to get married these days. It's my father who had a hand in it."

"I strongly disagree." I fight a smirk; the old fuck has now pissed off my wife. "We want to marry; we just want to marry the right man. One with loyalty. We all care about loyalty, don't we?" Cosima gives the sweetest smile that is anything but sweet. It does make my cock harden slightly.

"More importantly"—War raises his glass to his sister—"I trust my sister to pick her husband, so whoever wants her hand will have to earn it."

"I couldn't agree more." I lift my glass too before taking a sip.

The server brings in the first round of food, everyone falling into conversation. A few men try to pull Cosima into discussions, but she keeps her attention on Tova. I reach under the table, putting my hand on her bare thigh.

Cosima's dress has been a distraction all night. One I needed. She's breathtaking as always. I give her thigh a squeeze, drawing her attention to me. I nod toward her untouched food, which elicits an eye roll from her.

"Watch it," I warn.

"If anyone should watch it, it's you." Cosima picks up her fork, taking a bite of her salad.

My wife isn't wrong. I need to remember to keep my anger in check. It won't do anyone any good, but it's still bubbling up inside me. Two men at this table have a clear intent to pursue Cosima.

It makes me want to pull out my gun and blow their brains out for the mere thought before laying Cosima across the table and fucking her. She'd part those lush thighs for me, knowing she belonged to me.

You'd think with time and knowing Cosima only wants me that it would temper my jealousy, but it hasn’t.

I don't think anything can. Especially since no one knows about us. It might lessen it a bit if we weren’t keeping our marriage a secret.

That’s not the situation we’re in, though.

I'm even growing hostile toward her father and the idea he thinks he has some say in Cosima's life.

He doesn't. In fact, he lost that long ago.

The rest of the dinner goes off without any outward problems. They are still stacking up inside of me, however. Sal's whole demeanor and the words he said earlier are sticking with me. I can’t seem to shake them.

“Anyone else want a cigar?” Dario asks the table, standing. There is a mumble of agreements.

“Cosima, will you come to the kitchen with me?” I hear Tova ask her.

“I don’t know, kitchens and I don’t get along too well,” she says, making Tova laugh. I stand at the same time as her, my hand going to her hip. I lean my mouth to her ear.

“Be a good girl,” I tell her. Cosima licks her lips.

“Or what? I get a spanking?”

“That, and no one dies.” Her brows lift.

“Z—”

“I’m not joking.”

“Well, this dress is white, and I love it, so please don’t do it near me.” Cosima tries to lighten the tension. It’s not going to work, but I don’t want her to stress over me.

“That dress was never going to make it through the night.” A small giggle leaves her.

Damn, do I love that sound. Normally, it soothes me, but tonight, that is not the case. All I can think about is anyone threatening to take those precious sounds from me.

I release her hip, letting her go. Everyone else but War and Tova have now left the dining room. Tova links her arm with Cosima, leading her out.

"You good?" War asks.

"Stop fucking asking me that."

"A no would have worked." I rub my hand across my skull. "Sal?—"

"I know."

"You know?"

"There are things we need to discuss."

"The same thing you mentioned earlier? You said it wasn't about Cosima."

"It's more about you." Well, shit. That could be a lot of things.

“Is there something you boys need to tell me?” Dario asks from the open doorway. “Like where you’ve been?” His attention is honed in on me.

“Working.” He keeps that hard stare on me that makes people squirm under it.

I’m not one of those people. I have never been.

I'm uncertain if my past has played a role, but fear has never dominated my existence. The only thing that has ever ruled me is Cosima. That has really started to piece together for me over the past few months. I knew my obsession with her; I just didn’t know how essential it’s been to everything in my life.

"We all need to have a meeting soon." Dario checks his watch. "Where is Ronan?"

"I have him handling an issue for me," War says, and I know he's full of shit.

I don't think he knows where Ronan is. It has me wondering what Marks might be up to.

I bet she might know where he is. Which I need to clue Ronan into.

I'm not really sure how to handle that. I don't think she means harm, but you can never be too sure.

I also know Ronan is a hard man to kill.

The shit that man has done and lived to talk about is impressive. I'd almost call it superhuman.

"Come, Aldo is interested in the shore."

"It's not a topic I'm open to," War responds.

"Aldo has sold off any liquid asset he has," I inform them both. "And he did it quickly last year."

"Really." Dario ponders this.

"His accounts."

"The legit ones don’t have much in them. I'm not really sure about his offshore ones. I never felt the need to dig around to find them. He hasn't been on the radar for any reason."

"Did he push for an invite here?" War asks, already thinking what I am. Marrying Cosima would be a quick way to sink your hooks into this family. All kinds of opportunities would open up for him and his sons.

I fucking hate it. I'd give everything I own to have Cosima. These men see her as an asset.

"We've always been friends. I wish he would have told me he was having issues." Dario adds.

"Desperate people do desperate things," I remind everyone.

That clears out the other two men Dario invited to meet his daughter, leaving Sal as the only one with any potential. Not that it would ever happen.

"I'll speak with him," Dario says. "Come, make nice." He nods for us to follow. War and I flick each other a glance before we do.

I don't make it past the threshold of the parlor before I notice one person missing: Sal.

"War—"

"Go." I turn, not in search of Sal, not yet at least. First, I want eyes on Cosima, then I'll go find him. The asshat better be using the bathroom. When I step into the kitchen, I only see Tova and Rochelle along with a few staff members.

An avalanche of rage hits me, pumping through my system. Darkness is descending on everything in my path.