Page 48 of The Pawn

“No, the beating came after.”

“If you’re fucking lying?—”

“Question him yourself. He’s all yours. Do what you want with him. As far as the world is concerned, he no longer exists.”

Cassian’s eyes narrow, but he gestures to Enzo. “Put him with Rami.”

My attention snaps to Cassian, panic sending adrenaline rushing through my system. “Rami’s here?”

Cassian glances at me, but doesn’t answer.

“You,” Severin says, pointing to Jet. “Get home.”

Jet just gives him the finger.

Severin presses a hand to the back of his neck, shakes his head. He turns to Cassian.

“You keep your family’s trash out of my affairs,” he says to Cassian before turning on his heel to walk back out, shoving off the hand of the soldier who tries to take his arm.

“Make sure he leaves,” Cassian tells the soldiers.

“I’ll make sure,” Jet says, standing, jaw set.

15

CASSIAN

Enzo hauls the beaten man to his feet.

“Rami’s here?” Allegra asks, half out of her seat, hands gripping the edge of the table so hard, her knuckles are white.

Shit. I didn’t intend on giving that away. He’s the soldier who survived the shootout at the Maestro’s house.

“And you didn’t tell me?” she asks.

“I didn’t want to upset you. I was right.”

“No. You don’t get to decide that. Where is he? Where the hell is he?”

She takes a step toward Enzo who is half-carrying half-dragging the beaten man toward the crypt.

“Hold on, Allegra.” I wrap my hands around her arms, step between her and them.

“I want to see him. I want to see that bastard. Let me go!”

“Allegra. Relax.”

“Relax? He held my arm down. He did this to me! He did it and… and… He’s here in this house and you didn’t tell me!”Her voice breaks. Tears wet the skin around her eyes, and she shoves at me, trying to get past me.

“He’s the closest thing to finding Malek, Allegra,” I tell her firmly.

“He won’t know where he is. And even if he did, he’s not going to tell you!” she fights to get free. “Let me go!”

“No, Allegra. Stop.”

“How could you have him here? In this house? With me?” Her eyes are huge and panicked and I understand her anger. Her fear.

“You’re safe. I’d never let him near you. Never. I didn’t want to upset you. Look how upset you are. You needed to heal.”