Page 79 of The Pawn

“Your words, Joseph, is it? Your words do not match your actions,” I say calmly. “Would you speak this way to a male member of the Moretti family?”

Joseph takes my measure, his eyes narrowing, one corner of his mouth moving into a sneer, the scar on his ugly face dimpling.

These are violent men. But their violence is nothing to mine. They haven’t made the vow I’ve made.

“With all due respect,” he says to me, tone as mocking, “You are not a member of this family. You are not welcome here. Your soldiers are not welcome here.”

“Enough!” Allegra slams her hands down on the desk and is on her feet.

Joseph’s gaze shifts to her hands, taking in the missing fingers. Whatever he thinks he has the presence of mind to hide. He looks back up at her.

“You were loyal to my father. To my brother,” she says to him.

“Malek managed your brother. Your father I respected. Your father was a strong man.” His gaze shifts to her hands, then back up to her face, making a point. He knows it was her father who was responsible for the loss of at least one finger.

“My father was a butcher,” Allegra tells him, not missing a beat.

“In our world, you must be. Or you get your fingers cut off,” he taunts.

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.