Page 80 of The Pawn

I see Jet move across the room toward Allegra.

My soldiers step backward, keeping anyone from interfering. Joseph has the collar of my shirt with his free hand. He’s trying to push me off as I twist his arm backward.

“Cassian!” Allegra’s voice is a whisper.

The snap of bone follows it.

Déjà vu.

Michael’s wrist that first time I was here. Michael on his knees.

Jospeh lets out a groan. He’s reaching for his gun with his unbroken arm, but the moment he wraps his hand around the handle, I shove him to the floor and press my foot into his arm. I kick the gun out of reach and grab his head by his hair, forcing him to look up at me.

“What did I tell you would happen if you said those words again?”

He draws back as much as I allow him and spits, hitting my shoe.

“Cassian,” Enzo calls out.

I look at him and he holds up his switchblade. One I gave him on his sixteenth birthday. Even had it engraved. He tosses it to me, and I catch it with one hand. I then shift my gaze from the man on his knees to those gathered around. I look at each of them in turn, then back to Allegra who is on her feet, leaning on her hands on the desk, eyes wide.

She needs to witness this. More than witness it. As much as I vow to protect her from violence, she needs to be here for this. They need to see her be here for this.

I push the button and the knife flips open. It’s small, but sharp. Deadly.

Joseph’s eyes go wider.

I look at each man in the room.

“Michael Moretti is dead. Malek Lombardi will soon join him in the ground. From today onward, our families are joined. I will take Allegra as my wife. Moretti and Trevino are now united. Let me be very clear. Malek Lombardi does not matter. Now, anyone who wants to walk out may do so once I’m finished here. But out or in, if any of you disrespect Allegra I will take it as a personal offense to me.” I turn my gaze down to Joseph. “And you, Joseph, offend me.” With that, I jerk his head backward and even though he tries to keep his mouth shut, he’s forced to open it. The instant he does, I release his greasy hair and grip his jaw, crouching down. Forcing my fingers into his mouth, I take hold of his offensive tongue and I slice through it like I’m slicing an overripe pear.

Allegra’s gasp is audible.

The men fall silent, hands dropping to their sides at the sight of the blood, of Joseph on the floor, mouth agape, dark blood flowing as he grapples with what’s just happened.

I stand. Exhale. I close the knife and toss it back to Enzo who wipes it clean and pockets it. I turn to Allegra who is shaken, but standing on her own and refusing to look away. Her teeth are clenched tight. Her eyes huge and shocked, but she’s not crying. Good. She can’t cry. She can’t show weakness, not now.

I pick up the disgusting inch of tongue and set it on the desk in front of her.

“I will deliver your enemies to you in pieces,” I remind her.

She looks down at it, her mouth opening on a trembling breath before she drags her gaze up to mine.

She nods.

I face the room. “Anyone else having something to say?”

Nothing.

“Good. If you want to walk out, now is the time. Now is theonlytime.”

26

ALLEGRA

Once everyone is gone, I drink the tumbler of whiskey Cassian sets in front of me. My hands tremble. I try to avoid the stain in the center of the carpet, the blotchy red on the blotter on the desk.

Cassian is talking to Jet, but I see how his gaze keeps turning to me.