Page 35 of The Villain

“He instructed soldiers to take him to the doctor rather than having the doctor make a house call. Michael argued, but, in the end, he gave in.”

“And the soldiers took instruction from Malek, not Michael?”

Amal nods.

“He’s in control, Allegra. I think he has been for a while. It’s just he’s not hiding it anymore and I think you need to be careful.”

10

CASSIAN

“Coffee?” Malek Lombardi asks after closing the door to the office.

“What are you playing at?” I ask as he pours himself a cup and turns to me. I notice the half-smoked cigar in an ashtray on the corner of the desk.

“Sit down,” he says, taking a seat on the sofa. “We’ll talk.”

I sit.

“Michael made a mistake, Cassian. He’s young?—”

“He’s not young.”

“Inexperienced, then. Either way, I admit what he did wasn’t very smart.”

That I can agree with, but I don’t say it. “Did you know about it?”

“Of course not. Had I known what he was up to, I wouldn’t have allowed it to happen.”

“You sent the Feds after the Russians. Why?”

“A show of good faith. There’s no way we can pay back that amount of money. Just no way.”

“And you expect what exactly? My forgiveness? Gratitude, maybe?” I almost laugh.

His expression hardens and I get the feeling he was expecting something like that. “Well, I was hoping for something. I understand if you need to punish Michael. It won’t look good if you don’t. But I ask you to be lenient.”

“Why would I be lenient? You may have sent the Feds barking up the wrong tree for the time being, but I still lose my shipment.”

“We don’t have the money. The Moretti family simply does not have that kind of cash, and you know this.”

“I’m not forgiving the debt.”

“No, obviously. But we can perhaps negotiate.” I don’t speak. Instead, I wait for him to continue. “Allegra is contracted to marry Governor Moore.”

My jaw tenses, but I wait.

“Once that marriage takes place, we will have access to?—”

“That marriage won’t be taking place. Next.”

“What do you mean?—”

“Next,” I repeat, my tone louder.

He draws a deep breath in, studying me. He cocks his head. “Perhaps you’ve already considered a contract negotiation yourself then, Cassian,” he says. “An alliance between our families could be mutually beneficial.”

“How would it be beneficial to me?” I don’t like Malek Lombardi, but he’s not stupid. “Unless of course you’re stepping aside. Assuming you’re the man in charge. Michael simply hand you the crown?”