Page 73 of The Villain

“You wouldn’t run the first chance you got?”

“What would you do if I did?”

“I’d come for you,” I say, not needing to think about it. Not for a second. But I’m not sure she or I understand my reasons behind that. “But they’re here for protection. That’s all. Just as your family would have protection when out in public.”

I take the keys from her and pop the trunk. Before I can slip on my jacket and grab her bag, she does, hoisting it over her shoulder.

“Who’s Vivi?” she blurts.

I study her for a beat. Her attempt at casual has the exact opposite effect. “My sister-in-law.”

“The one who keeps her clothes in your closet.” She doesn’t quite look at me when she says it.

“I’ve already told you, it’s not like that.”

“I don’t care if it is, Cassian. I just want to be sure I’m protecting myself.” She takes two steps then stops. “From STDs I mean,” she adds hurriedly.

“Ah. Okay. Well, in that case, you’re safe.”

My phone pings with a message. “You should get that. It might be Vivi.” She starts to walk away again, but I capture her arm and stop her.

“Are you jealous, Little Moth?”

She tries to tug free, but I don’t release her. “Of course not.”

I study her, see the flush creep up her neck. She pulls at her arm again and this time, I tug her to me, wrap one arm around her back to grip her braids. Tugging her head backward, I lean close to inhale her scent, that subtle one of me, of my bodywash on her.

“I like my smell on you,” I tell her. She shudders. “Just to be clear, Vivi has never nor will she ever sleep in my bed. She’s like a sister to me.”

Allegra stares up at me. She’s searching my eyes, and I get the feeling there’s more.

“I heard what Jet said,” she says.

“Refresh my memory.” I say tightly, really not wanting to think about any of what Jet said because it makes me want to kill him all over again.

“That you’ve shared before,” she says. That’s not what I expected.

“My, what big ears you have, Little Moth.”

She shrugs her shoulders.

I grit my jaw. I remember well the moment. The rage I felt. The fury that I might share her. That he might touch her. That I’d allow it.

My eyes narrow as my blood begins to boil at the memory of him looking at her, laying his hands on her.

I glance around, draw a deep breath in. “Allegra.” I bring my mouth to her ear. “You belong to me.” I lick the shell of it and she shudders. “You have belonged to me ever since the moment you walked into your father’s study with those ridiculous wings on your back. You’re the only woman I’ve thought about since that night. You’re wild and violent and angry and you are mine. Only mine, my Little Moth. And once we’re upstairs, I’m going to show you exactly what it means to belong to me.”

19

ALLEGRA

There is an energy, a crackling electricity when Cassian pulls away, narrowed eyes burning into me. He releases me and I stand there stupidly watching, my heart pounding against my chest, my breaths short as if I ran a marathon.

He pulls his phone out of his pocket, I guess to read that message that just came in.

Enzo clears his throat.

Cassian tucks the phone back into his pocket and shifts his gaze back to me. His eyes are still burning. On fire. “Tell your father I’ll be up once I clarify something for Allegra,” he says. He takes his jacket out of the trunk and slips his arms into it, concealing the Glock.