Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Two men are waiting to take Angelo home. Once he’s gone, Cassian turns to us.
“You ready?” he asks Jet.
Jet is his new consigliere. His right-hand man. Severin is pissed, which is making this that much sweeter for Jet.
“I’ve been ready for years.”
Cassian comes to me. He takes my hand, studies my face. He brushes a run-away tear from my eye.
“How about you? Are you ready to show them who their queen is?”
43
CASSIAN
The treaty is signed by all remaining members of the inner circle of Allegra’s family. There is not one man who stands in opposition. Both sides have lost too much.
Allegra and I stand side by side, me in my black-on-black suit, her in her black dress with its high collar and long sleeves. She doesn’t hide her bruises, the scar on her face. She doesn’t hide her hands. Those things show her strength. They know she was the one who killed Enzo. Who held the barrel of a gun inside the mouth of Malek Lombardi and watched him bleed out.
They know she is feral. And that I love her. And that if anyone touches a hair on her head, I will kill them and deliver them to her in pieces.
This is our vow, Allegra and me.
“Stay,” I say to her once the last man leaves and the door is closed so we’re alone.
She turns to me, her hands in mine. I study her features, the scar across her cheek, a new darkness there in those amber eyes. A shadow. The things she’s endured have left their mark both outside and in and they make her more beautiful than ever.
I reach into my pocket and take out a box, the thing I’ve been waiting to give her.
She looks at it, then at me. “What is this?”
I open it, look at what is inside, then turn it so she can see.
Allegra gasps, her hand coming to her throat. “Is that…” She reaches out a finger to touch it, but pulls it back just before she does. “Is that my mother’s ring?”
I nod. “Reset in a new band, the diamonds collected in their new shape.”
“A heart.”
A tear slides over her cheek, and she reaches out to touch it. The ring I’d given her was lost at the lake house, but that ring never mattered. It was a mere placeholder.
“Allegra?” I ask, worried now when a second tear chases the first.
Her eyelids flutter as she looks up at me.
“Is it all right? If it’s too soon or you don’t want it—”
“Don’t want it?” she cups my face with her hand, tears streaming now. “How could I not want what was hers? What you saved of her?”
Relieved, I smile. I take the ring out of its box and take her hand.
“With this ring, I thee wed,” I say, sliding it onto her finger.
She sniffles. “I think you have the order wrong,” she says, tears starting to fall.
My eyes search hers, her beautiful honey sweet eyes.
“You’re going to make me do this?” I ask, wanting exactly that.
She nods, smiling through those tears.
I bend one knee and look up at her for a change.
“You are the love of my life, Allegra Moretti. Will you marry me?”
44
CASSIAN
Ibring Allegra with me to meet my brother for the first time and for the last. And meet, well, that’s not quite the right word.
Vivi doesn’t bring Gage. I understand. It wouldn’t have made a difference for Seth, and I don’t want Gage to have this particular memory of his father. Vivi and I will create a better story for him.
In the antiseptic smell of the hospital’s elevator, Allegra squeezes my hand. She doesn’t speak. Neither do I. Once the doors open, I see Vivi. She is standing outside Seth’s door talking to the doctor.
She looks sad, of course, but also better, in a way. She comes to hug me, her smile for Allegra a warm one.
“Hey,” she says, kissing my cheek before drawing back. She turns to Allegra. “You must be Allegra. I’m Vivi.” She extends a hand which Allegra doesn’t take. Instead, Allegra wraps her arms around Vivi and pulls her into a tight hug.
“It’s so good to meet you, I’m just sorry it’s like this. I’m so sorry.”
When they draw apart both have wet eyes. Vivi keeps hold of Allegra’s hand.
“Thank you. Seth isn’t there anymore. He hasn’t been in a long time.” She wipes her face as she glances at me.
“No, he hasn’t.” And I made him a promise years ago, one I have dreaded. One I will finally keep. “Let’s let him go.”
We walk together into Seth’s hospital room.
Allegra sniffles at my side. Vivi is more composed. She’s prepared for this and in some way, over the years, I have too.
I take a moment to introduce Allegra to my big brother. She brushes her fingers over his hand and tells him she wishes she’d had a chance to get to know him then gives my hand a squeeze before walking away, delicately giving me a few final moments alone with my brother.