To my horror, Rosa scoots over from her seat to sit on her dad’s lap. She is twirling a small, blood-soaked dagger between her fingers with a smirk.
Her dainty fingers are stained with blood in the same way that my brothers usually are with ink.
I feel sick.
Itwasmy mistake.
I underestimated Rosa, accepting at face value the intel on her that she was pampered and cruel but not assessing as I would another dynamic whether she was also as violent as her dad.
I should know better than anyone not to judge someone based on their dynamic.
I’ll never make that mistake again.
“Mars would have loved you.” My throat is tight. “Why do you want him dead?”
Rosa rolls her eyes. “I don’t. I want the pathetic Alpha to sign that contract.”
“How about I just shoot you instead?” I tilt my head.
“That’s an option,” Damio agrees. “But then my men would shoot both of you. Now, put down your gun, read through the rest of that contract, and encourage your boss to sign before he bleeds out on my floor. I have another meeting after yours, and I don’t want to waste time burying another body today.”
Another?
I don’t bother to ask, but instead, sit at the table. I lay my gun on the surface in front of me with one hand still resting on it.
I glance cautiously at Mars and then struggle not to shake.
The side of my brother’s shirt and waistcoat blooms red. He is hunched over, clutching the wound tightly like I told him to. He is waxy, and his hair is hanging over his face.
The petals of the rose and crumpled paper of the discarded poem are crushed underneath him.
Rosa knew what she was doing. She slipped the knife in with enough skill — I hope — to miss major organs. But knife woundsare unpredictable. I need to take Mars to his room, give him medical attention, then bring him home.
My eyes prick with tears.
It’ll scar.
I’m covered in scars from my training and missions.
But my brother shouldn’t be…and not ones inflicted from his Omega.
“It’s going to be okay,” I say with a certainty that I don’t feel. “Just take deep breaths. I’m here.”
Then I start to read over the contract and instantly realize that nothing is going to be okay.
“This is wrong. No Alpha would accept this for their pack.” I stiffen, narrowing my eyes at Damio. “You can’t mean this.”
“Every word.” Damio tightens his arm around Rosa who giggles. “Only the best for my little princess.”
Sickening.
“Ro.” My brother looks up at me with eyes that are glassy with pain. “Please, just tell me.”
I don’t want to. But what choice do I have?
I shove the papers away from me in disgust. “You wouldn’t be able to remain in Washington or choose where you started your pack. They want you to live under the authority of the Billionaire pack, instead. As ifyou’rethe Omega. You wouldn’t be the… Damio would become your Chief Alpha. Your money, status, property,everything, would belong to your Omega. You’re beingsoldto them.” Suddenly, my throat is thick with tears. The Billionaires would fucking destroy my brother. “Fiorella would disown you for signing this contract. This isn’t a negotiation. It’s a kidnapping. A declaration of war between enemies.”
Damio gives a wicked smile. “Smart girl. Now, sign it, kid. Because if you don’t, then I’ll shoot your bodyguard here and force you to fucking sign in her blood.”