Chapter 25 Cassian
CASSIAN
Only about a third of the mourners remain to watch Michael buried. The rest have gone to the Moretti house, the part of this Allegra is truly dreading. The one I’m itching to get to.
Rain batters the coffin as the priest sprinkles holy water onto it. The ground is mud beneath our feet. I keep Allegra close. Enzo is with us. He’s holding the umbrella over our heads. Jet’s gone ahead to the Moretti house and my mind is on my uncle.
Angelo is my father’s brother. He’s Seth’s and my godfather.
Both Seth and my father trusted him. More than that, he’s the uncle who loved me when my own father shunned me, blaming me for my mother’s death.
He’s been a central figure in my life for as long as I can remember.
Today, what I’m doing, having him come to the Moretti house, it’s a test. Today I’ll know if my enemy is closer to my heart than I knew.
I hope to God I’m wrong.
The priest stops talking and gestures to Allegra. We step forward and she throws the first handful of dirt onto the coffin like an experienced mourner. I guess she is. This is her third round in five years.
The priest hurries the ceremony along. The punishing rain isn’t letting up and he must know whatever blessings he speaks and however much holy water is poured over Michael Moretti’s body, his soul will not ascend to Heaven. None of our souls will. Well, maybe Allegra’s. I hope Allegra’s.
When it’s finally over I lead Allegra to our SUV.
A few people stop us to give their condolences, excusing themselves from visiting the house.
These are lower ranking family members. They all speak to her, but are unsure what to make of me.
They know who I am. Just don’t know why I’m here, I suppose.
These people I’m not concerned with. Those at the house are a different matter.
I watch Allegra throughout these interactions. I’m not sure what I expected, but she keeps her back straight, her head high. She thanks them for coming, says a few words about their loyalty and moves on.
When we get into the car, she turns to me, and I see what the tough exterior is costing her.
“After our father’s funeral, I watched Michael do this next part. Even as the male heir, they weren’t falling over themselves to accept him. I’m a woman. They won’t accept me, Cassian. Malek knew that.”
“They won’t have a choice. And I’ll be by your side.”
She studies me. “I guess we need to talk about that.”
Yes, we do. I’m glad she’s initiating and I wait for her to continue.
“What do you want out of this, Cassian?”
I take her hand, and she glances at my ring on her finger.
“I want us, first and foremost. I want you to know that. In here.” I press a hand to her chest, over her heart. “Do you know that, Allegra?”
She closes her hand over mine then presses her other hand to my heart. She nods, eyes welling again.
“Good,” I say. “Because there will be resistance.”
“I guessed as much.”
“But we decide. You and I. As far as our families go, we will cooperate going forward.”
“How will that work?”
“We will present a united front.”
“They won’t accept you because you’re a Trevino. They won’t accept me because I’m a woman.”
“They won’t have a choice, Allegra. Well, they will, I suppose. But to choose wrong will cost them.”
“What about Malek?”
I look out the window as we approach her street. The road leading up to the house is congested with cars parked on either side, slow traffic as family is dropped off and drivers exit the property.
I turn back to her. “He has nothing to do with this.”
She studies me. I think she understands. Does she understand? Whoever does not stand with us will become an enemy, but this is her family. I need to keep that in mind.
“What if they disagree?”
“Then they disagree and I’ll deal with it. I don’t want you involved in that part.”
“What will you do to them?”
I tuck a loose lock of hair behind her ear, touch the place where her skin isn’t quite healed from the bruise. I won’t let her be hurt again. I will stand between her and danger.
“Do you trust me, Allegra?”
“I just… They’re my family.”
“If they are not loyal, they are your enemy, family or not. Blood is not the be all, end all.” I hear myself say it and my uncle’s face floats before my eyes. When the time comes, if it comes, will I eat my words?
“Cassian—”
I cup her face. “Do you trust me?”
“You’re going to take over my family, aren’t you? Those who will bend the knee to you. The others…”
“The others are your enemies as well as mine. And this road was paved the day I decided to keep you. Possibly the moment I laid eyes on you that first night, Little Moth. I will protect you. I will keep you safe. I will make you my queen. You only have to let me. Will you let me?”
It takes her a long moment, but finally, finally, she nods.
A few minutes later, we pull through the open gates of her house. The driver brings the SUV to a stop.
“Ready?” I ask Allegra.
She turns from the house to me. She nods.
“I’ll be with you every step of the way. I won’t leave your side.”
She takes a deep breath in, exhales it out, nods.
When we enter, the house goes quiet, not a whisper to be heard, not the clink of a single glass. It’s like everyone in that room is holding their breath as all eyes turn to us.
I see Jet at the far end watching. He’s standing at the mouth of the corridor that leads to her father’s study. Her study now.
Allegra takes her first step and the crowd parts. I see how their eyes move to me, though. Would they so easily let her through if I wasn’t at her back? If my soldiers didn’t fill her house?
I stay close by her side, soldiers flanking us, more soldiers just outside the study door. People are lined up waiting, eyes suspicious. Wary. Angry.
They won’t bend to me easily. I don’t expect them to. An example will be made. It always is.
At our approach my guard opens the door. Two soldiers are already stationed inside. They stand behind the imposing desk which has been cleared off. Chairs are set in a semi-circle facing it. Jet enters behind us and closes the door. It’s just us and the two soldiers.
Allegra glances at the whiskey in the corner. It’s the same bottle I helped myself to when I was first here. I walk over, pour a glass and walk it back to her. She takes it, drinks it, closes her eyes and steels herself.
“Ready?” I ask.
She hands me the glass. “I’m ready.”
I walk her behind the desk and pull her father’s chair out for her.
She sits. Jet moves to stand at the opposite end of the room.
He’s out of the way. Severin would lose his mind to know the company his little brother will keep today.
I lean against the wall at Allegra’s back, setting one foot against it, casual, but here.
A symbol to all who enter that Allegra Moretti is mine.
That if they go against her, they go against me.
I gesture for the guard to open the door.
The first man looks inside, taking us all in. Behind him heads peer over his shoulder.
I fold my arms across my chest, and I watch them cross the room to the desk.
Allegra stands as they enter, a dozen or so cousins and other distant family some only glancing at me, others openly aggressive when they see me at her back. Whoever is loyal to Malek, and I’m sure at least some are, know my presence does not bode well for them.
Each man comes to take her hands and offers his condolences.
Each head is momentarily bowed. This part is formality.
This isn’t why they’re here. These men are the heads of smaller groups within the Moretti clan.
These men are the ones who decide if what happens next will happen with or without bloodshed.
Well, maybe that’s optimistic. They’ll decide on how much bloodshed.
Enzo is last to enter. He closes the door behind him.
Once everyone is seated, Allegra resumes her seat in her father’s leather chair. She surveys the room. I do too and note how the men glance at her, but look at me. I meet each gaze. I want them to know to go against her will mean to go against me and to accept her will mean bending the knee to me.
Allegra clears her throat. “Cousins,” she says. “Vincent. Joseph…” she names them all in turn, acknowledging each man, each house.
They watch her, faces expressionless, thoughts concealed.
“With Michael’s unexpected death, and as the last of my father’s children, I’m stand before you ready to take his place. I’m sure you all have many questions. I want to assure you—”
“Where’s Malek?” Someone rudely calls out.
My gaze shifts to the man. I unfold my arms, fingers brushing over the holster beneath my jacket before I push my hands into my pockets and watch.
“Malek is no longer a part of this family,” Allegra says.
“But he is your husband.” The man insists before shifting his gaze to me, challenging me to challenge this.
My hands clench into fists in my pockets.
Allegra draws a breath in. I see how her hands tremble in her lap. “Malek is no longer a part of this family,” she repeats.
The man scoffs. Jet steps toward him, but I give an infinitesimal shake of my head to stop him from doing anything stupid. The man will be dealt with, just not now. Not here, in front of her. Not yet, at least.
“Now—"
Another man, emboldened, calls out. “The contracts we were working on with Michael and Malek, what happens to those? You’re not in a position to—"
“It is you, Joseph, who is not in the position to interrupt me,” Allegra says, cutting him off, surprising him. Surprising me.
I smile. That’s my girl.
No, not my girl. My queen.
“With all due respect,” he says mockingly.
This man has no respect for her. My fingers twitch, itching for me to pull my hands from my pockets, to pound this man down to his knees. To make him beg her forgiveness for his rudeness. Hell, for his existence. It takes all I have not to act on this impulse.
He looks around the room at the men who are watching him. “You are a woman. Barely that.”