Chapter 16
Sixteen
KAELEN
Torin left.
I poured myself a double shot of whisky before lowering myself into my chair. I debated checking on Willow.
Last thing I wanted was for these bastards to get anywhere near her. And while I was confident nothing would harm her behind these walls, it still made my skin prickle, thinking of Massimo Rossi and his vermin breathing the same air as her.
Nothing would make me happier than sending Vittorio’s heir back to him in pieces if he so much as blinked at my omega.
Lost in my musings, the floor creaked as Aidan and Liam entered, asking me a silent question. I beckoned them in, not knowing what to expect from Massimo.
Whatever it was had to be important to show up on my doorstep unannounced. A small part of me tingled, hoping he had finally decided to overthrow his worthless father and wanted help.
Unfortunately for me, Massimo Rossi was loyal to a fault, and would never betray his blood. Even if it led to his death.
A faint knock echoed. I drained the last of my liquor, relishing how it burned its way into my stomach.
“Come in,” I said, my detached voice chilling the room.
Massimo strode in with his broad shoulders thrown back as his obedient hound followed him. He was all tanned skin with dark hair and even darker eyes. Torin closed the door behind them, rocking back into the wall, carefully scanning the room.
Thick tension mingled with the lingering scent of wood smoke from the smoldering ashes in the fireplace.
I steepled my fingers under my chin, impressed by Massimo’s unflinching demeanor.
He was twice the man his father was. It was the only reason I let him in.
Vittorio must have known that if he came knocking, I would have turned him away.
“What is so important that you had to show up at my home, unannounced?” I asked, my words cutting through the silence.
“I believe you have something that belongs to my father,” Massimo said, his tone eerily calm, setting my teeth on edge.
“What could that be?”
The muscle in my neck coiled uncomfortably tight. I licked across my teeth, not having patience for games. If they didn’t speak plainly in the next three seconds, I would ruin my custom floors with Italian blood.
“You were seen at The Ruby Slipper with a date,” Massimo said. “Willow Sterling.”
“Don’t,” I hissed, the threat chilling the room. “Say my omega’s name.”
The veins in my hands pulsed as I flexed my fingers, choking down the violent words lingered on my tongue. I’d skin Patrick alive. How the fuck did Italians swindle their way into my casino? I knew being public with Willow would bring the wrong sort of attention to her.
Granted, I didn’t expect it so quickly.
Massimo reached into his suit jacket, and all three of my men drew their weapons at once. A smug smirk curled on Massimo’s lips as he threw his hands up.
“I meant no offense. There is a contract I wish to show Mr. Finnegan.”
I jutted my chin at Liam, who rocked off the wall, extending his hand. When Massimo didn’t move fast enough, Liam snapped his fingers.
“Now,” he hissed, impatient and demanding as ever.
Part of me knew I should admonish him, but I found it entertaining. Massimo’s eyes narrowed into thin slits as he dragged out a thick envelope sealed with wax. After handing it over to Liam, my brother placed it on my desk before returning to his spot beside Aidan.
A trickle of blood dripped from my thumb as I dug it into the letter opener, staring at Massimo. The expensive fabric of his shirt strained over his chest when crossed his arms, unamused by my antics.
My heart plummeted into my stomach as I scanned the contract.
I reread it three times, schooling my features, refusing to show any emotions.
Finally, my eyes narrowed on the date, a silent, deadened feeling hollowing out a hole where my heart supposedly was. William Sterling signed away his daughter the day after he realized he would get nothing from me.
Without drawing attention to the motion, I quietly opened my desk drawer, removing my da’s Claddagh ring and slipping it into place on my finger. Cool metal made my skin tingle as I traced the gold band.
Aidan, Liam, and Torin stood stoically in their positions, their faces flat.
The bastard with Massimo was sweating like a stuffed pig in that too-tight suit of his, obviously not used to uneasy quietude.
The two didn’t stand a chance against us.
Massimo was gritty, and there was a chance he’d take out Torin or Liam before I got to him.
I would go to war for Willow, but I didn’t have to.
Not yet, at least.
There was more than one way to keep her safe. A way that was more foolproof with less of a chance of blowing up.
Even if she spat in my face for it after she found out.
Slowly, I rose from my chair, my palms splaying across the supple wood. Massimo tracked my movements as I rounded my desk, motioning for my men to stay in place.
“Your father’s contract with William Sterling for Willow Sterling is void.”
“Why is that?” Massimo asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
Whatever reaction he suspected from me, it wasn’t this.
I made a show of pointing to the dates on the signature line, the gold band on my finger glinting in the light spilling in through the floor to ceiling windows.
“Last I knew, polyandry was illegal in the state of Massachusetts. Something I would expect a candidate for governor to know.”
Massimo clicked his tongue, but stayed quiet. Aidan seemed to catch on to my plan, trying to hide his smirk.
“Willow Sterling was already married when Senator Sterling promised her to Vittorio Rossi.”
“What?!” Massimo snarled, color rising in his olive cheeks.
“Willow is my wife. William Sterling offered her to me first in exchange for giving him the election.”
Marriage would protect her from the Italians and her scum father. It was more than marriage; she would be mine. My alpha roared a victorious sound, my chest expanding at the thought of making Willow mine.
I knew she would protest, that this would frighten her.
Even possibly make her run.
But she didn’t have a choice. There was no fucking way I would allow Vittorio Rossi to ever put a hand on her. And us being married was the most holistic protection I could offer her.
Bleeding Catholics.
Rossi would never offend God by coveting another man’s wife, no matter how much he wanted her.
As much as I craved blood. This path was the smarter one. Eventually, Willow would understand. My omega was brilliant; she would see reason once I explained how dire the situation was.
Ever since I was old enough to learn the business, my da taught me the importance of knowing when to fight and when to outmaneuver.
“My father has a signed contract for Willow Sterling, and he plans to collect,” Massimo said, running his fingers through his dark beard.
An image of Vittorio Rossi finding out he couldn’t have Willow played out in my mind, and I desperately wanted to see the look on his face when his son told him. The man was a coward, always wanting what he couldn’t have.
“I don’t give a fuck what Vittorio has,” I spat, taking a measured step toward Massimo. “Willow is mine and has been. If he has a problem with that, I suggest he takes it up with William Sterling directly.”
Maybe if I were lucky, the Italians would kill the man for me.
Granted, I knew that would upset my omega.
At least until her mom was taken care of.
Massimo’s nose twitched, his guard dog moving as I stepped closer.
Liam jolted, pinning the man who was twice his size to the wall with the barrel of a gun buried in his chin.
“Back off,” Liam ordered, racking the slide on his glock.
Massimo hissed something in Italian, his dark eyes laced with warning. The man with him threw his hands up in surrender. I called off Liam, who looked put out when he stowed his gun back in its holster.
Despite his playful personality, Liam was lethal, always happy for an excuse to fight.
“Senator Sterling lied to you. Promised you something that was no longer his to give.” Not that Willow was ever something for him to barter with.
“Do you want a war? Because if you continue to assert some false claim on my wife, my omega, I won’t show mercy.
Take that back to your Capo dei Capi, and get out of my house,” I spat.
My threat hung in the stilted silence, no one moving as the words permeated the thick air. Soot darkened the stone of the mantle. I crossed my arms, stretching the bespoke fabric.
With a nod, Massimo splayed a hand over his chest, tipping his head toward his man. Without another word, Liam and Torin escorted the Italians from my office. I fished a cigarette out of my pocket, lighting it and taking a long, slow drag that burned my lungs.
I’d quit again tomorrow.
Aidan had enough sense to keep quiet while I rubbed the frown lines from my forehead. The lit cigarette dangled from my mouth as I twirled the Claddagh ring on my finger. It was relatively plain compared to my ma’s, pure gold.
Heavy footsteps made my head snap back toward the door when Liam and Torin returned.
“Maybe she’ll slap him again,” Aidan mumbled, huffing as he leaned into Liam’s side.
“Someone has to,” Liam chimed in.
“Nip it,” I snapped, glowering at my brothers.
They were right.
My lovely omega was going to be pissed and borderline feral when I told her.
A knot sat heavy in my stomach. I had promised her a courtship, a chance to adjust to being with an alpha who would spoil her.
A nagging voice inside of me told me I was no better than her pathetic dad, forcing her into something she didn’t want.
Except my goal was to keep her safe. Something she wouldn’t be with Vittorio.
I wanted to take my time with her. Court her. Woo her. Worship her. After everything Willow had been through, she deserved to take things at her own pace. I wanted to show her how an omega like her deserved to be treated.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t a luxury she’d be afforded.
I would gut William Sterling for everything he did to her. Snuffing out the butt of my smoke, I looked to Aidan.
“Call Father Fitzpatrick, have him come this Saturday. Then meet with the town clerk and find out how much money it will take to backdate the marriage license.”
Aidan nodded, sharing a look with Torin I didn’t bother to decipher.
Sweat stuck to my nape. I wiped my damp palms on my suit pants as I walked to the door. I’d spilled blood, faced the death penalty, and buried my family without losing a wink of sleep.
But now, this trip to tell my feral omega that she would walk down the aisle with me whether she liked it or not, felt like a sentence to the gallows, and she was my executioner.
At least she was the prettiest headsman I’d ever seen.