Chapter 27 #2
"Silly girls should not speak on matters they know nothing about!" He interrupts with a puffed-up chest and irritable disposition. He glares around the circle of aristocratic men and when no one immediately backs him up, I decide to launch my assault.
"And privileged old men should not speak on the misfortune of others when they are the root cause of their suffering."
The tension is so thick I could swim in it, but I stand my ground despite Montenegro's foot stomping in childlike fashion. Rogelio's grip on my arm tightens, but I don't avert my gaze from Montenegro's.
"How dare you!" he growls. "Who are you to speak to me in that manner?"
"Oh, permit me to introduce myself," I say with more sass than needed, pressing my palm to my chest. "I am Elena Lozano, the heir to the Lozano estate. I have more knowledge of economics, agriculture, and basic human decency in my pinky finger than you seem to possess in your entire wrinkled body."
Remus barks out a laugh and my eyes dart to him.
I can't help the smug smile that plays on my lips.
Rogelio tenses beside me and when I tear my eyes from Remus to look up at the Murrieta heir, I find a curiosity ripe in his face, one that demands answers to a million questions zooming through his mind.
A frown line suddenly deepens when he tilts his head up and stares across the circle at Remus who isn't backing down from his jealous glare.
Montenegro grunts, entirely done with my shit. Remus' levity seems to be Montenegro's breaking point.
He squares his wide shoulders with Remus. "Do you find her disrespect amusing, Don Rafael?"
Without missing a beat, Remus takes a drag of his cig and shrugs. "I find Senorita Lozano humbling you amusing, Senor Montenegro."
There's certainly no love lost between these two men, but Montenegro is certainly not going to allow me, a woman, to embarrass him so easily amongst his peers.
He eyes me head-to-toe with a snarl. "Impertinence certainly runs in the family then.
" He leans so close I can smell the liquor on his breath. "I blame the Otero blood in you."
Something inside of me snaps. I feel rage boiling in my feet and slowly creeping up my legs, splaying across my chest, and once it reaches my lips, I demand, "Apologize."
"What?"
"I said, apologize for your disregard for my blood."
He shakes his head, doubling down. "No. I don't think I will. House Otero were sympathizers of the black-winged devils. Treachery and disrespect are ground into your very bones," he hisses. "I will never apologize to your kind."
I'm going to bury this bitch for a family name that isn't actually mine by birth. "Correct me if I'm wrong, Senor, but your family is in the business of spice trading, no?"
Montenegro is clearly thrown by the question and crosses his arms over his chest, resting his forearms on his belly. "We are."
"And in order to trade with other cities, take your products to other ports, you depend on ships to move your goods, correct?"
There's a bit of worry in his face now, as if realization is finally sparking to life in those bloodshot eyes. "Yes –"
"Ships owned and operated by House Otero, right?" I blaze onward.
"W- w- well, we could – "
I interrupt his stutters, lifting my hand to silence him. "It's a yes or no question, Senor Montenegro. Does your family business not soley depend on Otero Shipping for you to be prosperous?"
"We use – "
"Yes or no?"
He exhales an exhausted breath. We both know the answer to my question. "Yes." There's defeat in his tone that excites me, so I narrow in on my kill.
"And if House Otero decided to no longer ship your goods, who would you turn to? If I'm not mistaken, Otero Shipping is the only shipping company in Orlencia that is trusted across the seas. So, I ask you again, Senor Montenegro. If House Otero did not ship your goods, who would you turn to?"
His silence is deafening. I can see the wheels in his mind spinning.
When he doesn't respond I bob my head. "As I suspected.
Now, if you refuse to apologize for your careless words, I will consider it an act of war against House Otero and House Lozano.
" I smirk, the taste of his defeat delicious.
"I assure you, Senor, you do not wish to make us your enemies, even if you do think so little of us. "
Montenegro pales. Stubborn sputtering is all that comes from his crusty lips. He turns to the other men for aid but when he receives none, Don Severo steps up.
"Apologize, Montenegro, for your offense."
Surprise leaches the color from Montenegro's face. "Don Severo – "
Severo doesn't wait for his excuses. "The lady is correct. You do not wish House Lozano and House Otero to be your enemies. Quite honestly, you cannot afford them to be your adversaries."
"But Don Severo – "
"And considering how taken my son is with her, I suspect she will soon become a Murrieta and have the weight of our house backing her as well. I would advise you to reconsider your stance in offering the lady an apology."
If I wasn't hell bent on destroying House Murrieta, I might take a liking to Severo's commanding presence.
Rogelio's arm snakes around my waist and his palm splays across my stomach. It's a small gesture of possession that sets Remus on fire. Behind his neutral expression, his narrowed eyes are alit. He puffs on his cig as if it's the only thing restraining him from punching Rogelio square in the jaw.
Senor Montenegro's shoulders slump, finally seeing how small and insignificant he is without the houses on his side. He bends to my will. "Forgive me, Senorita Lozano. I meant no offense."
He did but I will let it slide for now. I've accomplished my goal of belittling him and reminding him of his place.
I offer him a sweet and venomous smile. "All is forgiven."
But all is not forgiven. Not in the slightest. I wear my anger like armor and vengeance my shield. I will plunge my blade deep into his blackened heart even if the Saints condemn me for it in the afterlife.
Thankfully, the rest of the evening is quite uneventful, filled with conversation, flirtation, and dancing with Rogelio.
He makes no mention of the verbal sparring between me and Montenegro, but I can tell something is off with him and I'm hoping my boldness in speaking my mind against a man isn't going to doom our newly blossoming courtship.
When I'm quite certain it's late enough in the evening for me to bid my farewells, I thank my host and hostess for a marvelous evening before allowing Rogelio to walk me to my awaiting carriage and see me off with a sweet kiss on the cheek.
"Would you like me to accompany you home?" he asks. "I would sleep much better knowing you arrived safely."
I slide my hand up his jaw and smile. "You are far too good to me."
Instead of turning down his offer, as inconvenient as it might be in my timeline, I welcome him as my alibi.
My hands will be bloody by the end of the evening and his testimony attesting to my whereabouts might very well save me should Severo Murrieta sniff where he shouldn't.
I'm no fool. To underestimate the Master of Justice would be a grave error on my part.
I'm not perfect, if I was, I never would have gotten caught in the first place.
Better to cover my tracks now, in case the Hound of Orlencia comes hunting.
"I would very much love your company," I wave him inside to join me.
With a boyish grin, he claims the bench across from me. We ride in silence once the carriage jerks away from the house. It's hard to miss Rogelio fiddling with his hands. He's nervous. Why?
"Does something trouble you, Rogelio?" I ask, drawing his far-off stare.
"I, uh." He tugs his fingers through his hair. "Actually, Elena, there was something I was wanting to ask you."
"You can ask me anything." I smile, hoping to ease his clearly frayed nerves.
He groans. "Please forgive me for my forwardness, but there's something I've been wanting to ask you since we first met, and I haven't had the courage to do so, fearing your answer."