Chapter 2 #2
“Fuck no, idiot.” He tossed the book into the hole I’d punched in the wall. “We have to convince Cory to change his mind.”
“That only solves half the problem. Daphne would never agree to be my Fawn.”
“Blair didn’t want to be my Fawn. I persuaded her. Do the same.”
“You nearly drowned her until she said yes.”
Enzo shrugged. “Nearly drown Daphne then.”
I scoffed. “She isn’t that easy to break.”
“Everyone is breakable. You just have to figure out their biggest weakness.”
My biggest problem in selecting Daphne was the Ask. Before a Son could submit his claim, the Fawn had to agree. Which meant Daphne had already said yes to Cory.
I wondered if Cory would take as many stab wounds to die as his brother.
“Remember our conversation about changing Son rules?” Enzo asked me.
“Sure do.” I removed the book from the hole and tossed it on my desk.
“First change: Get rid of the formal Ask. It’s a stupid rule anyway.” He headed toward the door and whistled. “Let’s go.”
“Go where?”
“To inform Cory he can’t have Daphne.” He paused at the door. “You’d better pray to whatever god they worship in Calira that he doesn’t fight it.”
I followed him out of my dorm.
It was time I made the princess of Calira mine.
Whether she fucking liked it or not.
“I’m not retracting my submission,” Cory declared, blocking the doorway with his arms crossed. “I chose Daphne, and I want her. No one else claimed her, so I did.” His Caliran accent came out thicker with each word.
On the walk here, I’d told myself to stay calm, stay controlled, and not commit another murder tonight.
Less than two minutes into our conversation, my plan was already falling apart. I was ready to snap this fucker’s neck.
I shook my head slowly. “She was already claimed.”
“No, she wasn’t.” He dragged a hand through his black hair. “I checked.”
The smell of pizza drifted from his room. I glanced past his shoulder at the open box on his bed.
“Why her?” I asked, genuinely curious.
“Daphne’s from my country. We grew up together.” Cory shifted his weight. “She and I make sense together. And maybe we’ll have something real after.”
Enzo gave me a told you so look.
Yeah, yeah, you were right, asshole.
Cory wanted her for life.
Over my dead fucking body.
Or rather, his dead body.
He could join his twin in hell.
“Peter wanted her first, but sadly, he didn’t get that chance,” Cory continued like I gave a fuck. “He was in love with Daphne.”
“How fucking precious,” Enzo said under his breath.
“Honestly, both of us were.” Cory’s fingers curled around the doorframe. “He was two minutes older than me, so our father said he got first choice.”
“Sounds like you’re benefiting from him missing,” Enzo accused.
Smart. Better Cory think we suspected him than the other way around.
“I’m not.” Cory straightened away from the doorframe. “Once I’m officially a Son, I expect all of us to find out what happened to him. He couldn’t have just vanished.” He made a poof gesture with his hand.
He was wrong. Peter had done exactly that. Enzo knew a funeral home owner who’d reduced his body to ashes.
Another perk of having the Mafia on our side.
Enzo dragged a hand down his mouth. “Look, Cory.” He practically sneered his name. “You weren’t allowed in meetings yet, so you had no idea Brooks was claiming Daphne this year.” He rubbed his palms together. “You really want to piss everyone off before you become a Son?”
“Pick anyone else, and we’ll approve her immediately,” I offered. “No Elder vote needed.”
“Why do you want her so badly?” Cory asked me.
I kept a straight face. “Personal reasons.”
“You’ll need a better reason than that.”
“I fucked her. That reason enough?” I inched closer to him. “You want my leftovers?”
Cory dropped his arm and backed up.
He wanted to fight me. He just wasn’t stupid enough to throw the first punch.
Too bad. The one-punch rule didn’t protect him until Initiation.
If he swung? Even better. He’d never become a Son and never get to choose Daphne.
Problem fucking solved.
“Fine,” he said stiffly.
His disappointment was impossible to miss. I didn’t give a shit.
“Smart man.” I patted his shoulder like we were buddies. “Looks like our business here is done.”
“Wait!” he called when Enzo and I turned to leave.
I exchanged a look with Enzo before facing Cory again.
Just when I thought he couldn’t piss me off more, he said, “Can I fuck her once? For my brother? He’d want that.”
“Absolutely,” I told him.
The dumbass actually looked hopeful. “Really?”
I reared my fist back and punched him square in the mouth. He staggered back, blood spilling from his lips.
I shoved my finger in his face. “You’ll never lay a goddamn hand on her.”
I shoved him out of the way and walked into his room. The pizza box sat open on his bed. I grabbed a slice, took a bite, then picked up the box and carried it out with me.
I had a feeling punching Cory wouldn’t be a one-time thing.
At least one thing was settled. Daphne was mine.
Now I had one more person to convince.
My father.
Telling the president of the United States I’d chosen the daughter of the man who tried to assassinate him as my Fawn should go over fucking beautifully.