Page 107 of Savage Little Queen

“My son Arcangelo will be taking you to help him out with something very important.” Matteo slid a glass of whiskey at me before giving one to Levin. “If so much as a hair on his head is swayed, you will die. You will listen to everything he tells you and do as he says. He is the future of this empire I’ve built, so I thought it might be nice for his men to get a feel for how he operates.”

“We’re being trained to be what Alessio and Klaus are to you for Anson?” I asked.

“Yes, in a manner of speaking. Of course, you could always die if you displease me or him. So do a good job and stay alive. Sounds good, yes?”

“Sounds grand,” I muttered, taking my shot and downing it. Levin grunted but drank.

“Are you going to the graduation?” Levin asked, placing his empty glass back on the table.

Matteo’s lips curled up in a little smile. “I am.”

“Why?” Levin demanded.

I nudged him to get him to shut the fuck up, but he shrugged me off.

“Levin,kenne deinen platz,” Klaus growled at him.

“Ich muss einfach nur wissen was passiert, um vorbereitet zu sein,” Levin answered back.

“Ihre aufgäbe ist es, zu tun, was ihnen gesagt wird.”

I had no idea what they were saying to one another, but it sounded like Levin was pissing Klaus off. Klaus was meaner and snarlier than Levin was, and that was saying something. Apple didn’t fall far from the prick tree, it would seem.

“It’s quite all right,” Matteo said to Klaus, holding his hand up to calm him. “He is curious. I suspect some loyalty to Dominic still keeps his heart in the wrong place. It is easily remedied.” Matteo turned his smile on Levin. “To answer your question, one must keep up appearances. Dominic is my. . .son.” Matteo’s lip curled into a snarl. “So I must support him.”

“That’s all?” Levin pressed.

Fucking cool it, man.

“What else would there be?” Matteo raised his brows at Levin.

“Bianca?”

Matteo’s eyes crinkled with his smile. “Ah, she is a beauty. I bet you miss her, yes?”

Levin said nothing, the tension palpable in the air.

“I’ll tell you what. Since you’ve been so good while here, I’ll tell you a secret.” Matteo leaned in, his voice low. “You don’t realize it yet, but you’re giving me everything I want, Levin. You’re doing a perfect job.” Matteo pushed away from him and nodded to Anson. “Keep them in line. Kill them if they run or try anything unsavory. Klaus?”

Klaus inclined his head. “If he betrays us, he dies. Son or not, loyalty above all else.”

Damn. What a dick.

“We won’t betray you. We came here when called. We are loyal. Whatever you ask of us, you will have,” I said firmly. “We will behave and do your bidding.”

Matteo clapped me on the shoulder. “I hate Russians, but Petrov here is quite the asset. He’s able to infiltrate places many can’t get into.” He winked at me, sending shivers down my spine. “It helps that his father is beside himself in anguish at having lost his only son to me. That gives me great joy. When you’re loyal to me, you’re family, and my family is treated like royalty.”

“Unless you’re Dominic,” Levin muttered.

For fuck’s sake, Levin.

Matteo fixed the smile on his face and leaned into Levin. “Dominic is astainin my life. I scrub out the fucking stains. Remember that.” He tapped Levin’s cheek before nodding to Anson, who had been silent the entire time, simply watching.

I had no idea what the fuck he was up to, but I really hoped he wasn’t betraying the horsemen and all of us. Of course, if he were, we’d be dead already.

“Arcangelo, see to it they’re put to good use. I trust in you, my son.”

Anson gave him a curt nod. “I will not disappoint you, Father.”

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