Page 218 of Juliet & Her Romeos

“You should be arresting my son after that travesty of a play,” Olivia sneers.

“Everybody’s a critic.” Swan shrugs.

“I meant that he collaborated with our rivals behind my back.” She jerks her head at Silvanus. “That slut who pretends he’s now Head Alpha of the Cinders.”

“I preferplayboy.” Silvanus’ eyes narrow. “And it was a triumph with a standing ovation and everything. But then, you didn’t stay to see the ending, right? Did something trigger you? The knife, maybe? Or had you already seen it?”

Olivia twists to look at Dante. “I’ll have your badge for this.”

“Original.” Dante rolls his eyes. “But since I head my own special unit, I assure you that I’m not shaking in my truly expensive boots.”

Olivia’s expression shutters. “All this shows is that my dumb son needs to be sent to a private mental health institute for treatment. His years of extensive therapy notes will prove that he doesn’t know what he’s doing or saying. I can provide them. He’s an unreliable witness to anything.”

“Who said that he was a witness?” Joseph asks, quietly.

Olivia opens and shuts her mouth, caught out.

Then she glares at Ambrose so viciously that Vito instinctively steps to stand between them. “Is this your way of taking over the Romeos, dear? I should admire this level of ruthlessness and cunning. Clearly, you’ve been taking pointers from me. But do you truly think that I’ll lie down and let it happen? You’re destroying the company that I’ve worked my entire life to build up. The legacy of your ancestors.”

“Which is it?” Dante drawls. “Either your son is experiencing difficulties with his mental health and doesn’t know what he’sdoing or he’s a ruthless man who’s deliberately worked to take over your company. It’s interesting that you’re contradicting yourself by claiming that it’s both.”

Got her.

Silvanus squeezes my hand.

My throat is dry.

Seeing the powerful Olivia lost for words is a highlight of my life.

“Check mate,” Benedict declares, before glancing at me, as if to make sure that he got it right.

I smile at Benedict, nodding.

We allowed Olivia to think that she dominated the board. But now, the pawns are attacking the king and winning the game.

Ambrose prowls around Vito to stand in front of his mom.

He takes a steadying breath. “Of course you wouldn’t lie down and let it happen. That’s why my smart Omega brother has been gathering the evidence to destroy you.”

“Laurent?” Olivia’s gaze is icy. “That dumb Omega is only good for looking pretty. If that’s your best shot, then my lawyer will have me out by tomorrow lunchtime, and you know how I’ll punish every one of you, Laurent included.”

The sword held across Swan’s hamstrings…his eyes wide with fear…the threat that he’d never walk, let alone dance, again…

“Enough,” Ambrose growls with such dominance that Olivia cringes back against Joseph. Her eyes shoot open like she’s never truly seen this side of her son, and now she’s awoken it, she’s scared. “You treat Laurent like a sweet rose, but in fact, he’s the thorn who’ll make you bleed. You neversaweither him or me. It didn’t matter how smart or tough he was, you only saw a beautiful Omega who could be used. And I was the Alpha who needed to be the best in town, at grades and sports, or else you made me suffer.”

Next to me, Silvanus stiffens.

Ambrose reaches to touch the scar just below his eye. “But I won’t live with the feel of your blade on my skin anymore. I won’t let you hold it to anyone else’s throat. I’ve filed for emancipation, and Senator Knight is granting it. You’ll never hurt Laurent, the Beta dancers, or any of my bonded again. Dad will dance every day, if he wants to. But right now, I’m asking you to give Juliet and Swan some peace. Tell them where you buried Nova and Felix.”

Silence.

Swan’s hand tightens around mine.

I’m shaking.

“I don’t know what you mean, dear,” Olivia replies. “But do you know who’s dead to me from now on?Laurent and you.”

Ambrose blinks rapidly for a moment or two before drawing back.

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