Page 5 of Outcast

Or the subjugation.

His gaze flicked my way but his expression never changed.

"Pilar, that's enough for the night."

She immediately pulled away from the younger girl and walked toward him, dropping a soft kiss on the apple of his cheek. Then both women excused themselves.

I was more grateful in that moment than I ever had been that he wasn't like some of his men who preferred young girls. As jittery as I felt, I'd have thrown up in the corner.

"Where have you been tonight?" His words were even. Bland.

It set every alarm off in my head.

"Enjoying the festival." I clasped my hands behind my back so he didn't see them shaking.

"The Institution is a grand legacy, don't you think?" He held the crystal glass up so that the light refracted off the liquid inside.

My mouth went dry but I ignored it. My hands had always been the tell. Father had made sure the rest was beaten out of me. Metaphorically. He reserved the actual whippings for his other son. A less important, illegitimate one.

Yet everyone knew exactly who his offspring were.

"Absolutely."

One corner of his mouth twitched. "I've spent my life building it exactly the way I wanted it to be. A difficult and bloody road. One I enjoyed very much." He grinned.

I dipped my head. It was as much of an acknowledgement as he wanted.

"And I will thank you not to sully it with weak, low-class blood."

Heknew. Somehow, he knew about what I'd been doing. About Rita.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Of course, you do. Don't take me for an idiot. I've been receiving reports for quite some time that you've been fucking Javier's daughter." He shrugged. "I've let you have your fun, now it's time to toss her away...Or I will dispose of hermyway."

Black edged the outside of my vision as I tried my best not to swallow. I didn't want to give him any indication she mattered. Just in case this was a bluff.

"Fucking is my right." I didn't deny Rita in that sense. That would be too obvious. But I could downplay what she meant to me. "That's what you've always taught me."

His grin turned into a smile, but his eyes grew colder. "As long as you're not trying to tear down what I've worked so hard to build. When you marry, it will be to someone I approve of. Who doesn't have a family that has the means to take some of my power from me. There will be no alliances, no truces. No marriages for the better good of society." His top lip peeled back in disgust.

"Who said anything about marriage?" I jerked my head back in surprise. Rita and I had never even hinted at the subject. I wouldn't dare because of what it could mean for her.

But why hadhejumped to that conclusion?

"Glad we're on the same page, son. If there are no feelings, then it's best to move on. You've enjoyed her sweet pussy, so you fuck your way to the next piece. I do have an entire Gallery you’ve never used." He waved his hand at the empty glass panels on the wall where women usually danced for his guests.

What the hell did I say to that? I wasn’t like the men he associated with. I didn’t rape women because I was stronger, more powerful. Just the thought had bile rising in my throat.

"Unless you really do care for her?" He raised his brows.

"No," I answered too fast and satisfaction slithered through his eyes.

"I don't mind a gang war. It's been too quiet around here lately,” he said as he leaned forward.

Reaching for the mask I'd worn all my life, I smiled. "I don't mind a little excitement. All you have to do is say the word."

He laughed and slapped his knee. "I knew there was areason you're my heir. Outside of the obvious ones. Go back and enjoy the festivities. Valentina was pouting when I kicked her out earlier. You could find her and make her feel better."

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