Page 166 of Phantom Mine

“The woman in the gold dress.”

Thiago stills. Menace descends around him like a cloak, thickening the air until it’s hardly breathable. His reaction makes my fists clench. This won’t be an easy negotiation, but I won’t walk out of here until Valentina is mine.

“What?”

“At Callum Tellier’s gala,” I say. “There was a woman there in a gold dress. I saw her hug you.” The memory makes my teeth grind together. “I assume she’s one of yours. I want her.”

I keep my words purposefully vague, not wanting to reveal to him just how well we know each other or just how much she means to me.

“How do you know her?”

I stand and stare down at him where he's seated. The guards behind him lift their guns as I move, keeping them trained at my head. “That’s not relevant, nor is it any of your concern. What is, is the fact that I want her and I will have her. Give her to me and you have my word that I’ll help you find out what happened to Adriana.”

Thiago flicks a look at his second in command. An exchange goes unsaid, then the second nods and leaves the room. He turns his attention back to me, rising just as slowly as I did. We’re well matched in height, but his physical appearance is far more threatening than mine. Let him underestimate me because of it, that’ll play in my favor.

His lips draw back in a sneer. “Valentina is engaged.”

I slam my fist down on his desk. A pen holder leaps off the side and falls to the floor. The guards jump forward, but Thiago raises a hand to stop them.

There it is again, thatword. That word, attached to her on one end but not me on the other.

Thiago’s brows flick upwards in surprise at my eruption. Gone is the congeniality, gone are the smiles. My true mask is revealed, and it’s one of possessive fury.

“Let me put this in simple terms you can understand, da Silva,” I seethe. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn I have steam coming out of my ears. “My price for peace is Valentina. If you want a truce, you give her to me. But if you’re in the mood for war, I will happily give you one. I dare you totryand give her to another man. I'll spill as much blood and leave as many bodies in my wake as it takes to get her back in my arms. I won't stop until she'smine.”

“Don’t threaten me.”

“Don’t confuse my lack of reputation for lack of will. If you won’t agree to my terms, then I will raze you and your men to the ground and I will be merciless,” I declare.

Behind him, Thiago’s men look furtively at theirjefe. They shift uncomfortably on their feet, sensing the potential conflict looming on the horizon. Tension fills the air as we face off, two alphas fighting for dominance. If I have to kill him to have her, then so be it. I’ll spend the rest of my life getting Valentina to forgive me for it.

Finally, Thiago answers, “No.”

“Then it’s war,” I announce steadily.

He narrows his eyes at me. “You’d forgive your father’s death with no retaliation and set terms for a truce instead, but you’d wage war for Valentina?”

Violence crawls like a maddening itch through my veins, poisoning my blood and turning it black.

“I won’t just wage it, Thiago. I’ll fucking win. You’ll die for nothing, because I’ll pry your sister from your cold dead hands and take her anyway.” His eyes darken but he says nothing. “What are you willing to risk for her? Think long and hard before you respond, because if the answer isn’t absolutely everything,then you won’t win against me. I only have everything to lose here and that’s Valentina.”

“You would destroy her family to have her?”

I shrug. “If that’s what it takes. If her family is standing in my way, then yes, without a moment’s hesitation.”

“Why?”

“Wouldn’t you do the same for your wife?”

Two of the guards look at each other in surprise. Even Thiago seems to still once more.

“So you intend to marry her?”

I straighten, the muscles of my back locking into place as I scowl. This fucker isn’t paying attention.

“Was that not clear? When I said I’ll have her, I meant in every way. I’m going to take real pleasure in ripping your name off her, Thiago,” I growl. “Forget you ever thought of her as Valentina da Silva. She’s Valentina Leone from now on.”

My cock throbs when I say her name and mine together. It sounds right. It sounds like I should have been saying it for far longer. Every part of me likes it.

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