Page 118 of Massimo

We're at the Tower, on the third floor, where there's a large gathering room. I resist the urge to check on Nova on my phone's security app for the thousandth time and put my phone back into my jacket, giving my full attention to my feisty cousin.

Anger radiates from her. It doesn't take a genius to figure out who she's talking about.

Gabe looks ready to shove his gun down Ivan's throat and pull the trigger. It's Vito, of all people, who's talking him down.

I watch as Ivan smirks and saunters over to Sile and Bill.

This intermingling with the Serpents and Sirens, with the rest of the Chamber factions, is goingswimmingly.

"Ivan really is a fucking cunt," I growl.

Gemma huffs, making a strand of her raven hair flutter over her forehead. "Understatement of the year." Then she scowls at Ivan's inner circle of the Serpents—Russ Motley is his second, and Fletch Bowen is his top enforcer. "They're no better. They suggested a gang bang upstairs in the conference room."

"I'll deal with it."

"Don't make waves, Mass."

"I'm not letting disrespect and misogynistic bullshit fly, Gem."

Before I can stalk over there, Russ and Fletch strut over to Pix. If they're about to proposition her like they did Gemma, she won't show restraint. When pushed, Pix is a live-wire—act first and fuck the consequences.

Pix listens to them with an almost-serene expression, then moves quickly. Her long, thin knife has slashed across Russ's face, cutting both lips, and has stabbed right through Fletch's hand, pinning it to the wall, before I even blink.

Shouts and chaos erupt.

Army, the road captain for the Havoc Guardians, wraps his arm around Pix's slight shoulders and speaks into her ear, likely to keep her from unleashing the bloodthirsty little demon inside her. Bane, the Havoc Guardians' VP, and Ash surround Russ and Fletch.

"I fucking love you, Pix." Dom laughs, flashing a mocking grin at Ivan, who's red in the face and furious.

"This is fucking bullshit," Ivan shouts, stomping over to Fletch and Russ.

He yanks the thin, long knife out of Fletch's hand and the wall.

I make it over to there in three quick strides and grab Ivan's wrist, nearly crushing it in my massive hand. With my other hand, I rip the knife from his grip and hand it over to Pix without taking my eyes off him.

"What's bullshit is your fucking disrespect," I seethe, letting him see the depths of my anger and the darkness I'm capable of.

His usual cocky demeanor falters as he sees the monster I keep under control within me.

"You are a member of the Chamber now. We're your allies, and youwill"—I squeeze his wrist harder, loving the grimace of pain he can't hide—"act accordingly."

He steps back from me when I release him and rubs his wrist. "Or what?"

Dom surrounds him on one side, and Bill comes on the other. "We fucking annihilate you and the rest of your scumbag Serpents," Dom says with a dark gleam in his eyes.

Zara pushes in closer, holding a bottle of champagne and a glass. Filling it, she gives it to Gemma, who's come to stand beside me. Then she lifts the bottle to Ivan. "And I'll drink to that."

Ivan glowers at Zara and snaps again, "This is bullshit."

I feel my phone buzz in my pocket, but before I can disengage with Ivan to check my phone, he steps closer. Like he has a fucking death wish.

"We're supposed to be friends—"

"Allies," I grit, hating that this pissant is my peer and that our hand was forced, unless the Chamber wanted war to erupt in our city. "You'll never be a friend, Ivan."

He runs his tongue along his teeth. "We'll see, big guy. You'll need me yet."

My phone buzzes again, and Gabe motions to me. Vito's expression is flat and guarded, but I can tell something is wrong.

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