Page 19 of Honor and Claim

“It’s not your place.” I come to my feet. Cosima has yet to say a word; she only stares at me. Her coloring is off. Is it the shock of seeing me or is she not well? I hadn’t noticed her coloring change in the surveillance or any of the pictures I was sent from the two people I had watching over her.

"Well, we rented it, but it's ours for now," Marks tosses right back. "I think you should leave." She puts her hands on her hips. "We don't care to have your company right now." Cosima is rubbing off on her. “Or maybe ever.”

"This place belongs to me." Cosima's expression finally changes, her brows rising.

"No, I searched the history. This home was first built in?—"

"1907 by the Barbieri family. Then it was passed on to their second daughter, who went on to?—"

Marks cuts me right back off. "You made all that up." She glances around, I'm sure trying to figure out how I was three steps ahead. I'd made up the whole story about the villa. It needed a clean past for Marks to be okay with renting it.

"Glad to know my history of the villa felt authentic."

"That doesn't make sense. How would you know which villa we were interested in unless…” Marks trails off. I can see her mind working. "Did you hack me?"

"For that? No." Could I hack her? Sure, and I have, not that I’ll ever tell her that.

"For that? For that! What does that mean?"

"It doesn't matter." I take a step toward Cosima, who holds her hands out. I only halt my movement to assess her. If she thinks I'm going anywhere but to her, she's in for an awakening. God knows I've had one.

"Tell her, or she'll have a mini meltdown." I don't want to tell Marks shit. "Please." Well, fuck.

"I planted things to lead you to the villa." That's the simplest way to explain it. I’m only giving that information because it is an easy give, and it will win me some favor right now with Cosima.

Marks’ shoulders drop, disappointed in herself. She’s good at what she does and will only get better. "You're young and susceptible to ideas."

"Susceptible." Cosima rolls her eyes. "Why are you here?" She pushes her shoulders back, and I can tell she's fighting her emotions.

"You're why I'm here."

"Well, I don't want you here."

"Too bad," I clip back, taking another step toward her. I'll burn this villa to the ground before I leave it without her. I’ll take her anger and anything else she wants to throw at me, but I won’t leave her again.

“This isn’t fair.” Cosima shakes her head adamantly.

“When have I ever played fair?”

“See, right there!” Cosima's voice starts to rise, her cheeks flushing. I want to make them flush, but for a whole other reason. “You’re playing, played, whatever. This isn’t a game to me.”

“It’s not one to me either.” Nothing is a game when it comes to her. Cosima comes before everything else in my life, and I’m going to start letting everyone know that. “And if anyone enjoys games, it’s you.” It’s a hobby of hers to try to get a rise out of me. She usually succeeds in doing so too. She is the only one that truly can get that from me.

Cosima is the only reason I ever got my rage and anger under control. I learned from practicing. When she came along, I knew Rochelle and Dario wouldn’t let me near her if I was still filled with rage, always picking fights with War and Ronan. That I would need to change, and I did, for her.

I’d thought I had mastered it, but I’m seeing now that Cosima holds the power over that control I thought I had. She has no idea how easily she wields it.

“You’re not staying here, and we have plans.” Cosima lifts her chin, trying to get her bravado back, but she’s still off. I can’t put my finger on why, but I can sense it.

“We do?” Marks asks. Cosima shoots her a look. “I mean, we do, of course we do. We have a super busy social life,” Marks tries to say with finality.

“If you think you’re going to visit the Amato family without me, you’ve lost your mind.” Cosima's mouth opens and closes. “How do you know they’re here? Wait, does Dad know you’re here?”

“No one knows I’m here.” I wasn’t chancing her finding out and trying to take off. Oh, she wouldn't get away, but it wouldtake me longer to get to her. “And I know everyone that has been coming and going from this town since you got here.”

“Really, Jesus,” Marks mutters. “That’s a lot. Do you remember it, or do you have a program? I guess you could put in a?—”

“Marks.” Cosima gives her another pointed look.

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