Page 133 of Covenant

“Don’t even think about it,” he says softly. “I’ll put you down before you take more than a step.”

A chill goes down my spine. I don’t speak, just grip the dagger tighter.

“I won’t be part of this,” I spit out. “I have my own plans, and they don’t involve working for you.”

“Youhadother plans,” he corrects me. “But seeing as you neglected to cover those in your request, they are now null and void.”

My fingers go numb. “What?”

“You seem to have forgotten there’s a price for all requests.” He gives me a tight smile. “You’ll find that often happens. Desperate people are quick to ask for help, but slow to remember that it comes at a price.”

He stands, coming slowly around the desk. “Your price, Matthias, is that you are never to see Wyatt again.”

The bottom of my world falls out and the room spins.

“You will not contact him,” he continues. “You will not stalk him or check up on him from afar. From this day forward, Wyatt Malone is dead to you.”

“You can’t enforce that.”

“Oh, but I can. If you break the terms, you won’t pay with your life. You’ll pay with Wyatt’s. I’ll have him killed before you even realize I know you’ve been in contact with him.”

His head tilts mockingly. “Is that a risk you’re willing to take?”

Black dots fill my vision as he threatens Wyatt. The dagger trembles in my hand. I will myself to hold it steady. I can do this.

I can kill him to protect Wyatt.

It might make me a monster. But that’s a role I’ll gladly take if it means keeping Wyatt safe.

I inhale deeply and square my shoulders.

But it’s not enough.

Father advances swiftly, faster than I’ve ever seen him move before. I don’t get the chance to even lunge before the dagger is knocked to the floor. It hits with a clatter, spinning across the floor before coming to a halt several feet away.

“I told you, put that thought out of your mind,” Father says mildly, as though this response was completely expected. I wonder how many people have threatened his life in the past. Had my brothers done so before me? “You can’t change your path any more than I could change mine.”

“I won’t join The Firm.”

“You don’t have a choice. Youarein The Firm, whether you like it or not.”

I don’t back down. “I won’t do your bidding.”

“Oh, but you will,” he says, casually picking the dagger off the floor and handing it to me. “You’ll fall in line, Matthias. Your brothers made the same protests, and they’re out every night doing the city’s dirty work. All it took was me threatening their lives.”

I lift my chin. “That threat won’t work on me.”

Father chuckles. “That might be true, but you’re forgetting about Wyatt. You were a fool for allowing yourself to have a weakness, and an even greater one for letting me discover it.”

He meets my gaze coldly as he takes his seat behind his desk again. “I’ll have no issues exploiting your weakness. Now, fall in line, or Wyatt will pay the price. All of this,” he taps my request, “can disappear with a simple phone call.”

I’m silent as I consider the path ahead. Father is right.

I can’t stop this. He has me cornered, and he fucking knows it. I won’t resist him for myself.

But for Wyatt? There’s nothing I won’t do.

“Remember what I said.” Father sits back in his chair. “Any contact with Wyatt and I’ll kill him. I won’t even send one of your brothers. I’ll do it myself. And I’ll do it slowly.”

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