Page 19 of Monster's Claim
“Enough arguing.Marco, you have otherimportant business matters to attend to.Besides, I don’t need toremind you, that Matthias is your brother.Show him some respect.Matthias, I will speak to Lara and decide for myself whether shelives or dies.”
Matthias glowered at his old man, but hisfather’s word was still law.Besides, he told himself, at leastGiovanni hadn’t signed off Lara’s execution.If the worst did cometo pass, Matthias formulated a plan B in his head as Marco left thetable in a huff and Giovanni finished his coffee.
The decision would gut him.Family waseverything to him, but if it came to it, he’d take Lara and leavetown.Even if they had to spend the rest of their lives running,he’d do everything in his power to keep her safe.
****
“Here, let me do that,” Lara said quickly,taking the teapot from Sky’s hands.She poured them both tea.Herleg still ached, but it was more of an annoyance than anythingelse.It felt like she had a sprained ankle all the time.
“Thanks.Don’t worry so much.Matthias willcome through,” Sky said.The other woman offered her a plate ofchocolate chip cookies, which she accepted.
“I don’t know,” Lara admitted.“His brotherwants me gone, I think.Matthias is the only one standing betweenme and my death.”
Goosebumps appeared on her arms at thosewords.Lara wasn’t ready to die.For once in her life, she wantedsomething so bad, a future with Matthias.
“Marco?”Sky scoffed.“Think of Marco as abully, a control freak who likes everything his way.Believe me, hedidn’t like me either when Ryker introduced me to the Familia.”
“Both Matthias and Marco have that incommon, liking control I mean,” Lara said.Except, she liked itwhen Matthias took the lead in the bedroom.
“Ryker’s like that, too.All the men in theFamilia are.”
“You were fifteen when Ryker and you met,right?”she asked, intrigued by the other woman’s story.
Sky didn’t elaborate on her past, but Laracould guess she’d been in a bad place before Ryker saved her.
“That’s right.Look, Marco’s not all thatbad,” Sky said quickly.“Give Marco time.I didn’t think I couldever like him at first either.Still Marco and everyone else in theSeverin Familia, they’re the family I’ve never had.”
“That sounds nice.”Lara couldn’t keep theenvy out of her voice.“Having a family who has your back Imean.”
Sky reached over, patted her arm,sympathetic look in her eyes.The front door opened, then closed.She gave Sky a panicked look.
“Relax, Lara.Matthias and Ryker left two oftheir guys standing watch outside.You’ll be safe, I promise.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep yet,daughter,” said a new, cultured male voice.
Lara warily turned her gaze to the two menwho appeared in the kitchen.Relief washed over her, seeingMatthias.She wanted to leap at him and put her arms around him fora hug.It was the older man who caught her interest.The strangerwas as tall as Matthias, wore a tailored dark grey suit and bluetie, his dark hair peppered with white, but it was his icy blueeyes that gave her pause.
Lara didn’t know what it was about him, butinstinct told her no one crossed this man and lived.She alsoglimpsed more suited men, hovering in the living room.She didn’tmiss the way Matthias kept clenching and unclenching his fists byhis side.
Just who was this stranger, that he wascapable of unhinging her man?
“Giovanni, what are you doing here?”Skyasked, rising to her feet to give the man a hug.
“Sky, you shouldn’t stand on this old man’saccount.”Giovanni’s eyes crinkled.“Aren’t you about to give birthany day now?”
“I’m pregnant, not an invalid,” Skygrumbled.
Giovanni.Lara had heard that name before.Matthias and Marco’s father, she remembered Matthias mentioned himbefore.The former head of the Severin Familia.What was he doinghere?What did Giovanni want with her?
Lara wasn’t fooled for a moment byGiovanni’s grandfather act to Sky.Sky was one of them.Lara, onthe other hand, was merely a witness Marco wanted gone.InGiovanni’s eyes, Lara was a potential threat to his family.
“Why don’t you and Matthias have a littletalk in the living room while I speak to this young woman?”Giovanni suggested.
“I’m staying,” Matthias said.
“Son, we’re simply going to have a chat,”Giovanni said.“I promise you, I have no ill intentions towards thewoman you clearly care about.”
“Lara, I’ll be nearby,” Matthias said,walking up to her.
