Page 37 of The Beast

I almost can’t speak, and she says firmly, “I just want to be your friend and if you can’t accept that, I will leave with Angelo today. I’m sorry, it’s for the best.”

She turns away and I suppose my pride makes my decision a bad one because, without another word, I storm out of her room and slam the door hard behind me. I will not allow her to make me weak. I will not beg and as for my grandmother, she had better have a very good explanation for this because now I’m pissed, and God help my family if they are backing away from their word now.

* * *

I wasteno time and head straight for grandfather’s den. I know he will be there. He always checks in with Salvatore before breakfast and I am not disappointed.

As I open the door without the courtesy of a knock, Salvatore steps in front of him and says questioningly, “Alessandro, I was unaware we had a meeting scheduled.”

“Move aside, Salvatore.” I growl and my grandfather’s low laugh dispels the tension, and then his slow husky voice calls off his dog.

“Leave us, Salvatore. Alessandro obviously has something weighing heavily on his mind.”

Salvatore fixes me with a hard look before moving silently away and as soon as the door closes behind him, my grandfather’s eyes sparkle and he says roughly, “Sit, Alessandro, and explain this disrespect.”

I take my usual seat and lean forward, staring him hard in the eye and snarl, “Nonna has overstepped the mark.”

He leans back and shrugs. “In what way?”

“She warned Winter off and told her she had no place here. She was soiled goods and not fit to be a Don’s wife.”

“And you’re surprised at that.”

He shakes his head and smiles slyly. “She speaks the truth, and you know it. She has not overstepped the mark. She has highlighted it.”

“But we had a deal.”

The look in his eye would reduce a killer to train his gun on himself, but I stand my ground and face him off because I will not be treated as a fool.

“Alessandro. The deal we made was to liberate your friend. Job done, request fulfilled and now you must honor the agreement.”

“Bullshit.” I face him down and hiss, “You knew exactly what my interest in Winter was. At no point in the conversation did you inform me you expected me to marry somebody else.”

“Did you ask?” He fires back. “I thought we raised you to understand our ways, Alessandro. A Don’s wife must be a virgin on her wedding night. You would make this respected family a laughingstock and Nonna was right to bring it to your attention. Winter is Massimo Delauren’s wife. That hasn’t changed. The man locked in his own madness, who is a guest here of sorts. Winter Delauren is now her brother’s concern, not yours. Do I make myself clear?”

As the truth hits home, I just stare at the wily old fox and realize I’ve been played. My grandfather agreed to help me to bring me to heel. He’s right, there were no other guarantees than setting Winter free, but he’s forgotten one important thing. I have his blood running through my veins and so I stand and lean over his desk, meeting him face to face and snarl, “Then understand one thing, Grandfather, or should I say Don Majerio.”

He doesn’t even blink and just looks at me with curiosity as I snarl, “If I can’t marry Winter, then I won’t marry. The Majerio bloodline stops with me, and your precious tradition will die with me.” I stand up and throw him a curt nod.

“I’ll see you at breakfast, Don Majerio.”

I turn and walk away with fire in my heart. I have come too far to give Winter up without a fight and knowing my grandfather, this will be the fight of my life.

CHAPTER20

WINTER

Breakfast was as awkward as fuck because the atmosphere was so tense, I could cut it with a swipe of my finger. Alessandro is brooding about something and won’t even meet my eye or anyone’s for that matter and apparently Angelo notices too, given the concern he throws in his direction.

Nonna is thoughtful and his grandfather silent and it’s so wrong on every level and I’m grateful when it’s over and Angelo says firmly, “Thank you for your hospitality, Don Majerio. Mrs. Majerio. If I may excuse Winter, I would like to spend some time with my sister.”

I am so grateful for the excuse to leave and smiling my thanks, I follow my brother and Jasmine out of the room into the amazing, landscaped gardens.

Jasmine exhales sharply. “Whoa, that was tense. I wonder what happened?”

Angelo shakes his head. “God help Alessandro. He’s delivered them his soul and I pity him that.”

“What do you mean?” I’m curious and I don’t miss the sharp stare Jasmine directs at him, causing him to sigh heavily.

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