Page 108 of Cognac Villain

“This family has always been protected,” I say to them. “Our security and strength have never been doubted. I won’t let it start now.”

They both nod in subtle agreement.

That, more than anything I’ve said, forces my father’s hand. He can’t afford his men to unite behind me just yet.

“Fine,” he barks. “Your waitress is our number one priority. Do what needs to be done to make sure she is secure. Run anything else by me before—”

“No.”

He pauses and draws in a surprised, rattling breath. “No?”

“No.” I shake my head. “I’m taking the fight to them.”

He sighs. “What happened to avoiding war?”

“I’m done playing defense. It’s time to make a move.”

Fuck,it feels good to say that.

57

CORA

My head is encased in cement. Eyes sealed shut. Mouth stuffed with cotton.

I’m not awake, but I’m also not in a dream. I’m in some sluggish middle ground, trapped in my own body.

Then I feel a hand around mine.

Ivan.

His name rises through the muddy waters of my mind before I realize the hand is smooth and small. Nothing like the work-roughened, large hands I know.

Not Ivan, then.

“Cora?” a soft voice says.

Anya.

I struggle against my heavy lids.

“You’re okay,” she reassures me. “You’re okay. Just take your time.”

I lie back and let myself come awake piece by piece. I shake my feet and hands. I take stock of my breathing with deep inhales and exhales to ease the nervous fluttering of my heart.

Finally, I peel my eyes open.

I hiss like a vampire when a beam of light stabs me directly in the eyeballs.

“Oh, shit!” Anya yelps. “Sorry about the window.”

She drops my hand and scurries away and, a second later, the room is dark again.

I try to say something, but my throat is raw.

“Oh, here.” She grabs a water bottle from the bedside table and holds the straw to my lips. “It’s water. No poison. I already checked.” I frown, and she ducks her head. “Sorry. That wasn’t funny. Too soon, probably.”

I gulp water. Drop by drop, I start to return to the land of the living. When I’ve had enough. I hand it back to her. “Wh…what happened?”

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