Page 59 of King of Knights

Gasps of shock ring out all around us. I break the kiss with a satisfied grin on my lips. Looking over Ray’s head at Angelo, I wink.

“Now I think you can justify your feelings of embarrassment. However, you can’t have feelings toward a situation that doesn’t involve you. Ray no longer has anything to do with you”—I bare my teeth and allow my eyes to flash between colors—“now get the fuck out of my face before I turn you to ash.”

“Angelo,” Candido calls after him as he storms away. “Fuck.”

“Daddy, I told you I didn’t want to marry him.”

“So you go behind my back? What the fuck is going on? How did you summon him?” he says seethingly, the last part low.

“How did I what?” Ray says in confusion.

“Maybe you and I should go talk,” I say to her father.

He gives a curt nod. I go to tug Ray with me, but she halts me. I look down at her, but she speaks through our bond.

“I want to go up and pack my things. Is that okay? I’ll let you know as soon as I’m done.”

“I don’t want you away from me.”

“I will make it fast and I’ll leave the door open to my thoughts so you can hear me.”

I purse my lips and frown.“Fine.”

“What the fuck? Are yous two just going to stand there staring at each other?” Candido growls.

I turn and grab him by the back of his collar and drag him from the room. His men reach for their guns, but I shoot them all a warning glare.

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” he says, holding up his hands.

I take him to his office and shove him inside. He stumbles forward, using his desk to keep him upright. Folding my arms over my chest, I look down at him. I tower way above his six-two.

He reaches for the ring on his right hand—the ring that binds his family to mine. I want to chop his finger off, but I know I can’t. However, the rules say nothing about me scaring the shit out of him.

“You can’t touch me as long as I have this ring,” he says as he clutches it tightly.

“You should take it off and give it to Ray,” I say.

“You would like that. Is that what’s going on? She figured things out and she’s trying to take you for herself? Un-fucking-believable.”

“She knows nothing about us. As I have known nothing about her. Your time is running out, Candido. Whatever you thought you were planning has failed. There are no loopholes for you to manipulate and even if there were, Ray is not an option. You will say your goodbyes this evening.”

“What? You’re not taking my daughter. What is this, someRumpelstiltskinshit? Get the fuck outa here.”

“It’s not as if you’ve cared for her or taken care of her. I should torture you for the life she’s led.”

“You can’t touch me,” he snarls.

I fly across the room and get into his face, lowering my head to be nose to nose. His eyes grow wide with fear. I can hear the churning of his stomach.

“I cannot put you to ground but do not mistake my ability to find other ways to make you pay. I’ve lived a very long time and know of ways to torture a man for days.

“Let’s not forget, I can heal you and start all over again—over and over again. Try me. I’ve been bored for the last century,” I growl in his face.

“What does this mean? Why do you want her? She’s a nobody, she can’t—”

I growl in his face. He shuts up as his face turns pale. Some gangster. Now, his great-grandfather and grandfather were men I could respect. This is a poor imitation of the Riccis I’ve known and served.

I hate this curse and having to serve anyone, but it’s his lack of honor and character that has led us to want to be set free immediately. I’ve always felt he would betray us as soon as he figured out how.

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