Page 33 of Beastly Armory

“Because…” She bites her lip, then swallows. “Because Max? She will be already married to someone else.”

“What?! No way!” My baby sister married already? I know she’s twenty-four, but she’s much younger than that emotionally. There’s no one I can even consider who would be good enough for her. No one I wouldn’t want to kill for touching her.

“Shh! He’ll hear us arguing. Not that I mind much, so he thinks he’s getting what he wants.”

“Who is she supposed to marry?”

She has someone in mind. The thought is practically written on her forehead. She pauses for a long while, then tells me, “Ace.”

“No, no. No way. Nuh-uh. Nope. Not happening.” Ace Donovan? Serial womanizer, gambler, all around asshole? No.

“Would you rather hetakeher?” She points to the door of the conservatory.

She’s right. Strauss wasn’taskingfor my sister’s hand; he’s just going to claim it. He steals women; it’s what he does. He may at least want tomarryArianna, but he’d torture her all the same. I can’t let that happen. Arianna must marry into a family. Ace Donovan would protect her better than Calum Von Dovish would. Maybe I could work something out with Ace, some type of arrangement. He could use a turkey baster, and she could give him an heir without him ever having to touch her.

But it’s fucking Ace Donovan. The boy used to eat caterpillars. He owns casinos and strip clubs. And probably fucks his workers.

“No.”

Her face falls. “Max, for the good of everyone. Youknow that would mean at least some level of senate control… You’re not willing to play this game?”

“Not with my sister. No.”And I don’t trust you.But I don’t tell her that. She just sucked me off when she really didn’t have to.Fuck, my cock twitches just thinking about it again.

Livia’s shoulders slump. “So, no weapons?”

“We’ll try to garner some with your contacts before I go down the route of promising my flesh and blood to Strauss. I’ll increase her protection.”

“What good will protection be if the man has flamethrowers?”

“We use your contacts,” I say, jutting out my chin. I’m not backing down.

She looks at the carpet, disappointed her plan didn’t work. I still don’t trust her. Does she truly care for us? Unlikely. She’s a fox and Von Dovish blood runs through her veins. “Okay, Max. We’ll try with my contacts first, but if?—”

“If it doesn’t work, we’ll resort to your plan.” Pinching under her chin, I lift her face to mine. “And, hey. I’m sorry about…” I nod my head to her knees. Strauss was trying to suffocate her with my cock, and I don’t like that I loved it as much as I did. I’d just rather have used my own hands, though.

“So sorry that you’ll try my plan now?”

“No. Not that sorry.”

She shrugs. “Thought I’d try one last time. I don’t know what kind of trouble we’ll get into in the other cities.”

My eyes lift as we meet gazes, holding them in some unspoken, serious exchange. “I’d say a lot.”

The lilting melody ends and the piano bench scrapes against the floor before the double doors are thrown open. Strauss’s solid frame is lit from behind by the candles in the rounded room, casting a long shadow. The blackness crawls across the carpet as he strolls toward us.

“All finished? It got quiet in here. I was thoroughly enjoying the bear fox fight.”

“I’m not doing it, Strauss. It’s a no,” I say with hardness in my voice. He may have a gun, but my weapons are always with me. Instinctively, my fingers curl into fists.

Strauss looks bored. “Oh. I’m sorry to hear you say that.” I see it then, what Livia was talking about. It’s not boredom; he’s sad and trying not to show it. This fucker wants my sister. If Iwerea bear, my haunches would be prickly right now. “If you change your mind…”

“I understand the deal. My sister for your weapons.” His light blue eyes dance in the firelight as he raises them to my face. “But Strauss? She’s worth more than that. She’s worth more thanyou.”

He turns into a statue. I believe him to be dead, with his gaunt cheeks, pale skin, and vacant gray eyes, but the despair that radiates off him is palpable. After a small eternity, he breathes, then smiles, flashing his bright white teeth. “Alright then. One last thing, Mr. Freidenberg. I expect your businesses to stay clean. Gnarled Pine Hollow does not condone an underground weapons trade, and if you’re rejectingmyweapons, then I don’t see any reason for East Side to carry them. It seems your clanhas forgotten those rules in the past, but I have a feeling you’ll obey.” Despite his eyes remaining flat, his lips curl upwards into a cat-like smile. His face is unholy.

Vlad claps his hands twice, and another woman appears. This one is tall, brunette, beautiful, and wearing an expensive dress. She’s not wearing a collar, nor an air of defeat, but there’s a thick layer of pearls surrounding her neck.

“Dilan, show my guests to the door, then come back and take care of me.”

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