Page 62 of Impenitent Claim

Conscious of everyone coming and going, I caught my lip between my teeth. It wasn’t any of the Made Men who made me feel suddenly like I was doing something wrong.

It was the spectre of darkness haunting me.

I rose on my tiptoes and pressed a quick kiss on Alonzo’s cheek. He didn’t move for something more but only smiled softly.

“You’re such a good girl, Isabella,” he said quietly before turning and leaving. “I’m going to be the luckiest man in the famiglia.”

My own cheeks blazed as I ducked into a side room and wove back to the kitchen. I never made it. The door clapped closed. A shadow launched into me, and I was pushed against another closed door. My cheek pressed against the wood, body caged by a solid force. I gasped, sucking precious air into my lungs and barely keeping my grasp on the dessert plates. Hard fingers dug into my hair. Tears sprang to my eyes unbidden from the pressure on my scalp.

“No cake for me?” Ilya growled.

I coughed. “You’ll thank me later.”

A rough hum rumbled in his chest. “What about a kiss?”

“Someone will find us,” I protested.

“You’re mine, little siren, or do I have to remove every pair of hands in this whole damn city for you to get that through your pretty head?”

The bite in his voice should have scared me. It had the opposite effect. Anger and lust swirled through my veins, an annoying yet inescapable concoction.

“I’m not yours!” I bit out, fingers tightening on the plates. If only I could reach around and smash them over his head!

“You’re not his,” the monster sneered. “Expect a delivery tomorrow to prove it.”

The icy blast of his words slapped back the rush of anger. Fear trickled to freeze the heat.

“Don’t hurt Alonzo!” I breathed, trying and failing to turn my head and look the spectre in the eye.

It was the wrong thing to say. The maniac holding me didn’t need confirmation, but that was exactly what my words implied.

Ilya huffed in disgust. “You do care about him.”

“Of course, I care about him!” I snapped. “Alonzo is like a brother to me. We grew up together and I won’t have anyone bullying him. He isn’t cut out for this life, but that won’t change his destiny. He’s stuck here, just like me. It’s enough that he’s suddenly going out tonight. I won’t have you hurting him too.”

There was a moment of silence. “What are you going to do about it?”

A test. This was just a test. I wet my lips, my brain scrambling for options. “I’ll kiss you.”

The words were a surprise, but not nearly as shocking as the greedy pulse between my legs at the idea.

Ilya barked a laugh. “It will take more than a kiss to save your beloved’s life.”

I jerked against his hold. “I don’t have a choice, you beast. I’m stuck with Alonzo, and he’s the lesser evil here, so forgive me for preserving his wellbeing.”

Ilya loosened his hold, running his hand down the back of my neck. He stopped, his thumb stretching out to rub over my pulse. “You didn’tchoosehim?”

“No!” I wailed before clapping my lips closed. I huffed forcefully from my nose. “I most certainly did not choose him. But thanks to my cooperation, my brother and I are still alive.”

I’d said too much. This stranger could use that against me. I jerked again, and this time, the spectre let me go.

“I expect a reward for sparing his life tonight,” Ilya rasped. A glint sharpened in his eyes. It gave that otherworldly, silvery effect that no human should possess.

A long exhale made my nostrils flare. I swallowed an angry retort. Angering this monster would be extremely stupid.

Pulling myself straight, I tipped my chin up and held his gaze. “A deal’s a deal. Now if you’ll excuse me, there’s more cake to be served.” And more soldiers to be poisoned.

That steely gaze followed me from the space.

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