Page 121 of Impenitent Claim

I scrambled from Ilya’s hold. “Out the window, god of the underworld, that will be the high priestess, and should she discover I’ve been compromised, they’ll burn me alive.”

Ilya grumbled about eviscerating them before they could touch a single hair on my head, but he retreated toward the window. With a sharp tug, I pulled the veil from my head and scrambled to the far side of the bed where my PJs were carefully laid out. They felt wrong against my skin. The craving to be naked, curled next to the force of darkness, raged inside.

One more night alone. At dawn, he would come. The monster would steal me from this castle of horrors and woe, taking me to faraway lands where I would be free to live my life as I saw fit.

It was impossibly still in my room. I paused, listening hard. There was no breath from another being. There was no patter of heartbeat, no shifting of muscles. Ilya was gone.

I rushed to the door and threw it open. “Lonzo! What happened?”

My friend winced.

Thanks, bud.I knew I looked like a train wreck. “Lonzo?”

“I came to say goodbye,” he managed to say.

I drew my brows together. “You’re going out? To fight?”

“Yes. And I was wondering, I know dad called off the engagement, but….” He shuffled about.

“Lonzo,” I warned.

“It doesn’t change the way I feel about you, Isabella.”

I sighed. “Infatuation isn’t romantic.”

“I won’t let Cosimo take you!” Alonzo reached for me, but I took a step back. He flinched. “Sorry. I only meant to hug you.”

“Best we keep our distance in light of recent events.” And because there was a monster who promised dismemberment or death to anyone who touched me in a non-medical emergency.

“Can I at least have a hug? For good luck?” the boy pleaded. “I know we’ve never really kissed, and I regret that now.”

I pursed my lips. “Not tonight, Lonzo.”

“Oh, right, how stupid of me! Your face probably hurts. He did a number on you; I’m so sorry, Izzy. I’ll make dad refuse to let him have you. I promise.” Alonzo shoved his hands in his pockets.

I had to give him something. This was still my friend. He cared about me, in his own way. And I would never stop caring for him.

“Here, wear this tonight,” I breathed.

Quickly, I unclasped the good luck charm that Gio gave me.

“Is that a horn to ward off evil?” Alonzo laughed. “You really are something, Isabella.”

I rolled my eyes. “Eccentric? Ridiculous?”

“Charming and quaint,” he corrected.

I dropped the necklace into his hand, not daring to even risk brushing my fingertips over his skin accidentally. Ilya might have slipped away in that freaky, supernatural way he came and left my room without me knowing it, but I didn’t want to chance it. Not where Alonzo was concerned.

“Be safe tonight. I’ll pray for you,” I insisted.

Alonzo’s voice sobered. “I hate that we’re doing this. The Scorsos might have picked a fight, but to keep raising the stakes? They didn’t have to mutilate Signor Fabrizi—”

“Even though he deserved it,” I added softly.

Alonzo snorted. “Even though he deserved it. But now, we’re going to slaughter the don, his family, and anyone else in their chain of command.”

I shook my head. “I wish there was something we could do. Some way we could stop this.”

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