Page 63 of Power

They looked over at me.

“What kind of gift?” Avra asked.

“I can’t say.” I shrugged.

Maybe it was noble of him to dare to take such an extravagant step, but I wasn’t going to be the one to tell anyone, not even my sisters. The fact that they were very perceptive, though, still existed.

“Don’t you want to be the one to exact revenge on that prick?” Avra asked. She peered directly into my eyes, and it was apparent she knew what Leon was planning.

“I, for one,” Laya said, “would love to watch you slit that bastard’s throat.”

The image of Laya tenderly holding her infant child and making such violent statements was stark and amusing to me. “Don’t worry, darling sisters. You can be assured that my fiancé asked about my preferences and is committed to appropriately handling the situation. I would be lying if I said it wouldn’t be a pleasure to watch him work.”

They laughed, and I joined in, even if it was about a verydark subject. We all exchanged knowing glances, the unbreakable bond between us pulsing.

“Looks like the old Cali is coming back,” Laya finally said.

“No, I don’t think so,” I admitted. “It’s a new and improved Cali you’re seeing. But it sure is nice to be surrounded by people who understand every version of myself.”

“We love all the versions of you, always, Cali.” Avra reached over and squeezed my hand.

“I love you both too.” A surge of love washed over me.

“I’m so fucking happy you found someone who cares about you and understands you,” Laya said. “Leon is going to be a wonderful husband for you. He’s already showing it.”

“Yes, he is,” I said, my heart skipping a beat at the thought of him ripping out Ozias’s heart and bringing it to me.

It was so medieval and primal and savage.

And so damned sexy, it made me wet.

Sixteen

LEON

The treetops danced in the breeze as I enjoyed my morning coffee out on the terrace. The sparkling azure sea shimmered in the distance, the white puffy clouds floating overhead reflecting off its surface. The water was littered with sailboats taking advantage of this breezy morning, drifting lazily around and matching my energy today.

I was so happy, I felt intoxicated and blissful. Everything was going so well with Cali, and soon she’d be with me every single day. I never imagined things would turn out so well, and yet here we were, in almost constant communication and growing closer by the day.

Today, she was out shopping with her sisters, and I’d get to see her again later.

Footsteps approaching pulled me from my revelry, and I lifted my head to see Iason walking toward me. By the look on his face, his energy did not match my blissful outlook.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, noting the tension in his clenched jaw.

He thrust a crumpled envelope toward me, frustration etched on his features.

“I’m fucking done. If you don’t take care of this, I will,” he snapped.

I lifted a brow, taking the envelope and eyeing him carefully. Iason wasn’t in the habit of giving me orders, so I knew whatever was going on had upset him.

“He’s basically putting a target on us.”

He crossed his arms, his hands fisted, as he waited for me to open it.

I exhaled, a sense of dread creeping in. “What now?”

I pulled the piece of paper from the envelope with my name scrawled on it and read it, my heart racing faster with every word.

---