Page 68 of Dark Wolf Soul
And, if even one shifts into a wolf, I’m helpless.
Hell, I’m already helpless against them.
“This is insanity,” Vincenzo goes on.
He swings away from Grey to face the rest of us, his angry gaze sweeping from Dutch to Ramsey. “You all violated the sacred respect of a man’s home. An attack like that has been against the rules of engagement since this city was created, and in one single morning, you’ve shit all over our last upheld agreement. Franco’s rallying his damned soldiers as we speak. You’ve just started a fucking war.”
“We were already at war the moment you took Lexi,” Grey tells him.
I suck in a breath at the way Vincenzo’s face reddens as he rounds on his son. “I did not give you permission to speak. And you.” He swivels again, marching up to me until he’s close enough for me to feel the rage radiating from his body. Mia presses in against me, but it’s not reassuring when the monster’s sole attention is on me.
“You do not get to make demands. You are not in charge here, do you understand me?”
I bite my tongue against the urge to say something snarky, which would likely get me killed right now. But apparently, his question is not rhetorical. He leans closer so that I flinch back as he roars, “Do you understand me?”
“Yes,” I say but Grey walks over and faces his father, nearly wedging himself between us.
Razor and Mia remain where they are, forming a solid wall around me. I swallow hard against the terror choking me, but it remains. Still, I refuse to let him see it, so I keep my chin up and force my breathing to remain even.
“Lexi’s agreed to our terms,” Grey tells him. “She and I will announce the engagement tonight.”
Vincenzo turns to glare at him. “You’re damn right you will. Because, if either one of you has a hair out of place or a single fucking eyelash out of line from here out, I will remind you of your place in this organization. By whatever means necessary.”
“Understood,” Grey says.
The generals grumble their agreement and irritation. But Vincenzo is practically vibrating with his contained rage.
“Now, you owe me for the blatant disrespect you showed this morning,” Vincenzo tells Grey.
“I’m prepared to take the hit,” Grey says.
Something about the way he says it sends a chill up my spine. What kind of hit?
“And what about the rest of you?” Vincenzo bellows.
Grey’s eyes widen a fraction, but he quickly clamps down on his expression. “No.”
“The fuck did you just say?” Vincenzo demands.
“It was all on me,” Grey says. “I gave the order. They only followed them.”
“Doesn’t fucking matter. They all owe for what they did today,” Vincenzo says.
“Then I’ll pay it all,” Grey says, shooting Mia a glare when she tries to argue.
She falls silent again, her hand sliding into mine and squeezing. I keep my surprise at the gesture off my face, and while I don’t squeeze back, I don’t let go either. My heart thuds as I try to understand what’s happening—and what exactly Grey is paying with for his insubordination.
“Fine,” Vincenzo says smugly. “Outside. Now.” He turns to glance at the rest of us and says, “Stay inside. If a single one of you steps out that door, I’ll double his payment.”
Everyone bows their head, and I have to bite back a curse at the way he sneers at them, challenging them to argue. But no one does.
Vincenzo shoves past Grey out the back door, and the generals follow.
“Grey,” Mia says, but he shakes his head to shush her.
“Don’t.” He glances from me back to her. “Make sure she stays inside,” he adds. “No matter what.”
Mia’s shoulders sag. “I will.”
