"No, they aren't worth it," Marcella replied. She looked up at Cosimo. "I would understand if you were tempted to give in to their offer."
The hall went dead silent.
"What did you just say?" Cosimo asked, his voice whisper soft and deadly.
As if they were of one mind, his sons picked up their confused mates and scattered into their rooms, leaving Cosimo and Marcella facing off in the hall.
"Maria is your sister," Marcella continued, not looking higher than his neck. "You barely know me at all."
"You think I am the type of man who would consider such a thing?" Cosimo didn't know if he should be hurt or insulted.
Marcella's arms were drawing around herself, her shoulders hunching in like she was ready for him to yell or hurt her...because that was what Carlo used to do. He was going to fucking kill that asshole.
Cosimo moved slowly, trying not to frighten her more. He took her face in his hands and tilted it up so she had nowhere to look but at him. Her eyes were already lined with tears, and they ripped him apart.
"I am not him, Marcella," he told her. "I would never trade you, not even for information about my sister. I would burn this fucking city to the ground and scatter their entireconrega's entrails over the ashes before I let either one of them lay a finger on you again. You asked me not to kill them, and that is the only reason they are still fucking breathing right now."
Marcella's eyes went wide. "Cosimo..."
"I'm never going to crush your spirit, and I sure as fuck am not going to let anyone else, but if I ever hear you suggest that I should trade you again, I will bend you over my knee and make you regret it," he growled, his anger burning through his patience. "You aremine, whether you are willing to accept it or not. Dragons do not give up their treasures. Now, you are going to go into your room, and I'm going to make sure that this hotel is safe. Do you understand?"
"Y-Yes," Marcella whispered. "But?—"
"No buts." Cosimo released her, took the key out of her hand, and opened her room door. He needed to get away from her before he did something he would regret. What was left of his control was fucking gone.
Marcella went into the room, and he passed her the card. "Be careful, whatever you are about to do," she said.
"Oh,tesoro mio, I'm not the one in danger tonight," he said and closed her door.
22
Cosimo didn't wait to check in with his sons. They all knew what they had to do to secure the hotel. He pushed open the door to the stairs and all but ran down them. He needed to get away from Marcella before he pinned her down and marked her up so the whole world would know who she belonged to.
Marcella didn't deserve that. Cosimo would rather die than have her be afraid of him for a single moment.
Back outside, a storm was rolling in, the air charged and ready to explode. Cosimo walked the streets, prowling, hunting, needing to make sure that Renata hadn't sent anyone to follow them. He hoped that she wouldn't be that stupid.
An hour later, the rain fell heavily, and Cosimo let it cool the burning rage that fueled him. He waited until he felt like he could think clearly again before he turned around and started to go back toward the hotel. He hadn't found anystregheabout, so maybe Renata was wise enough not to challenge him.
Cosimo was two blocks away from the hotel when he smelled magic, and he was sent spiraling again. The dragon in him took over, his night vision sharpening as he hunted his prey.
He found the bastard, staring up at a hotel window. Macella moved past it, only in a dark robe, and Cosimo growled so deep and so loud that it reverberated down the alley.
Carlo turned in surprise. Cosimo grabbed him around the throat and slammed him against the wall of the nearest building.
"You really are a dumb fucking asshole," Cosimo snarled.
Carlo pulled out a knife and tried to swipe at him. Cosimo disarmed him in one move and tossed the blade away.
Valentine appeared through the shadows. "I felt a disturbance in the wards that someone was trying a compulsion spell, but I see you are taking care of it. Allow me to give you some privacy."
A second later, Cosimo felt the glamor that Valentine pulled around them like a curtain, making them invisible. He stayed at the end of the alley and leaned against the wall as a lookout.
"I only want...my wife," Carlo wheezed from where he was still pinned to the wall.
Cosimo hit him in the face so hard, his knuckles split. Carlo groaned and would have fallen if Cosimo hadn't grabbed him by the front of his shirt and pushed him back against the wall.
Cosimo reached into his jacket, pulled out a dagger, and pressed its fine edge to Carlo's cheek.
