He shrinks back when I pause, my eyes settling on him. “I’m sorry? I don’t think I quite caught that.”
He shakes his head, the tips of his ears turning pink, and his friends snicker.
As I turn away, I hear it again.
“Whore.”
A choked laugh is abruptly smothered. Up on the dais, Dante straightens, picking up on the tension at his table despite not being able to hear what we’re saying.
My sigh is loud enough to draw more attention as I slide the knife out from the sheath under my arm, tonight on full display. I wasn’t expecting to use itquiteso soon. Especially on a sniveling little dickface like this.
“Once was a dick move. But twice is just fucking asking for it.”
His mouth opens, but the knife is already flying. He topples over with a shocked grunt, the friends around him scattering as I glide over and yank the blade from the top of his shoulder. He whimpers.
“Feel free to try and insult me again some time.” I tap his cheek with the blade, and I think he might piss himself. “Properly, this time. Maybe when your balls have dropped.”
No. Scratch that. He has pissed himself.
One of the girls laughs as I move out of the danger zone, her cheeks coloring when I catch her eye. She grins, and I wonder if Dante knows that he’s got an asshole like this one in his ranks. I sense from her reaction that she’s not displeased with the show.
I’m distracted, so much so that I’m a second too late in responding when Dom roars my name. The Crows are still on the walkway, too far away to be of any help as I twist around to look for the danger.
It’s the twist that saves my life. The knife slices my neck as I stagger back, a thin, burning line across my skin as the Crows throw themselves on top of the Fusco asshole who thought he could take me out with myown fucking trick.
“Cat.” Dom is there, his hands gently inspecting my neck. “Jesus Christ. Pay fucking attention.”
“Don’t shout at me when I have a stab wound,” I snap back, and he just scowls, his finger prodding at it until I hiss, pushing his hands away.
“That’s not a stab wound. It’s cut, but I don’t think it’ll scar. You just took ten years off my fucking life!”
“It was a lucky break. Let him go.” My voice rises as I call out, and Vincent looks over, panting as he and Tony struggle to contain the man.
“Uh – not sure that’s a good idea, Cat.”
My would-be murderer wrenches himself free, drawing himself up to face me. His face twists into a sneer. “Gonna set your dogs on me, bitch?”
Fuckinghell. Enough with the misogynistic insults, already. No wonder the Cosa Nostra is decades behind the rest of the world when it comes to female empowerment.
“I’m not going to punish you for being a decent shot,” I say coldly. “Although the insults coming from this room make me a little concerned for the future of the English language.”
I glance around him. The Fuscos watch me with anger, Rosa Fusco front and center.
“The next person to throw a knife at me gets it back in their throat.”
Now thoroughly pissed off because I can feel blood dripping down and staining my bodysuit, I spin on my heel and make for my chair. All the heirs are there, watching me with varying expressions. Naturally, Stefano is stoic and still. Luc’s face is curved in amusement, his eyes tracking the blood dripping as he pulls out the middle seat between him and Dante and I throw myself into it with a huff.
Dante looks ready to fight someone – possibly me, since I just stabbed one of his precious V’Arezzos. Giovanni looks straight ahead, not deigning to look in my direction, but there’s a slight curve to his mouth as he nods to his man in clear approval.
“You know he missed, right?” I can’t help but throw down the table. “Didn’t have you pegged for one of those who thinksallthe minions deserve an A for effort no matter how shit they are, Fusco.”
He turns to me with a smirk, raising his glass. “He drew first blood. The hunt has started, Caterina. I look forward to seeing how long you last.”
“I’m not surprised,” I say. My lips curl into a sympathetic smile, and he raises an eyebrow questioningly. “Because I heardyoudon’t last very long at all.”
It’s childish as fuck, but it makes me feel better anyway. The table is suddenly full of coughs. Even Stefano looks like he might crack a smile when I glance behind me.
Only Gio looks unamused. He turns away. “Enjoy the jokes while you can.”
