“But he hates Mass. I don’t know why, but he does.”
She considers, twirling a pen between her fingers. We both watch the man she called Kaan listen to Mass with a cold and distant stare. He keeps tapping the table every time Mass says something, fingers drumming over and over like he’s struggling to contain himself.
Lucy’s lips press together. After a few more minutes, she leans over and whispers in Mass’s ear. He glances at me curiously but resumes the conversation a moment later.
I sit back and watch some more. Kaan’s getting more agitated. One of his lieutenants stands up at something Mass just said. I have no idea what or why, but they’re getting upset. Mass seems totally bored by their reaction.
“What’s going on?” I whisper to Lucy.
“I’m not translating for you.” She waves me off, watching intently, and cuts in a few times herself.
Of course her Turkish is impeccable. I bet she speaks a dozen languages and is fantastic in bed too.
Eventually, Kaan slams his fist down on the table and barks a few words. Silence falls over the room. Echoes die down slowly in the cavernous space. Kaan stares at Mass before he speaks very quietly. His body’s tense, his jaw tight, every inch of him screaming hate even if the tone of his voice doesn’t give it away.
Mass abruptly stands. He nods at the assembled group. None of them nod back. Nobody looks happy. But they don’t try to stophim as Mass turns and stalks out, forcing me and Lucy to quickly follow in his wake.
“What happened in there?” I ask once we reach the parking lot. Mass gives me an inscrutable look. “That guy Kaan with the scar on his face. He hates your guts even though Lucy says he’s loyal. What did you say to him?”
Mass holds up a hand. He steers me to his car. We get into the back and leave Lucy to handle final logistics. Once the driver pulls out, Mass turns to study me.
“I threatened him,” he says softly, looking fascinating as he stares at me. “Kaan’s always been reliable. But Medved’s been causing him problems, and he’s been lashing out. I couldn’t understand why until now. I saved Kaan’s brother, but in the years since, he’s lost two cousins and countless friends to street fighting. I suspect he blames me. I’ll have to remove him from power sooner rather than later before he becomes a problem.”
“I was right.” Excitement slices into my chest. I can’t help but laugh. “You thought he was loyal, and once you realized the truth?—”
“I understood how to handle him. The carrot no longer worked. Instead, I used the stick.”
“What did you threaten him with?”
“That isn’t important.”
“Mass—”
“Do you really want to know how evil your husband is?” He touches my cheek. I find it hard to believe that he’s a monster, not when his fingers softly caress my skin. He can be so gentle.
“Yes, I do.”
“I told him that I am going to kill one of his uncles for every day he delays in accepting my terms.”
My heart skips a beat. “Would you really?”
“I’m a Dragon, wife. I don’t make idle threats.”
“How many uncles does he have, anyway?”
He smiles slightly. “Not that many.”
I let what just happened sink in. I helped Mass threaten a criminal into submission.
I should be deeply disturbed by what I just did.
But instead, excitement courses through my veins.
“Here’s hoping his uncles have a very long life,” I say, slightly breathless. My chest rises and falls rapidly as Mass touches my lips with his thumb.
“How did you know?” he asks quietly. “Kaan’s been loyal for a long time. I never considered that might have changed. He’s been listening to Medved and letting his emotions get in the way of our business. I should have seen it sooner. But how did you realize? You don’t even speak the language.”
“I was just watching everyone, and I could tell something was off. It was the way he reacted every time you talked, like…”
