I smile.
“And you won’t marry my daughter,” he adds harshly. “Over my dead body.”
“That can be arranged,” I say calmly.
I continue without raising my voice. “I am marrying your daughter, so get used to it. You can even pretend you’re happy for us. If you try to stand between me and Octavia, as I said, I will end you. Or,” I pause, “others will.”
I meet his stare. “My cousin Isaak, for instance, would be more than willing, especially after what you set in motion between the Bratva and the Cartel. And it is not only those two families. We both know that. You have enemies. All it takes is for me to open my mouth and show them the proof I have, and suddenly there is a tomb with your name on it.”
He looks lost for words.
Good.
I lean in slightly. “And don’t do anything stupid to earn yourself more enemies, because whatever you provoke will put Octavia in danger once she takes over.”
I continue. “If you do, I swear you will beg for mercy you will not receive. I will torture you to death and keep you conscious the entire time, flooding you with adrenaline so you can’t faint, so the pain never stops and never dulls.”
He looks at Octavia one last time, then nods without a word before turning and leaving.
I know I have achieved what I wanted.
He will not interfere between Octavia and me.
Still, I will keep an eye on him, because he is reckless.
I don’t care what happens to him.
I care about what might come for her, because of him.
Chapter 62
Milo
It has been five days.
Five days of unconsciousness.
Five days of watching her chest rise and fall, of counting every breath because it is the only thing keeping me from losing control.
Five days since I last saw her beautiful eyes.
Then, a few minutes ago, her finger twitched.
It was so faint I almost convince myself I imagined it.
But her fingers curl weakly around mine again.
My breath catches.
Fuck.
She is waking.
Or I hope she is.
Her head shifts slightly on the pillow, and I watch her without blinking.
“Come on, baby. Come back to me,” I say quietly.
