Massimo reached into his suit jacket, and all three of my men drew their weapons at once. A smug smirk curled on Massimo’s lips as he threw his hands up.
“I meant no offense. There is a contract I wish to show Mr.Finnegan.”
I jutted my chin at Liam, who rocked off the wall, extending his hand. When Massimo didn’t move fast enough, Liam snapped his fingers.
“Now,” he hissed, impatient and demanding as ever.
Part of me knew I should admonish him, but I found it entertaining. Massimo’s eyes narrowed into thin slits as he dragged out a thick envelope sealed with wax. After handing it over to Liam, my brother placed it on my desk before returning to his spot beside Aidan.
A trickle of blood dripped from my thumb as I dug it into the letter opener, staring at Massimo. The expensive fabric of his shirt strained over his chest when crossed his arms, unamused by my antics.
My heart plummeted into my stomach as I scanned the contract.
I reread it three times, schooling my features, refusing to show any emotions.
Finally, my eyes narrowed on the date, a silent, deadened feeling hollowing out a hole where my heart supposedly was. William Sterling signed away his daughter the day after he realized he would get nothing from me.
Without drawing attention to the motion, I quietly opened my desk drawer, removing my da’s Claddagh ring and slipping it into place on my finger. Cool metal made my skin tingle as I traced the gold band.
Aidan, Liam, and Torin stood stoically in their positions, their faces flat. The bastard with Massimo was sweating like a stuffed pig in that too-tight suit of his, obviously not used to uneasy quietude. The two didn’t stand a chance against us. Massimo was gritty, and there was a chance he’d take out Torin or Liam before I got to him.
I would go to war for Willow, but I didn’t have to.
Not yet, at least.
There was more than one way to keep her safe. A way that was more foolproof with less of a chance of blowing up.
Even if she spat in my face for it after she found out.
Slowly, I rose from my chair, my palms splaying across the supple wood. Massimo tracked my movements as I rounded mydesk, motioning for my men to stay in place.
“Your father’s contract with William Sterling for Willow Sterling is void.”
“Why is that?” Massimo asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
Whatever reaction he suspected from me, it wasn’t this.
I made a show of pointing to the dates on the signature line, the gold band on my finger glinting in the light spilling in through the floor to ceiling windows.
“Last I knew, polyandry was illegal in the state of Massachusetts. Something I would expect a candidate for governor to know.”
Massimo clicked his tongue, but stayed quiet. Aidan seemed to catch on to my plan, trying to hide his smirk.
“Willow Sterling was already married when Senator Sterling promised her to Vittorio Rossi.”
“What?!” Massimo snarled, color rising in his olive cheeks.
“Willow ismy wife. William Sterling offered her to me first in exchange for giving him the election.”
Marriage would protect her from the Italians and her scum father. It was more than marriage; she would bemine.My alpha roared a victorious sound, my chest expanding at the thought of making Willow mine.
I knew she would protest, that this would frighten her.
Even possibly make her run.
But she didn’t have a choice. There was nofuckingway I would allow Vittorio Rossi to ever put a hand on her. And us being married was the most holistic protection I could offer her.
Bleeding Catholics.
