Rossi would never offend God by coveting another man’s wife, no matter how much he wanted her.
As much as I craved blood. This path was the smarter one. Eventually, Willow would understand. My omega was brilliant; she would see reason once I explained how dire the situation was.
Ever since I was old enough to learn the business, my da taught me the importance of knowing when to fight and when to outmaneuver.
“My father has a signed contract for Willow Sterling, and he plans to collect,” Massimo said, running his fingers through hisdark beard.
An image of Vittorio Rossi finding out he couldn’t have Willow played out in my mind, and I desperately wanted to see the look on his face when his son told him. The man was a coward, always wanting what he couldn’t have.
“I don’t give a fuck what Vittorio has,” I spat, taking a measured step toward Massimo. “Willow ismineand has been. If he has a problem with that, I suggest he takes it up with William Sterling directly.”
Maybe if I were lucky, the Italians would kill the man for me. Granted, I knew that would upset my omega. At least until her mom was taken care of. Massimo’s nose twitched, his guard dog moving as I stepped closer. Liam jolted, pinning the man who was twice his size to the wall with the barrel of a gun buried in his chin.
“Back off,” Liam ordered, racking the slide on his glock.
Massimo hissed something in Italian, his dark eyes laced with warning. The man with him threw his hands up in surrender. I called off Liam, who looked put out when he stowed his gun back in its holster.
Despite his playful personality, Liam was lethal, always happy for an excuse to fight.
“Senator Sterling lied to you. Promised you something that was no longer his to give.” Not that Willow was ever something for him to barter with. “Do you want a war? Because if you continue to assert some false claim onmy wife,my omega, I won’t show mercy. Take that back to your Capo dei Capi, and get out of my house,” I spat.
My threat hung in the stilted silence, no one moving as the words permeated the thick air. Soot darkened the stone of the mantle. I crossed my arms, stretching the bespoke fabric.
With a nod, Massimo splayed a hand over his chest, tipping his head toward his man. Without another word, Liam and Torin escorted the Italians from my office. I fished a cigarette out of my pocket, lighting it and taking a long, slow drag that burned my lungs.
I’d quit again tomorrow.
Aidan had enough sense to keep quiet while I rubbed the frownlines from my forehead. The lit cigarette dangled from my mouth as I twirled the Claddagh ring on my finger. It was relatively plain compared to my ma’s, pure gold.
Heavy footsteps made my head snap back toward the door when Liam and Torin returned.
“Maybe she’ll slap him again,” Aidan mumbled, huffing as he leaned into Liam’s side.
“Someone has to,” Liam chimed in.
“Nip it,” I snapped, glowering at my brothers.
They were right.
My lovely omega was going to be pissed and borderline feral when I told her. A knot sat heavy in my stomach. I had promised her a courtship, a chance to adjust to being with an alpha who would spoil her. A nagging voice inside of me told me I was no better than her pathetic dad, forcing her into something she didn’t want.
Except my goal was to keep her safe. Something she wouldn’t be with Vittorio.
I wanted to take my time with her. Court her. Woo her. Worship her. After everything Willow had been through, she deserved to take things at her own pace. I wanted to show her how an omega like her deserved to be treated.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t a luxury she’d be afforded.
I would gut William Sterling for everything he did to her. Snuffing out the butt of my smoke, I looked to Aidan.
“Call Father Fitzpatrick, have him come this Saturday. Then meet with the town clerk and find out how much money it will take to backdate the marriage license.”
Aidan nodded, sharing a look with Torin I didn’t bother to decipher.
Sweat stuck to my nape. I wiped my damp palms on my suit pants as I walked to the door. I’d spilled blood, faced the death penalty, and buried my family without losing a wink of sleep.
But now, this trip to tell my feral omega that she would walk down the aisle with me whether she liked it or not, felt like a sentence to the gallows, and she was my executioner.
At least she was the prettiest headsman I’d ever seen.
