The men looked uncomfortable for a minute before Zahara stepped forward. “Because Arturo tends to handle threats with death. Kill a family member and they are bound to want revenge.”
“Kill a— What is she talking about?” Zoey’s attention was completely on her mate.
“Viscount’s brother, and he was supposed to get you and Kalinda in their arrangement with the Trinity, as I told you,” Dominic offered.
“Yeah, but that doesn’t explain— You killed the brother, didn’t you?”
“I ordered it, actually,” Arturo interrupted. “It is our way, Zoey. You may not agree, but it is the reason they needed Trinity backing to even think they could come for you. How we do things is why you are protected the way you are. You know as well as anyone that Encantado isn’t a paradise, no matter how pretty some parts of it are.”
“That doesn’t mean it has to be like this,” Zoey argued.
Kalinda shook her head at her friend. “Sometimes it does, Zoey. I saw that man and what his pride was willing to do to me. You didn’t.”
“But—”
“We risked war to break your best friend out of the Trinity’s hold when they weren’t ready to let her go. Did you think that would be done without any blood lost?” Dominic asked her.
It was a hard question, one Kalinda didn’t like to know the answer to, but she understood. Zoey had always seen the bright side of things, the sweeter side of life. Even if she could understand death may be necessary, it wouldn’t mean she had to accept it. Zoey went quiet, but Kalinda could see it sat uncomfortable with her.
“I just wish it didn’t always have to be like this,” she grumbled.
“Zoey, shifters are violent. It’s as natural to us as breathing, but you haven’t been faced with that every day. And we are mafia. I’m a Made Man, so are the other men standing here. We can’t simply walk away from that life. We have thousands of people who rely on our protection and our willingness to do whatever is needed. At some point, you have to understand it because it won’t change.”
Romano stepped forward, no doubt wanting to change the topic and stop the pair from arguing. “Thank you, Zahara, for coming as quickly as you did. It seems we won’t need your services, but I’ll still pay.”
Zahara shook her head. “Today is free.”
“But since you’re here. This would be a good time to ask. How did you get free from the Trinity?”
Zahara tensed, and for some reason, Kalinda didn’t want to hear the answer. “It doesn’t matter, Dom. We have Silva who knows of a way out for me.”
“Because she let your mother die to save you,” Arturo answered Dominic for Zahara.
One minute, Dominic was still. The next, he was leaping through the air, fangs bared and heading right for Zahara’s throat. The mage jumped back, her fingers working in the air in front of her, and Dominic slammed into a warded wall before he could get to her.
“You bitch. You fucking bitch. I will kill you.”
Romano rushed to Kalinda and Zoey’s side, even as Silva was on her feet, wings flared and ready to battle.
“Calm!” Arturo roared.
Dominic fought the stronger Alpha’s power, growling his displeasure, even as Romano, Giuliana, and Pasquale hit their knees.
“I said calm.”
This order made the lesser wolves in the room groan, falling to the floor on their sides to get away from the force. The Alpha power may not have been directed at them, but the force of it still reached them. Silva made sure she was to the front of the women the wolves could no longer protect. Even Zoey sat down, her color pale as she gripped her stomach.
“Dominic, the baby!” Kalinda yelled. He could be hardheaded all he wanted, but his stubbornness was causing the pup in Zoey’s belly to also react.
Instantly, he stopped, spinning around to check his wife. When he saw her pallor, he blanched. “I’m sorry.”
“I know, love. I know.”
“Hey, what about us?” Romano got out between coughs. His tone may have been jovial, but his eyes were sharp on Arturo.
Dominic didn’t answer his Enforcer and instead turned back on Zahara. “Speak.”
For a moment, she didn’t. She just stared, seeing something in Dominic the others didn’t. “You look just like her. Have her temper too. She never liked to be told what to do.”
