Chapter Four
He had arrived.
It had to be some kind of a record. It only took a half-hour before a sleek, charcoal-gray Rolls flying flags with a full canary diamond moon on a black backdrop pulled up in front of her childhood home.
The Moonstone Pack.
What Fabiana didn’t expect was for Pasquale to get out of the passenger seat and look directly at her in the camera.
“I’m sorry.”
She read his mouthed words easily. She and Pasquale had learned the trick when they had to communicate in secret around her father. She shook her head, knowing her brother couldn’t see her. Could she really blame him? He had a pack to look after, and he couldn’t ignore all of them for her.
They all knew a mate claim couldn’t be denied.
He’d given her as much time as he could, and she loved him for it.
Giuliana stood and spread her feet shoulder-width apart on the wraparound porch, a snarl twisting her face into a vicious expression. “I swear I’ll find a way to kill you if you hurt her.”
Adonis.
Goddess, the man was big. His frame unfurling from the car was a sight to see in itself. Even on the lowest of the three steps up to the porch, he looked Giuliana in the eyes, and she was not a small woman. He didn’t answer her for a moment, scanning the surroundings before lifting his nose in the air. Even though Fabiana knew he wouldn’t be able to catch her scent through her suit and the safe room walls, she still held her breath.
“You are Pasquale’s mate.”
“I am hersister.”
Adonis cocked his head to the side. “Yes, I can see that. It is good to see you as an Alpha mate. I always thought you were wasted as only an Enforcer. Arturo let a priceless weapon remain on the shelf for too long.”
What?
Fabiana’s confusion was reflected on Giuliana’s face. “You’re not one of those Alpha assholes who believes women are better at a stove?”
Adonis’s bark of laughter pierced Fabiana, the deep, rich sound wrapping her insides in a warm cocoon.My goddess.
“No. Women are deadlier than men, when it’s warranted. I bet,” he continued, taking one step up, “you would tear me bloody right here.”
Another step.
“Die or not, you’d rip off my balls and stuff them down my throat.”
The last step. Fabiana sucked in a breath as Adonis stood toe to toe with Giuliana. Pasquale never moved from his place near the stairs, but Fabiana knew that blank expression when her brother used it.
The look on his face promised danger and death.
One move, and he’d be at Adonis’s side before he could take his next breath.
“You’re a mother guarding her pup, and it’s stupid for any man to get between that. But …” Adonis leaned forward, his face hidden from the camera but his words filtered up anyway. “I am not a man,hermana. I am a monster, and I belong to the woman hiding in this home. Who do you think would win?”
Giuliana smiled, the slash of her mouth more threat than humor. “You’ll find out if my sister doesn’t walk out of her own volition in one hour. One. Hour. That’s all you get,pup. I’m the bitch from hell when it comes to what’s mine.”
Adonis stood tall once more before his gaze unerringly found the camera, and Fabiana leapt back. “Deal. One hour before we find out if a monster is more dangerous than a sister.”
The man had no fear as he stepped around Giuliana. He never looked back, his entire focus on the room in front of him.
He was larger than life, swallowing up the place holding Fabiana’s memories. The attacking wolf statue received a gentle, appraising pat from his large hand, and, somehow, the statue was nothing more than a pet waiting for its master.
Adonis.
