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He was going to say no again. “Look, I know it’s hard to step out from under the Wolf’s shadow when he holds so much power, but who do you want to be, Uncle? The man on the throne one day, or the man who risked it all to save lives? Which one will sons be prouder of?”
Rafael’s bitter laugh hurt my ears. “You say that like I’m a good man, tesorita. I’m not. I’m selfish and vain. Foolish, even. My family matters most to me?—”
“I’m your family.”
“You are, but you aren’t all of it. I need to think of my son.”
“Sons,” I hissed because I was pissed, and honestly, he deserved it thrown in his face because I doubted anyone truly had.
His actions were what had led to his divorce. His actions were what had estranged him from Christian, and in choosing to bury his head in the sand about it all, he’d left a child alone. In the dark. Even if I needed his help, I wasn’t sure I could ever forgive that.
Dante had needed him once too, and Rafael had let him down, just like he was letting me down.
“None of us are good people, Uncle. It’s not ingrained in us to be good. We were born into a life of bloodshed and death, and that’s never going to change. But this isn’t a selfless act. People dying is going to bring too much attention to the city, to imports, to our world. Cash is a risk to everyone, whether Grandfather believes that or not. Ignoring it is a fool’s game.”
“He’s your problem, Mari. Until he becomes ours, my hands are tied.”
Disappointment hollowed out my stomach, and I forced myself to sit up straight. To remember who I was.
I’m Marianna fucking Marcosa, and I run this city. If he doesn’t want an alliance, then fuck him and his bullshit family.
When I spoke, my voice was controlled again. “I won’t force you to help, but I’m telling you now, this isn’t over. I’ll make whatever alliances I need to save my city, even if it means teaming up against you.”
“Mari—”
“If you aren’t on my side, then you’d better not stand in my way, Uncle.”
He sighed, and I could feel the defeat in it. “I understand. Do whatever you need to do.”
I hoped he knew how fucking stupid he was being. He was throwing away the rest of his life on a man who didn’t truly care about his family. If he had, Dante wouldn’t have grown up alone. He’d have been there with the Osarios the whole time. The Wolf was nothing but a power-hungry asshole, and my uncle was going to figure that out one day. I just hoped it wasn’t too late.
“Good luck, tesorita.”
“Goodbye, Uncle.” The wedge between us dug deep as I ended the call and tossed my phone away.
Chapter Four
Mari
That night, I woke up with the sheets stuck to my skin and a gasp caught in my lungs. Impulse made me reach out my fingers, sliding gently over Greyson’s chest. I had to feel him breathe.
Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.
He’s okay. He’s alive. He’s safe.
Echoes of the nightmare held me captive. The sight of blood leaking down his neck, of him crumpling to the ground. The sight of his body still and lifeless on the hospital bed day after day. Hour after hour.
Anxiety had ruined every night of sleep I’d attempted since we were ambushed, but I knew it was more than that. Dominic, Nate, and I were headed back to the real world tomorrow, but Grey wouldn’t be joining us. His blood loss had been severe, and Dr. Grant wanted a bit more recovery time before he fell back into the thick of it with us. It was the right thing to do for him, but leaving without him made my skin crawl. Could I protect him if he wasn’t by my side? I didn’t know. Hence the nightmares.
Knowing I needed to resettle myself, I quietly took a shower. The water was boiling as I scrubbed my skin raw, but even when I was done, my mind wouldn’t rest.
There was a gnawing in the pit of my stomach that told me to cling to Greyson. To hold him closer. The urgency that had drawn me to propose pulsed inside me, desperate and needy for something concrete. Something tangible to say I was his and he was mine.
I got dressed quickly, pulling out clothes for him and strapping weapons on myself. The med center was secure and, without an emergency room, shut down for the night. No one was getting in or out without a badge, but I wasn’t stupid enough to go without protection.
Armed, I sent a few texts. Everyone responded immediately that things would get sorted. Good.
Putting away my phone, I leaned over the bed and pressed my mouth to his.
