A fortress of strength.
Aggression quivered in the dense atmosphere.
Two groups in opposition.
Trent stepped forward. “I don’t appreciate you waltzing into my place of business when you haven’t been invited.” He cocked his head. “Paying customers only, and all. No offense.”
Oh, it was purely offense.
Old hate.
Conflict and contention.
Papa angled his head, his voice controlled. “My daughter is here.”
Trent sent a sweeping gaze back my direction before he turned toward my father. “It appears it’s where she wants to be.”
My father ignored him and looked at me. “You were given thirty days, mia vita. The time has come.”
I could see in his eyes he no longer believed I was there to retrieve the stones.
“She’s not going anywhere with you. Not any of you.” The words were razors that cut from Logan’s mouth.
Jarek and his men surged forward.
Logan, Trent, and Jud did the same.
The promise of violence clotted the air.
Stagnant and harsh.
“Then you die tonight.” Jarek hissed it.
I could feel the frantic eyes that had gathered. Eden, Salem, and Tessa were suddenly there, terrified, held back by Milo.
They’d meant it when they’d promised to come alongside me.
A feeling washed over me.
Marked.
Potent.
Mandatory.
I was finished being pushed around.
Finished being ordered into submission.
Finished with being told who I was and where I was to be and who I was supposed to love.
Yes, I’d already made the oath to myself, but it felt different staring down the manifestation.
The reality that I either fought for myself or surrendered the way I’d done before.
Do or die.
I pushed between Trent and Jud, coming up to Logan’s side. My words were held in a low rasp. “Everyone outside. Now.”