The impact was enough to silence the room, and while Carmine’s guards rushed to grab their weapons, Alfie made it clear, in that silent way of his, to not do it.
“That’s your one, Gallucci,” Kaz said squeezing harder, feeling the muscles in Carmine’s throat constrict as he fought for air. “Test me again and you won’t like the results.” As quickly as he had grabbed him, Kaz released his hold, laughing lightly as Carmine wheezed. “Walk away, before I give your father a real reason to start a war.”
Carmine coughed, his eyes watery and angry. “Fuck you, Markovic. You’re a fucking nobody. Had it not been for my family doing yours a favor, you wouldn’t be standing there.”
“Is that so?” Kaz asked, intrigued though he didn’t mean to be.
He had already been curious about the meeting that had happened all those years ago between their families, but he had yet to question Vasily about it, not really seeing a need to. Yet, this was at least the third time in as many months that the meeting had been brought up to him, and it was clear that Carmine knew something about it.
Kaz never liked when anyone had information he didn’t have.
“Why don’t you enlighten me?” Maybe then he would have an answer.
But despite how idiotic Carmine looked, he wasn’t about to spill secrets. “Savages, the whole fucking lot of you. We should have put all of you down, and not just that uncle of yours.”
“Savages?” Kaz asked, his voice going calm. “Savage enough to cut out a heart, Gallucci?” Almost immediately, the Italian reacted to his words, his face going ashen, and in that moment, Kaz had everything he needed. “Was it you that cut out his heart?” he asked as he got in the man’s face. “Did you finally get to be a fucking man, you little suka? Because let me explain one thing to you. I am a fucking savage—I live for that shit—and had I not been called off from coming after you, I would have found you and cut off your fingers, one by one. And only after you understood what real pain was, would I have gone for your heart.”
Carmine kept his mouth shut, and was still glaring, but beneath that careful facade, Kaz saw a trace of fear, and that was enough for him.
“Careful what monsters you play with, Gallucci, I’m worse,” Kaz finished, stepping back, and this time, he didn’t wait for the man to give a rebuttal, but exited the restaurant, and climbed into Abram’s truck.
“Take me to my place,” he said when Abram was finally inside and starting the truck up.
“But what about—”
“Zatknis’—Shut up. Do as I said.”
Abram didn’t argue further.
Kaz wasn’t usually one to lash out, but he was angry, angrier than he had been in a long time. And it wasn’t because of Carmine bumping him, but because of what he’d said—or rather, the things he hadn’t. Before, he hadn’t cared enough to question Vasily about his uncle, or about the meeting, but now he needed answers.
And he would get them.
Violet stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, taking her time to touch up her makeup while she had the chance. She was alone in the restroom, which was unusual considering it was in a semi-busy hall of the college. But she was grateful for the privacy all the same.
Smoothing her hands down the front and sides of her dress to smooth out the lace fabric that always seemed to ride up or crinkle, her fingers hitched in their travels over her hips. It was automatic reaction—an ache pulsed between her thighs when she pressed her fingers into that one spot, because she knew what was there.
Or what had been there.
Marks. The smallest of bruises that didn’t hurt at all.
His marks.
Kaz.
Violet shook her head, needing away from those thoughts as she focused back on her reflection. Her classes for the day were almost over, thankfully. She had one left, and then she was free for the evening.
Already, she was considering messaging Kaz to meet up with her somewhere safe. As long as she stayed off her father’s radar, and wasn’t called away, she didn’t worry all that much.
And it was becoming a habit she didn’t want to break.
She typed a text. Kaz answered.
She asked him away. He went.
Violet liked it more than she should. It was a stupid game to be playing with a man that was entirely off-limits to her in a big way. Whatever they were doing—whatever they were—was not something that would be able to continue on forever.
It all was going to end eventually.
She just wasn’t sure this was the time.
Fluffing out the waves of her hair with her fingers, Violet leaned a little closer to the mirror. Tipping her head to the side, the blonde strands fell over her neck, exposing the tight collar of her dress that fit snugly around her throat.
He was usually so careful, she thought.
He never left something that might be seen by someone else. Not something that would be obvious, or might get them—her—in trouble.
But Kaz had left something a little too close to the column of her neck a couple of days earlier. Just a small mark on her right collarbone—his teeth.
And Christ, it had been good.
That pain was good.