Chained - Zara Novak Page 0,35

that Logan is the wildcard in this giant fucking house of cards. He’s unpredictable. He’s dangerous. He’s not fit to call himself a Don.”

Vincent stepped forward then, his feet firmly coming down on the marble ground. The daughters didn’t move back, but I could feel their fear. I got the impression that Vincent could very easily dispose of the vampires if he wanted, not that he would of course. A small physical display of his presence was his way of exhibiting strength.

“You disrespect me with this request. I am not some lowly assassin, and you will do well to remember that. If this is really your request to me then our meeting is over. The next time I talk with a Vigliati it will be with your brother or your father.”

Carmen smiled. “Well, no, it won’t. Daddy gave us very clear instructions. No one gets past us until we clear them, and if you don’t honor our request then you won’t get the alliance.”

“I don’t know what Monroe did to piss you off,” Vincent said, “but it has nothing to do with me. If you want to start a war then so be it, but I will not be your messenger boy.”

As the vampires exchanged their war of words I had been watching them all carefully. Rose hadn’t taken her eyes off me; Carmen was fixated with Vincent. Della, the doll in white, seemed to look away whenever Logan’s name was brought up.

“What did he do to you?” I said to Della, my voice ringing true across the hall. It was the first time I had spoken since the daughters had arrived, and everyone was taken by surprise at me opening my mouth.

“My,” Carmen said, acting overtly shocked. “A slave that speaks out of turn. What could be ruder?”

For a second I didn’t say anything. I’d been cut down by woman like this in my professional life, and I usually rolled over and took the beating, not wanting to take on unnecessary conflict or offend anyone. There were already interns at the business that were more respected than me. It was easier to shrink away in the shadows than stand your ground.

But I remembered what Vincent had said. He needed someone strong. I needed to hold my own if I wanted to survive in this world.

I wasn’t going to be a victim any longer. It was time to believe in myself.

“A guest that speaks out of turn,” I answered. Carmen clearly wanted to shock me into silence by belittling me, but it wasn’t going to work. My conviction stunned her into silence. I wasn’t the demure slave she had assumed I was. I looked at Della. “So? What did he do to you?”

“What are you talking about?” she said, the words dripping with venom.

“This Monroe character. Every time his name is brought up you practically flinch. You love him, don’t you?”

“I don’t—” she began, but I cut her off.

“But he doesn’t love you. And now the three of you have come here with this half-cocked plan, pretending your father wants him dead so you can extract some pitiful revenge.”

The three daughters looked lost, furious, and out of their depth. The whites around Carmen’s eyes blazed against her sparkling red pupils. She looked at Vincent. “Are you really going to let a slave talk to us like that?”

“Yes. If she is correct,” Vincent said. “Is she?” The three of them said nothing. The silence was more than answer enough. “I see,” Vincent said. “So, what else have you been lying about?”

“Nothing,” Carmen said through gritted teeth. I turned my head at her.

“Open up,” I said to her. “Or I tell him the real truth.”

This time she looked at me, the fury in her eyes turned to fear. “What are you talking about?”

“You know very well what I’m talking about.” It was incredibly obvious she had feelings for Vincent, whether Vincent could see that or not. Carmen was obviously proud, and the fact that Vincent didn’t reciprocate those feelings embarrassed her. “We can leave things unsaid, providing we jump to the meat of the matter. What does your father actually want?”

Carmen’s chalk-white skin flushed with red. Rose stepped forward and put a hand on her hip. “What makes you so sure we’re not telling the truth?”

“Because your father sounds like a very shrewd man,” I said. “He gave you a task, but you are lying about its very nature. You are not gatekeepers, you are messengers, so tell us what he really