Chapter 5 - The Wedding Gift|
The study doors kicked open with a violent bang.
Matteo and the two tactical shooters fanned out, their weapons trained directly on Silas's chest. Elena Castiglione stepped into the room behind them, her diamond earrings catching the warm light of the fireplace.
"Silas," Elena greeted, her voice smooth, cultured, and dripping with arrogance. "You always did keep terrible hours."
Silas didn't look at her. His gray eyes were locked entirely on Matteo.
"You tracked mud on my wife's rug, Matteo," Silas said softly, swirling the amber liquid in his glass.
Matteo didn't flinch. "It's over, Silas. The lower forty floors are secured by Castiglione men. Your captains have signed the new distribution agreement. The Commission has recognized the merger."
"And Clara?" Silas asked quietly.
Elena took a step forward, resting her gloved hand on the back of a leather armchair. "The contract stands, Silas. Your wife leaves for the estate in Upstate New York tonight. She raises your child in isolation, supported by a generous allowance. In exchange, you sign the marriage certificate, unite our families, and keep your life."
Silas took a slow sip of his scotch, then set the glass down on the mahogany surface with a quiet click.
"Where is the contract?" Silas asked.
Elena smiled, pulling a fountain pen from her clutch bag and sliding the thick leather folder across the desk toward him.
"Right here," she said sweetly. "Sign it, and the shooting stops."
Silas picked up the pen. He uncapped it, staring at the signature line where his name was printed beneath Elena's.
"You know," Silas murmured, looking up at Elena, "Clara came to me an hour ago. She begged me to sign this. She asked me to marry you so our son would live."
Elena’s eyes flashed with triumphant pride. "Smart girl. She knows her place."
Silas’s expression turned into a wall of solid ice.
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"She doesn't know her place," Silas rasped. "She doesn't realize that I would burn this entire city to ash before I ever let another woman sit in her chair."
Before Elena could react, Silas jammed the heavy fountain pen directly through the back of Matteo’s hand, pinning it to the mahogany desk.
