Another step. More strength. A driving urge to go down on one knee. Carlo resisted it all until he towered over her, daring her to strike out at him.
“As a wolf, you will have your respect. You are powerful, Isadora, there is no doubt of that. But I am much older, wiser than–”
She lashed out, punching at his balls before leaping away from him. With a pained groan, he fell to his knees and dropped his chin to his chest. Cazzo!
“Neck.” Laughter and satisfaction filled Isadora’s voice.
Too late, Carlo realized he’d inadvertently exposed his neck to her.
“Brava, tesoro. Brava! Next time, turn your hand upward and rip his cajones right off him, like I taught you.”
Carlo laid down and rested his head on the floor. Not his best hour. “Why’d you teach a child something like that?”
“Not a child. She is my heir, and she will use any means necessary to win in a fight. Remember that the next time you deny her.”
Arturo and Dominic were crazy for spoiling her fucking rotten. Slowly, Carlo got to his feet, keeping his legs slightly apart to account for his throbbing nuts.
Arturo smiled at Isadora. “Now, mia bella, do you want to watch a movie, or would you like to go with me to the child amusement park?”
“Park!”
Carlo cleared his throat so he wouldn’t squeak when he spoke. After the strike, he feared he’d have a permanent falsetto. “You want to take her to Moonstone territory? Aren’t we supposed to keep her in hiding until we knew more about her … condition?”
“She’s not a prisoner and deserves the best money can buy. There will be plenty of men there to protect her, and I’ll also rent out the whole place for her to enjoy herself.”
Of course.
Still, the Entertainment District was closer to Council Headquarters. Even with Kalinda at the helm, some bastard mage who wanted to get ahead could spill the beans. They’d already seen that when Benedict tried to make a fucking mockery of them all when he banded together with Primo and Ottavio against the Moretti.
“Make the arrangements, Carlo. I want the entire park.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
Carlo grabbed his phone, thinking his only option was to call Adonis DeLuna—the Alpha of the Moonstone Pack. He waited several rings and nearly hung up before a deep voice answered.
“Cerote. It’s been some time since I’ve had the pleasure. Where have you been?”
Carlo wouldn’t get into it in front of Isadora. “Changed.”
“I heard, yeah? I assume you won’t be needing more time with the ladies.”
He’d assumed right. Carlo had only gone to him when he needed … help. He’d been trapped in his head, all of his understanding and mind intact, but he couldn’t communicate outwardly. That didn’t stop the needs he had, and he had found ways to deal with them.
“No. I’m calling on behalf of my Alpha.”
“Hay algún un clavo?”
Fuck, the wolf was always prepared to handle some issues. The Moonstone Pack was known for staying in their neck of the woods, but they could cause problems for all shifter clans if they wanted to. Whenever they wanted to.
“No, no problem. And English, please. You’ve just about tapped out what I remember of your language. I wanted to rent out one of your parks.”
“Ah, my friend, you should have said so sooner. We have openings this weekend for the casino, burlesque–”
“No, the children’s park, and today.”
“Can’t do it. We’ve got an important visitor with us today.”
“More important than the Moretti Pack?”
