Page 238 of A Vicious Love

He did not answer.

“It teaches men the wrong lesson.” I stepped closer one last time.

“What do you want from us?” he asked.

Finally…the right question.

“Silence.”

“For how long?”

“Until I say otherwise.”

“And the merger?”

“I’m not accepting the adjustment.”

“You may not have authority to refuse.”

I laughed softly. “Tell yourself that if it helps you sleep.”

“Damius—”

“Is not here.”

A lie mostly.

Damius was everywhere. The old fear in every sane man’s blood when Crow law entered a room. But in that clearing, with her father unarmed and pale, I was the Crow standing in front of him.

That would do.

“I will speak with Damius,” her father said carefully.

“No.”

“You will not move another piece until I tell you what the board looks like.”

“This is Bellemere family business.”

“This is Sienna,” I corrected. Her name left my mouth sharper than intended.

He was silent for a long moment before nodding.

I accepted it because killing him would upset her.

Probably.

“You will not tell her,” I said.

“No.”

“Her mother will not tell her.”

“I will speak with my wife.”

“That wasn’t the sentence I wanted.”

His jaw tightened. “My wife will not tell her.”