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“He’s family,” Father boomed. “I won’t tolerate fighting. We have to be united.”
“He wants to hurt Allie,” I forced out through gritted teeth, my jaw clenched too tightly to speak normally.
Father’s voice sharpened. “The Fitzgerald girl?”
I managed a tight nod, never taking my eyes off John’s. His mocking grin had melted away, and fear shadowed his eyes.
“What have I told you about that?” Father snapped. “I ordered you to stay away from her.”
“We were just talking,” Paulie rushed to defend his brother.
“No, you were taunting Maximus.” Father countered, cold as ice. “Do I need to remind you that he’ll run this family one day?”
John’s mouth twisted as though he’d bitten into something sour. I didn’t remove the knife from his throat.
“They don’t deserve to get made,” I growled. “They’re rabid dogs, not men. They’ll endanger this family if you give them power.”
“Fuck you,” Paulie spat. “You’re just a twisted freak. A failure. You can’t take this from us. It’s our birthright too.”
“He deserves your respect,” Father snapped. “Watch your tongue.”
I expected to feel a swell of pride at the words, but the only emotion that heated my chest was white-hot rage. I wouldn’t allow my sadistic cousins to hurt Allie.
“They should be put down,” I declared darkly, baring my teeth at John.
Father blew out an impatient sigh. “They’re family, Maximus.”
“They’re poison,” I countered sharply. “They’ll endanger our organization.”
“Enough,” he barked. “Put the knife away. Now.”
Bending to his will was so deeply engrained in my psyche that my blade withdrew from John’s throat despite my murderous impulses. I shoved away from him, the air between us solidifying like a concrete wall. I couldn’t attack him any more than I could smash my way through a solid barrier. The ruined skin on my brow was too tight, prickling despite the deadened nerves.
“John, Paulie.” Father bit out their names. “You will not become men of honor tonight.” He snapped their budding protests short. “Maximus is right. You’re too reckless. You can’t be trusted to follow simple orders. You haven’t earned your place at his side.”
“You can’t do this,” John seethed, his eyes sharp on mine. “It’s our right. We—”
“You have no rights.” Father cut him off. “You are entitled to nothing. You’ll do as I say from now on, and you might stand a chance of one day becoming made men.”
Something dark and cruel unfurled in my chest, and a wicked smile twisted my lips.
Justice.
My insane cousins weren’t worthy of honor. Not like I was. Father was trusting my judgment. He denied the positions of power they’d expected to earn tonight.
Everything I’d barely dared to dream of was falling into place. I had my father’s respect, and my cousins had been brought low. They were nothing compared to me. After the years of derision and dismissal, I had ascended to claim my birthright, and they’d been denied theirs.
“You can all go,” Father sneered. “There’s no need for a family meeting anymore.”
I shot one last contemptuous smile at my cousins and turned my back on them. They weren’t a threat. They were nothing.
And I was attaining everything I’d ever wanted.
Selfishly, I’d take everything Allie offered me too. Fears of my unworthiness faded to nothing. She’d pledged herself to me, promised her love. There was no going back now.
CHAPTER 5
Allie
