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“Let’s be very clear on one thing. She’s not ours. She mine.”
My mother bristles, but I don’t care about that. She wants power. I get it. I want the same. She wants status within the group of snobs who have always snubbed us. I get that too. Generations worth of Augustines have only ever served at their tables and scrubbed their toilets. We’ve never sat at the head of a gathering.
But I meant what I said to Madelena. I know what needs to happen, but I will protect her. She is mine. She is not theirs, and I won’t see her hurt any more than she already will be. I won’t fail her. I swear not to fail her.
“Yours. Ours. Tomato. Tomato,” my brother says casually, digging for more lobster meat. “We all want the same thing. Let it go, Mom.”
“Give me the pills,” I tell her.
“Fine.” She opens her clutch and pulls out three packets. Three months’ worth.
I take them, shove them into my breast pocket, and look up to watch Odin approach our table. He’s not smiling. I wouldn’t be either if I were him.
“Where is my sister?” he asks without preamble.
Caius leans back in his seat and wipes his mouth. My mother watches Odin with disdain.
“I thought you’d be coming to offer your congratulations. To present a gift, perhaps,” Mom says.
He doesn’t bother with her, and I find I respect that. “Where is she? She was upset earlier. Why isn’t she here?”
“She’s fine. Just tired. You can see her in the morning.”
“I want to see her now.”
I pick up my knife and fork and slice off a piece of meat. I wonder if she’s eating hers now. I place it into my mouth, seeing Marnix De Léon just beyond Odin’s shoulder with this stupid gloved hand limp on the table as I address his son.
“You’ll see her tomorrow or not at all. Take your seat, Odin. Unless you’d like to give a speech letting us all know how happy you are that our families have finally joined.”
He grits his teeth. “If you hurt her—”
“I have no reason to hurt my own wife.”
His eyes narrow. “If you hurt her, I’ll kill you.”
Grinning, I push my chair back and get to my feet. I wipe my mouth before tossing my napkin onto my plate. “I’ve now heard that threat from two members of the De Léon family. I’m trembling.” I signal to the orchestra to begin playing, then walk around the table to face Odin. I get just a little more in his space than I need to. “De Léons no longer give the orders. You take them. Now go sit like a good dog before I have to make you.”
His hands fist at his sides, and his eyes narrow to slits.
“Go on,” I tell him.
Caius gives a little bark from the table.
Odin ignores him. He draws a deep breath in, but he’s not stupid. He exhales, then backs away a step. I nod, not bothering to wait for him to do as he’s told. Instead, I walk out of the banquet hall and through the front room of the mansion, which resembles the lobby of a boutique hotel. I walk out the front doors of the building and around the cleared path toward the cliffs.
