Chapter 344

He would never let them insult me or hurt me. That safety and security I get from him is an instant balm as the warmth of his body flows through at our point of contact and calms me instantly.

Alexi doesn’t visibly react to my moving to him, but his foot slides towards me and he rests his knee against mine as a subtle message that he feels my unease. It’s a small tiny movement but I understand its intention, and I’m immediately soothed with knowing he’s as in tune to me as I am to him nowadays. He’s reassuring me that he’ll always fight my corner.

“I can’t help that I had a natural aptitude where you didn’t. Some of us are more capable of handling things. Now shut up and focus on why I’m here. I’m losing patience and you don’t want me pissed … younger cousin I may be, but I won’t hesitate to remind you who the fucking boss is.”

Alexi doesn’t waste time in acting it either. He’s asserting his authority and the energy is building in him rapidly. I can feel it coming from every pore, psyching him up to act should he need to show them who is boss. That level of anger and cool control combined sends shivers down my spine and even I sit up and take note. Poised like a panther, hostility brewing and a complete lack of care that we are in a crowded restaurant. Alexi is confident, this hotel is partially Carrero owned, and he doesn’t have to be so careful in his behaviour here. Money can make so much go away.

The two men tense, hold their gazes on his face, turning a tad whiter in complexion and I jump when a glass is swung in front of me from my other side surprisingly.

“I’ll drink to that,” Gino chimes in, shoving the vessel a little too close to my face to let me know I’m being shielded from both sides, and eyeballs the cousin as intensely as his twin is doing. A little backup and visually saying he will join in the fucking up of these men should they continue to pursue it. Gino may not be a cold sadist like his brother, but I don’t doubt he has enough of the cray-cray gene to make an impact and he wouldn’t let his brother battle on his own.

They shared a womb after all and came from a single cell.

I realise that coming here with only these two was maybe not wise if there is animosity between parts of their family that he never warned me about. Surely, he should have brought backup if he expected something like this. He told Mico and Jackson to stay put along with all his other escorts so we could have a free weekend with no third wheels. He said he wanted this to feel like a weekend getaway, rather than just business.

I thought all the Carreros were a united front with a wealth of loyalty and respect, not a simmering feud between these men. I find it odd that Alexi wants to come here and buy a casino to retire in, with these men as his support system. He must be insane.

Rob loses all venom instantly and drops his eyes to the table; his posture immediately slackens, and he sighs heavily before glancing at his brother and lifting his head once more.

Obvious defeat and withdrawal.

Thank God.

“I’m sorry. Forgive me. I talk out of turn and I mean no disrespect. I’m somewhat shocked after the last girl seemed to be so stereotypical for what you date.” He is backtracking, remembering who he is fucking with and relenting. Not as dominant as he likes to make out—all hot air and no spark—bark without a bite.

I physically breathe out heavily with relief.

“The reason the last girl isn’t here today is that she bored me quickly, as do all nodding obedient little doorsteps with no backbone. There’s no challenge if there is nothing to tame,” he adds in a less dangerous even tone. An obvious insult at his cousins’ choices of wives and their relationships in general, and I feel a little smug at his sarcastic reply.

High five, Alexi.

I have to say, though, his sentiment is a revelation to hear. I always assumed he wanted submission and obedience in a woman. It kind of explains why he fell for me. I have always been far too rebellious for my own good. Even afraid of him I still stood up to him occasionally.

“You disrespect my woman again … I will shoot you in the fucking face. I may be your blood, but I’m your boss first and foremost and it will do you well to remember that.” Alexi snaps, anger breaking loose just enough to get the point across, and both men sit like stone with zero reaction. Chastised and remembering he has the skill and means to carry through on a threat like that.

“Understood.” It’s George who talks first and then Rob nods and holds out a hand to Alexi in a show of submission. Shaking his hand to end this weird and tense dinner fight. It may have been brief but I feel like it lasted for long minutes. Alexi watches their united hands for a moment as he grasps it firmly and then tightens his grip when Rob moves to release it and sit back.

That moment of confusion passes over Rob’s expression in an alarming second as his own knuckle and wrist pales with the force they are being squeezed free of circulation. Alexi likes subtle intimidation and a show of aggression in a small way. Tyler didn’t fare well with a tie choke, so I assume this is meant in the same way. I hold my breath and try to pretend I’m not looking by staring at my dinner settings, but I can still see him from the corner of my eye. Heart rate elevating.

“She will be my wife one day, and she will stand as my right hand. If you value your place in our empire, I suggest you apologise to her and show the same respect you show our mothers. You know the wife of the head holds the same power of command and will have a foothold over your head soon enough.” Alexi’s own knuckles whiten as he applies real force and the grimace on Rob’s face suggests he is in crushing pain. He nods, profusely and stammers at me sloppily.

“I’m sorry, Miss … umm … Walters. I … umm … mean no disrespect. My apologies.”

I’m too distracted by what Alexi just said to really take in his shitty apology and I just nod distractedly and offer him a vague smile. My brain losing interest and latching onto something that sparked my inner devious. I forget tense, anxious and uneasy and zoom right into some little words.

“Sure whatever. No harm no foul.” I mutter half-heartedly, waving a dismissive hand and forgetting my nerves completely.

Alexi lets him go and he yanks his arm back to rub his tender digits while Alexi sits back smoothly as though nothing happened. Mr cool and controlled once more and carefully smooths his shirt and tie out to regain that suave composure. Didn’t even break a sweat.

My brain, however, is running over two points. Alexi reckons we will marry … okay, not that much of a shock considering he has now brought it up a couple of times today and the day I do, if I do, I have the same power in his family as he does.

That’s crazy.

The command thing … I never knew that the women in this family also gained a title, so to speak, when married to the boss. It makes sense. If anything happened to Alexi, such as prison or kidnapping then I would assume control in his absence. I had heard of this in the past with mob families and now I feel stupid for not even thinking it.

If I marry him, I become Mrs King Carrero—Queen Carrero, and I have a say in what happens to bitches who try to end my life.

If Alexi couldn’t give a command, then I wonder if I could.

I blink at him, that dreadful Marianne running through my head and I falter for a second about whether his men would follow my instruction and deal with her if I married him this weekend in Vegas. The clogs turning, the wheels moving, and I can see an answer to his family blocking him from making a move. He can’t issue the kill command … but I could.

I could literally end all of this so easily, for both of us. Take away the threat and get some control back.