Page 62 of Queen of Misfortune (Shadows of Redemption)
Igor turns his gaze toward me. "Congratulations on your wedding, Donovan. A bold move." His eyes are assessing, calculating, like he’s sizing me up.
I shrug. “You think so?”
Igor's lips twitch into what could be a smile or a sneer. "Some might say too bold. It’s upsetting the delicate balance."
“You look agile enough.”
He lets out a laugh. “Me? What do I care about the Italian squabbles?”
“What have you heard?” Niko leans forward, ready for business.
Igor shrugs. “News of the wedding and the woman being off the market have made the rounds.”
My teeth clench at his reference of Lucy being off the market, like she’s a piece of meat.
“After what you did to Tiberius Abate, people around here are antsy. Word is the woman is Fiori’s daughter. You plan to use her to take over his territory here?”
My hands are fisted. Lucy won’t be used for anything as far as I’m concerned.
“The plan is to erase Giovanni from the face of the earth.” Niko says it calmly. Like it’s the most normal thing to murder. I suppose in our world, it is. A beauty like Lucy shouldn’t be around such darkness.
“Then why the girl? The wedding?” Igor asks. Something in his tone is off. I feel like he’s disrespecting her.
“Her name is Lucia, and before me, she was Don Conti’s wife.”
Igor arches a brow. “Such passion. Do you love your new wife?”
Niko’s hand settles on my thigh, a warning to keep myself in line. “What about Giovanni’s men?”
“As I said, they're nervous about your intentions.”
Niko chuckles. "If Giovanni's men are shaking in their boots over a woman, they're a bunch of pussies."
"Speaking of Giovanni" —Niko shifts in his seat— "any word on where he's skulking these days?"
"Nothing solid." Igor spreads his hands wide. “We’ve heard he’s given up on getting the other daughter.”
To that, Niko tenses. See? It doesn’t feel good to have Igor-mother-fucker talk about your woman.
“He’s still focused on the other one.”
My jaw tics. "Lucy," I correct again, this time aloud, feeling the weight of my ring pressing into my skin. "My wife."
"Your wife, right." The smirk on Igor's face grates on me. “The word is that the marriage is to bring her into the Leone Family and make her off-limits to Giovanni.”
“She is off-limits,” I growl.
Igor holds his hands up in surrender. “I’m just the messenger. However, you have to consider that Giovanni maynot fear you, Comrade Donovan, as much as he does Niko. If that’s the case, your bride might not remain yours for long."
"Careful," I warn, my jaw clenching until it aches.
"Would be a shame to lose her just when you married her. Did you at least have time to consummate the marriage?" Igor's taunt is a red-hot poker prodding at my self-control.
Again, Niko’s hand settles on my thigh and I do my damnedest to rein in my desire to wipe the dirty linoleum with Igor’s face.
Igor sneers. “I’m just the messenger, Donovan.” He turns to Niko. “All I’m saying is you’ve upset the apple cart, so to speak.”
“Any word on where Giovanni is?” Niko asks.