“Fuck.” I pulled my hand free from Cas’s. He opened his mouth, but I held up a hand. “Don’t you dare.”
I turned to the half who stayed with us. “It’s not safe to stay here long, but Cas and I want to thank you for your support. We will retake New York. Max is living on borrowed time.” I gestured to Obi. “Follow Obi’s orders and get out of here before Max returns.”
Obi gave Giulio and the other defectors instructions, first sending them toward Makarov and his territory for now. Until we could find a main headquarters, Makarov was the safest place for them. We’d give them further direction after that.
I turned on my heel, ready to get out of this fucking place and get back to the penthouse.
“Leona,” Wynn whispered as he stepped close to me. He reached out a hand, but I met his eyes and confirmed what I thought earlier. Somehow, he knew. “It’s going to be okay.”
I pushed past him.
Ryu and Cas followed after me, exchanging insults and jabs, but I didn’t fucking care.
The truth of the evening had settled in. I had the men. I’d gained part of an army. But it was meaningless. They chose Cas, not me.
Despite everything I’d done, all the strength I’d tried to gain, it all meant nothing. I’d failed before I’d truly even begun.
Those men looked at me and saw a girl who had no power.
Maybe that’s all I was.
But that wasn’t even the worst part.
Cas hadliedto me. They’d all lied to me. Only Ciel seemed surprised by the fact that marriage was on the table tonight. And me? I looked like a fucking idiot because I had no idea.
The cord of trust I held between our group shattered.
44
CASPIAN
“Leona, wait!” I begged as she stomped off the penthouse elevator and punched in the security code for the door. “Wait.”
She ignored me, just like she’d done during the drive back to the penthouse. I’d tried to explain in the van, but Ryuji had constantly interjected. I’d gotten so bad I wanted to slam him up against the wall and wrap my hand around his throat until Obi snapped for us all to shut up. That finally got Ryu off my ass, leaving the rest of the ride so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
She stayed plastered to Ciel’s side on the elevator ride up, arms folded around her middle but leaning into his side. He kept his eyes down, murmuring in her ear in Spanish.
I wavered between anger and regret. We’d gotten the army—well, maybe half of the men who showed. But it was a start. I knew more would follow, especially after news of our engagement spread.
She had every right to be upset, but couldn’t she see that we got what we wanted?
I didn’t mean for her to find out this way. Imeantto tell her. I really fucking did.
I wanted to propose like a real fucking man, but every time I tried, there was some excuse.
I tried to tell her when we got to the building, but the men were so damn happy to see her, and then fuckingRyujishowed up and threw me off, and by then it was too late.
I thought it was going well. I thought the men were seeing how fucking strong she was. I thought they were changing their minds. But I replayed everything they’d said over and over, and it was so fucking clear how they walked into that meeting already believing we were engaged. It was obvious how they deferred to me, not her.
When I told Giulio I would propose, I didn’t think he’d tell everyone we were already engaged.
I should have seen it. I should have said something.
Finally, as Leona yanked the penthouse door open and ran inside, I’d had enough. I reached out to grab her arm. “Princess, will you fuckingtalkto me?”
She whirled. “Get your handsoffme!” she shouted. Tears rimmed her eyes.
My heart felt like it was cleaving in two. She’d never looked at me like that. Never.
