Chapter Twenty-One

Lorenzo’s POV  

The air inside Hell’s Pit was thick with sweat, blood, which was it's go to as it was.

I really needed to stop coming here and maybe after today I wouldn't have to. 

I moved through the underground corridors with purpose, my steps sharp and deliberate, my men flanking me on either side, I had done what I had to do and I was here for my reward.

Rafe walked beside me, his expression dark with warning. 

“I don’t like this,” he muttered under his breath.  

I didn’t either.  

But I didn’t have a choice.  

I wasn't leaving until I got what I came for anyhow.

The sound of fighting echoed down the hall from somewhere distantly, they were all likely drunk and thought that howling sounded like a good idea but I tuned it all out.  

I was here for one reason.  

To get Arielle back.  

I had given up my everything for this deal. 

Sacrificed everything I had built, my empire, my legacy.  

Vincenzo had his power.  

Now, it was time for him to honor his end of the bargain.  

At the entrance to the private lounge, two of Vincenzo’s guards stood stiffly, their hands resting on their holsters. 

They knew who I was and definitely knew better than to test me, but they still hesitated before stepping aside.  

Smart.  

I could forgive that moment of hesitation 

I pushed the heavy steel door open and stepped inside.  

Vincenzo was waiting.  

He was lying on a leather couch, a glass of whiskey in one hand, the other lazily draped over the backrest. The picture of a man who thought he owned the world.  

His smirk widened when he saw me.  

“Lorenzo,” he drawled, taking a slow sip of his drink.

 “To what do I owe this pleasure?”  

I ignored his bullshit and got straight to the point. 

“I did what you wanted,” I said coldly. 

“I stepped down. I kept my end of the deal. Now give me Arielle.”  

Vincenzo exhaled, setting his glass down on the table top 

“Ah, yes. Our deal.”  

I clenched my fists. 

“Don’t play games with me, Vincenzo.”  

He laughed softly and then—before I could react—he stood from his chair and was next to me in the blink of an eye. 

Too close.  

He leaned in slightly, voice dropping to a whisper.  

“But I didn’t get what I wanted, did I?”  

A chill ran through me.  

I took a step back, forcing myself to remain calm. 

"What the hell are you talking about?”  

Vincenzo sighed as if bored.

"The council refused me, Lorenzo. They don’t want me as King of the South. Apparently, I’m too ‘weak’ to rule.” he said repeating exactly what he had been told 

His expression darkening 

“Your empire means nothing if I can’t hold it.”  

I gritted my teeth.

 “That’s not my problem.”  

He smirked.

 “Isn’t it?”  

He stepped closer again, his smile turning vicious. 

" You of all people should know how this works. Power is earned. And if I can’t rule the South, I need something greater.” he muttered as he circled around me with slow, calculated steps, like a predator toying with its prey but maybe he had forgotten that I wasn't prey he stopped and turned to face me.  

I didn’t move or flinch.  

“You gave up your title,” he said, 

“but you never gave up your power.” He tilted his head, eyes gleaming. 

“You think people will follow me? That they’ll just accept me while you’re still breathing?”  

I said nothing because I knew he was right, I had know it when I had agreed to let it go in the first place. 

Arielle was the only thing that mattered.  

I shrugged 

"That’s your problem to fix. Now give me Arielle.”  

Something flickered in his gaze.  

A slow, knowing smirk curled his lips.  

“Oh, Lorenzo,” he murmured.

“You still don’t understand, do you?” he muttered stepping even closer, lowering his voice.  

“Here’s the thing, Lorenzo,” he said, tone casual. 

“Even if I wanted to hand her over, I couldn’t.”  

I stiffened. 

“What?” I gritted my teeth and he smiled 

“She’s no ordinary omega.” my breath hitched my gut twisting with something dangerous.  

" You didn't know" he asked laughing manically, then Vincenzo leaned in slightly, his voice barely above a whisper.  

“She shifted.”  

I went still.  

“She’s a dominant omega,” he continued 

“A true, purebred." 

That couldn't be possible those types were only heard of in books and movies. 

" Some call that a myth others legend but me I see it as a pure miracle” he exhaled sharply

 “And the council? They won’t just let her go.”  

“They already knows what she is.” His lips curled. 

" And they won’t let a creature like that walk free.”  

" Don't call her that" I hissed and he laughed 

“She’s powerful,” he continued. 

“Too powerful to be left unchecked.” he added looking away from me 

“I don’t give a damn about their rules.”  

“Well, they do.” Vincenzo’s eyes gleamed with something dangerous and sly 

 “They’re deciding what to do with her as we speak.” I felt something dark and primal claw its way to the surface.  

Arielle wasn’t a pawn for them to control and I wasn't going to let them do that to her ever again. 

“She’s not theirs to decide,” I growled.  

Vincenzo shrugged looking away from me and then back 

"That’s the difference between you and me. You still think this is about her.” He leaned in slightly.

 “But this? This is about power.”  

Something inside me snapped, I grabbed Vincenzo by the collar and slammed him against the wall. His guards reacted instantly, drawing their weapons—  

But so did my own men. 

A dozen safeties clicked off in unison and the room shifted as the tension went up by several notches. 

But I didn’t care.  

I tightened my grip, forcing Vincenzo to meet my gaze.  

“I don’t give a damn what the council wants,” I said, voice low and deadly. 

“She’s mine.”  

His smirk widened, as I choked him and he didn't budge. His eyes flickered between the gun in my hand and the army of men at my back.  

Then he smiled.  

A slow, knowing smile.  

“Interesting,” he murmured. 

"You’d really start a war for her?” he muttered smiling softly 

“Then come and take her.”  

The challenge hung between us like a loaded gun. My men had their weapons drawn, 

So did his.  

One wrong move and this place would turn into a slaughterhouse.  

Vincenzo’s grin didn’t falter.  

He was enjoying this.  

I released him roughly, shoving him back. He straightened his suit with exaggerated ease.  

“You want to fight me for her?” he mused.  

I didn’t blink.

“I’ll tear this whole fucking place apart if I have to.”  

He chuckled, rubbing his jaw.

 “ You wouldn't dare ” I gestured my men to drop their gun and extend my hand to Rafe and he handed me a gun 

I took it from his hand cocked it and shot it by Vicenzo feet he jumped back and his men raised their gun, I cocked it again and pointed it again, there was nothing I wouldn't do at this point 

I wasn’t leaving without Arielle 

And if it came down to it—  

I’d burn this whole fucking place to the ground.