Deviant (Boys of Winter 3)

“Don’t you dare speak ill of my husband like that,” she shrieks, her face reddening with anger. “You didn’t know him. You weren’t around.”

“Yeah, thanks to him,” I scoff.

“You don’t think I’ve heard about you while I’ve been away? You don’t think that everyone knows you’re a filthy little slut who has been sleeping her way around Dynasty? You’re trash, Elodie Ravenwood. My husband was right to take your parents. They were nothing, powerless, and failing this amazing organization, but my husband would have ruled it all. He would have made it great again, but you failed him.”

I choke back a laugh. “Excuse me? I failed him? Fucking hell. What is this? Comedy hour? Your husband would have turned Dynasty into a fucking dictatorship. He would have used it to gain power over the rest of the world and wreak havoc over the entire goddamn planet. He needed to be stopped, and you, do you really think he would have stood by you once that happened? Do you really think a man like that would have shared the spotlight? You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

Ida steps into me, her face full of fury. “Don’t you dare stand in front of me and pretend to know what my husband would have done. You didn’t know him. You’re just some forgotten kid with a habit of throwing nasty hissy-fits and losing control. You’re an embarrassment to Dynasty and a joke of a leader. Don’t be a fool, Miss Ravenwood. I will continue what my husband started and I will see it through, even if it means slaughtering you like the animal you are.”

The fuck does she think she’s talking to? I wonder if this bitch knows that her husband was in Paris’ back pocket. Why the fuck did she even come back here? She would have been better off staying away and giving her children a proper life, but she’s a greedy bitch. I bet she missed the money and lavish lifestyle.

“You should know,” she continues, her face somehow even redder and now shaking. “I will do whatever it takes to protect what is mine. Dante was raised in his father’s image and I will not let you take him from me.”

I scoff. “He couldn’t mean that much to you,” I comment, my face twisting in irritation. “You left him behind. You gave him an ultimatum and when you didn’t like what he wanted, you punished him by taking his sisters. You’re an awful person and he sees right through you.”

“You will cease this absurd relationship you have with my son immediately. I demand it.”

I step in closer to her and raise my chin, silently reminding her that she’s currently addressing her leader and that no matter what, I will not back down. She does not intimidate me, never has and sure as hell never will. “Wouldn’t it be a shame,” I murmur, lowering my voice to a near whisper just to fuck with her, “if I was already pregnant with his child.”

Ida’s face drops and she sucks in a dramatic gasp. “No. You’re lying.”

A wicked grin stretches across my face. “Wouldn’t it be great? You’re going to be the grandmother of the new Ravenwood heir. Oooh, I hope it’s a little girl.” My eyes widen as I meet her stare. “Shit, that would cease the Carver line, wouldn’t it? What a shame.”

Ida pushes into me, slamming her hands against my shoulders and giving me a hard shove. I rock back two steps and she keeps coming for me. “You’re the descendant of the devil,” she spits, disgust stretching over her face. “If you dare have a child with my son, I will take your life and the bastard child’s.”

I laugh. “Right, I can’t wait to hear what he has to say about his own mother threatening the life of his unborn child. I’m sure he’s going to love that. It’s bound to give him all those warm fuzzies.”

“I swear to God, Elodie Ravenwood, if you speak even a word of this conversation to my son, I will slit his throat and make you watch, just as your mother watched the blood drain out of your disgrace of a father.”

I step back into her, the emotions welling up inside of me like never before. “Careful, Ida. Your true colors are showing.”

“Is something the matter, Miss Ravenwood?” Mr. Danforth’s voice sounds through the long hallway.

I turn and give him a pleasant smile, more aware than anything of the bottle of cyanide sitting in the back of my pants. “All is well,” I tell him with a stupid innocence that seems so fake on my lips. “Mrs. Carver was just leaving. Please see to it that she finds her way out.”

Cruz’s father clenches his jaw and nods. He’s not stupid. He knows that a whole lot of shit was going on here, but he’s also a smart man and will pick his battles, and this simply isn’t one of them. He walks forward and indicates to Ida to follow him. “Mrs. Carver,” he mutters, “allow me to show you to the door.”