Page 31 of Poison and Wine
Dare threw his head back with a laugh. “Seriously, Kitty Cat? You’re calling me Chuckles?”
With a shrug, she replied, “It’s better than asshole, isn’t it?”
Jerking his thumb at me, Dare replied, “I think that’s more his moniker than mine.”
All the bickering and backbiting of the past two days converged on that moment. I very rarely blew my top with my family, but I’d been pushed past my limit. I slammed my hand down on the table, causing Caterina to jump. “OUT! Everyone out!” When Caterina dared to slide her chair back, I jabbed my finger at her. “Except you.”
“Come on, man. We’re hungry,” Dare protested.
“Then take your fucking plates with you,” I growled.
Without another word, my brothers gathered their plates and glasses. Kellan threw Caterina a fleeting look of concern before he left the dining room.
Rising out of my chair, I stalked down the length of the table before plopping down in the chair next to Caterina. She eased away from me. “We’re not leaving this room until you get some things straight, and I don’t care if it takes all fucking night.”
Chapter Nine: Caterina
Although I fought to keep my composure, I couldn’t help trembling at Callum’s outburst. I’d seen him angry, but I hadn’t seen him like this. When he’d abandoned his chair and taken the one next to me, I cowered in my seat. I didn’t know this man, nor did I know what fury he was capable of. While I didn’t think he would physically hurt me, the possibility was there.
Callum flicked his hand at me. “Come closer, Caterina.”
The last thing I wanted to do was answer his command, least of all be any closer to him. So, I inched my chair slightly towards him. A low growl rumbled in his chest. Reaching over, he grabbed the arm of my chair and tugged it with all his strength.
A gasp flew from my lips as my body flailed in the chair. “Must you continue to manhandle me?”
“Must you continue to disobey every command I give you?”
I jerked my chin up at him. “I answer to no man. Not even to my father.”
“You will answer to me.”
“Over my dead body,” I bit out.
Callum’s dark blue eyes turned almost black as he stared at me with absolute venom. When he whirled out of his chair, I flinched in fear that he was going to hit me. Instead, he stalked past me over to the side table that held the liquor. With a shaky hand, he poured himself a rather large glass of what I imagined was whiskey.
After he downed the glass in three long gulps, Callum stared up at the ceiling. He sucked in a harsh breath before exhaling slowly. When he turned back to me, his expression remained slightly murderous. “I don’t know if it’s the same for Made Men, but in Irish Clans, we don’t hurt women. They’re considered innocents. They’re to be protected and cared for at all costs.” He swallowed another gulp of whiskey. “But you…it’s taking everything within me not to hurt you, Caterina.”
“Am I supposed to thank you for that?”
Like a snake striking out at its prey, Callum lunged from the whiskey cart over to me. Grabbing me by the shoulders, his fingers twisted into my flesh. I didn’t dare give him the satisfaction of crying out. Instead, I raised my chin and stared him down.
A few tense seconds ticked by where I wondered if I’d finally gone too far. And then as he stared down at his hands on me, a look of disbelief flashed on Callum’s face. He jerked away from me and spun back around to the whiskey cart.
While his back rose and fell in harsh pants, I pinched my eyes shut as I tried regulating my own breathing. The sound of his voice caused me to jump. “Despite neither one of us wanting it, this marriage is happening. We have to find a way to coexist without killing each other.”
A mirthless laugh bubbled from my lips. “What could possibly induce me into wanting to work on a marriage with my kidnapper?”
Callum turned around and shot me a pointed look. “I know the real reason why you joined the religious order.”
In spite of the cold chill that reverberated down my spine, I fought to keep my body or face from reacting. “Because I had a calling to serve God.”
With a shark-like smile, he then tsked at me. “Come now. It’s one thing to lie before me—” He paused to point his finger at the ceiling, “but it’s quite another to lie before him.”
“Only he knows my heart.”
Gripping the arms of the chair, Callum loomed over me, his face only inches away from mine. “I know more than you could ever imagine.”
I licked my lips. “Such as?”