"We need to talk."
Elias had been building his courage all day, clutching the sentences in his mind as if they'd evaporate if he let them go. He'd even rehearsed in the bathroom mirror, whispering like an idiot to his own reflection, trying to get the tone right.
The moment Cassian stepped into the house, Elias was ready.
Cassian walked right past him.
"—no, if the council thinks they can push that onto my territory, they're mistaken," he said briskly into his phone, voice clipped, low, dangerously controlled. "Lo sistemerò. Sì."
Elias blinked.
Italian? Since when did Cassian Moretti speak Italian?
He hadn't in the book. At least not that he'd noticed when reading the book.
Elias followed him before his resolve could die a pathetic, quick death. "Dude, what's wrong? Did something happen?"
Cassian didn't even look back. "I'm busy."
"But—Cassian—wait." Elias quickened his steps, annoyance crawling under his skin. "I've been trying to talk to you."
"I'll hear it later."
