Page 17 of The Vatican

“Get out,” she said, her voice cold and distant.

I stood up, and the second I did, Saveria went from wrecked to incensed. She went from looking like a victim to looking like a warrior.

We were both in our battle stance, facing each other down.

“If you hadn’t just cum all over my hand, I might have let you out of the marriage,” I lied. The first lie I’ve ever told her. “But since it’s not a matter of attraction, everything else can be worked out.”

Her prism-colored eyes burned with hate. “Don’t flatter yourself, Benetti,” she said scathingly. “It’s been a while since I’ve been laid. It could have easily been Geno’s hand, had my father not shown up last night.”

I could feel the heat of possessiveness creep up my neck. “Mention his name to me one more time, Fiore-just one more time-and I will fucking kill him. I will take him to the funhouse and make you watch,” I promised. “Don’t test me on this.”

Her hands balled into fists at her sides. “Get the fuck out of my house,” she growled.

This wasn’t getting us anywhere. “I’m leaving, Fiore,” I told her. “But this isn’t over.”

Saveria lifted her chin. “We’ll see about that.”

I left, slamming the door behind me, before I fucking killed her.

Chapter 9

Saveria~

The humiliation felt like I was asphyxiating on my pride.

I could barely stand to look at myself as I recalled how my body gave into his demands. I said some horrible things to Francisco, but I couldn’t lie to myself. If he had approached me the day after I killed Trent Hendricks, I would have thrown myself in his arms and promised him whatever he wanted. Iwasattracted to him and there were no secrets between us.

Well, except for the one.

When I had texted Mom asking her where dad was, she couldn’t have replied with a better answer. Apparently, Dad was having a meeting at Uncle Luca’s, and Uncle Ciro was with them too. I had let myself in and headed straight for Uncle Luca’s office.

The door was open, so it denied me the chance at a theatrical entrance, but I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to need it.

I stormed into Uncle Luca’s office, all three men sitting at the small conference table in the corner, looking over some papers that were spread on top.

“Is it true?” I demanded, and all three heads turned my way. “Is it fucking true?!”

I watched as the men I loved most in the world stood up, guilt written all over their faces.

“Ria-” my dad started to say.

“No!” I snapped. “I want a yes or a no, Dad. Is it true? Did you guys promise me to Francisco?” I watched him straighten to his full height and my legs almost gave out on me.

It was true.

I started shaking my head. “How…how could you?” My eyes found each man. “How…why would you guys do something like this to me?”

“Ria, Francisco is a good man,” Uncle Ciro said, trying to ease into this conversation.

“I don’t want a good man!” I yelled.

“Luca!” Uncle Luca snapped. “What a thing to say.”

“There are good men everywhere,” I snapped. “They exist anywhere you look. They might not have lots of money, or be society’s idea of good-looking, but there are good men everywhere.” My eyes darted from man to man, hoping they could see what I was feeling. “I don’t want that. I want more, and you guys took that from me.”

“What are you talking about, Ria?” Dad asked.

The tears started, but I didn’t care. “I want a man who is going to look at me like you look at Mom, Dad.” I looked over at Uncle Ciro. “I want a man who has to touch me every time I’m in the room the way you never stop touching Aunt Robbie.” I looked over at Uncle Luca. “I want a man who exists only for me, the way you do for Aunt Remy.” I swiped at the tears that were falling. “I’ve spent my entire life surrounded by real life fairy tales, and for what? To show me what I’ll never have?”