Page 9 of Forbidden War (Forbidden 2)
I consider her words and let out a sigh. “There’s no part of the scenario in which I’m not playing the part of a pawn, is there?”
“It doesn’t mean that you don’t find your own power.” Candi’s expression tells me she knows exactly what she’s talking about.
But she doesn’t know me or have any clue about the lack of autonomy I’ve had my entire life. Being powerful doesn’t compute for me.
“I’ve never had power. Ever,” I tell her.
Our food arrives, and it seems like forever before our server leaves again. All the while, my mind is trying to process what Candi is saying, but I just can’t grasp it.
“How do I find my own power?” I ask.
Candi’s chewing a bite of crab cake, so I have to wait for her answer. “You assert yourself. Marco may have married you to serve his own purposes, but that doesn’t mean you can’t lay down the ground rules for what happens next. Set some boundaries.”
I’m still lost. “You mean like, tell him what I expect and what I will tolerate, and what I won’t?”
“Exactly. Frankie had to do the same thing. And when she stood up for herself, Dante started to come to his senses.”
I take a few bites, trying to imagine making demands of Marco. I can’t picture it. He’d probably laugh in my face if I even worked up the nerve. “I don’t think I can do this.”
Candi smiles. “I think you can. Look, I’m only on the outside looking in, but I’ve been around the men in this family for a very long time. Years. They appreciate a woman who stands up for herself, but also one that knows how to negotiate. If Frankie hadn’t stood her ground, I don’t know where she and Dante would be today. You may not get what you’re asking for. Marco may get worse before he gets better. If he gets better at all. But you’ll never know how powerful you can be until you try. A word of advice?”
“Yes, please.”
“Don’t let Marco push you around. But also, don’t discount what he can bring to your life. You may end up needing him more than you think.”
We continue eating, and Candi gracefully shifts the conversation to winery business. Lifting my glass to take a drink, I notice a woman with red hair and a very tight dress standing at the bar on the opposite side of the room. She’s openly watching me with her eyes narrowed and doesn’t bother to look away when I catch her eyes. She’s familiar, but I can’t place her.
A small shiver goes through me, but I brush it off. I already have more than enough to worry about right now.
