Page 105 of Maddest Temptation

He cupped my cheek, pine-green eyes staring into mine. They were warm and welcoming. “I love you beyond what is physically possible. I love you enough it hurts, yet still I will brave the pain because for you I’ll do anything, Francesca. Anything.”

I rested my head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat. We stood there like that for ages, simply enjoying this newfound love, or rather a love that had always been there to begin with.

I left Arabella’s room shortly after Cassio. I needed some time to collect myself after such an emotional moment. I was on cloud nine.

“Cara mia.” I heard the monster’s voice coming from behind. I turned and there he was.

My nightmares wrapped up all in one. Donato approached me looking all smug like he had just won the lottery and was on his way to rub it in people’s noses.

“You didn’t heed my advice, did you?” He chuckled. “No worries, you silly fools are not going to stand in the way of my plans.”

“Plans.” I crossed my arms. “Who cares about your plans, Father?”

“How invincible it must feel to have Cassio Moretti by your side.” He shook his head. “In a few months, you’ll be mine to do with as I wish.”

I shivered, but at the same time, my body became warm, I was burning from within. “I’m not marrying anyone.” Cassio had made me a promise, and I believed in him.

“Oh, but you are, and he’s eager to meet you.”

Oh, but I wasn’t. “I’ll tell Cassio about your meeting with Grigori,” I threatened. I had no idea if the man in the picture my brother had shown me weeks ago was in fact Grigori, but I seemed to have been correct because he blanched.

“What did you say?”

“You heard me all right.”

He took a step toward me, and I took one back and raised my hand stopping him. “Touch me and he’ll know that, too.”

“So confident of your power over him.”

It wasn’t power, it was love. Cassio loved me and that made me feel invincible, even against Donato.

“You committed treason,” I said. The only reason I hadn’t told Cassio was because Donato had threatened to hurt the people I loved. I hated my father, but I trusted his promise to me. I wasn’t going to risk it, not for the world. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to them because of me. They were the only family I had.

Donato smiled. “There is nothing you can do about it, Francesca. Not if you want to see your friend walk down that aisle tomorrow. Or if you want your beloved to keep breathing.”

“You wouldn’t dare harm them.”

“Oh no, I would never, but I have some friends that would be glad to. After all, in the throes of war, who knows what might happen.”

“You’re a monster,” I snapped.

He laughed. “Tick-tock, Francesca, your time is almost over. One of these days Cassio is going to slip, and I’ll be there to catch you.”

31

FRANCESCA

After the vows were exchanged, we all moved to the wedding reception to watch their first dance together. I watched with teary eyes, I couldn’t recall the last time I was this happy, a kind of happy that made me want to cry.

After the toasts, the newlyweds headed to the dance floor and after their first dance the guests followed. Antoine was my first partner, then Vitelli, and on and on the men came wanting a dance. I could feel Cassio’s eyes burning through my skull, but he kept his distance.

It was equally frustrating and annoying. All I wanted was to be with him now that I knew how he felt. Maybe I had always known, but having heard the words come out of his mouth was a relief.

I reached my seat, tired from all the dancing, and out of habit, I reached for my phone, I knew no one was going to call me, but I checked it either way. I dropped the phone on the table when I saw the three missed calls. Everything happened as though I was on autopilot. My fingers swiped the name on the screen, and I pressed it to my ear. Slowly, I turned to the dance floor where everyone else was smiling and enjoying the party. The phone rang twice before it was answered.

“Francesca? Thank God. I tried to reach you before,” came his voice.

“Dr… Dr. Conrad?” My voice croaked.

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