Page 66 of Fierce Monarch

“But you didn’t have a choice,” Mari guessed. She was versed in the ways of mafia women in a manner Grey and I never could be. “What happened?”

Lucia shook her head. “I met Mario at a gala with Alonzo, my second husband. It was a few years after Dominic’s father died, and I was just starting to get back to normal. Happy, even. Alonzo was older but sweet. He took care of us.”

By older, she meant ancient. My memories of my first stepfather were of puffy white hair and a crinkled smile. He had been old enough to be her grandfather.

“Mario found me the second he walked in, and he was, for lack of a better term, besotted. He followed me around the entire time, even cornered me by the bathrooms at one point to explain why he’d come to Chicago. He offered me a place at his side immediately. Love at first sight, he’d called it, and even after I explained that I wasn’t available, he wouldn’t walk away. He asked for a drink, a dance, a night. I refused.

“When Alonzo came over to take me to the dance floor himself, I could see that Mario didn’t like it. He’d come to Chicago looking for a wife, and just because the one he’d found was married didn’t mean he was going to take no for an answer.”

She stood on shaky legs, heading for the bar cart in the corner. She came back with a full glass of bourbon and didn’t even realize she hadn’t offered us any. It was as close to off-kilter as my mother got anymore.

After half the glass was gone, Mother continued. “He played nice the rest of the night, being friendly with Alonzo like nothing had happened. Turns out they were old friends, and my husband had been the one to suggest expanding the pool of potential wives to our city. Mario played on their friendship, teasing and joking about extending his stay until it felt impossible not to invite him to do it. We couldn’t slight him, and Alonzo was just happy everyone was getting along.

“Mario showed up for dinner every night that week and the week after, bringing me flowers and treats each time, even when I said it was unnecessary. Alonzo thought it was sweet that Mario thought of me, but I knew better. He was testing the waters and finding the protection around me lacking. I told Alonzo I didn’t like him around so much, but they’d been talking about marrying the two of you together, uniting the bloodlines. Until the decision was made, we couldn’t say no.”

Ice slid down my spine as I cautiously looked over at Mari, but she was focused on my mother. “How did you two end up together?”

Lucia looked at me then away, her ears burning. “Alonzo and I had an arrangement. He wasn’t interested in sex, but he knew I was young and I wanted more children. We agreed that I could have affairs, as long as I kept them discreet.”

None of us flinched. It wasn’t uncommon in our world, nor was it cheating when she had full permission of her spouse, but Mother was from a different, less accepting time. Hell, Mari was dating two men. It wasn’t exactly stereotypical monogamy in our lives either, but Mother wouldn’t agree. She’d grown up with that as the example and expectation, and anything outside of it was perverse.

Like she knew she had to tread carefully, Mari’s voice was gentle. “Mario was one of those affairs.”

“Initially, yes, but only because Alonzo convinced me it was a good idea, and just while he was in town. As soon as we worked out your engagement, Mario would go home, and our relationship would be over. I knew immediately that Mario wouldn’t accept the terms of our arrangement for long. He was the type who needed to own someone, not share them.” Another sip and a deep, shuddering breath. “The affair lasted three months. Then Alonzo died.”

“Mario killed him,” Grey guessed because we all knew how obsessive the asshole had been. Honestly, I was surprised my stepfather had survived that long with Mother in Mario’s sights.

“I was pregnant at the time, his baby, obviously. The second he found out, he got rid of Alonzo.” The glass clinked against her teeth as she took a shaky sip. “I told him I wasn’t interested in marrying him, even after the mourning period was over, but Mario didn’t care about that. He blackmailed me with photos and videos he’d taken from our time together. I either married him and brought you to Seattle, or he’d tell everyone and let the Lords of Chicago take care of us both.”

She reached forward and snatched my hands, clinging to me. “You have to understand, they would’ve killed you. I couldn’t let that happen.”

“So, you married Mario.” I’d always wondered how she’d met him, but I’d accepted her excuse. We run in the same circles. Apparently, I should’ve looked into the situation sooner.

“Eventually, yes,” she answered, looking at Greyson. “I think he would’ve done it immediately, despite the mourning period, but the stress of it all made me lose the baby. He wanted to give me time to heal so we could try again, but there were complications.”

The way she said it made it obvious that those complications were entirely intentional. Mari sat back, staring at my mother with newfound awe. “You got sterilized.”

My mother looked over her shoulder, fingers trembling in mine, and I squeezed them.

“Yes,” she whispered. “Your mother?—”

She didn’t need to explain more than that. Everyone knew that Bianca Marcosa’s story was a warning. My mother had given up her chance at more children, which she desperately wanted, just for a chance to survive long enough to raise me herself. For the first time in years, I saw a glimpse of my mom inside her, and I wondered what else she’d sacrificed for me.

Had she ever done something for herself?

“When did the affair with Cash start?”

“Almost immediately after we got to Seattle,” Mother admitted. “I was lonely and reeling from everything, and Mario didn’t trust me with his men. He kept me locked in our house and only let me out enough so that people could see I was alive. For a year, the only men Mario had guarding me were the ones he thought too loyal to break.” She huffed in annoyance. “Like it was my fault he’d pursued me so hard in the first place.”

With the last of the booze drained, she sat back. “Cash started doing nice things, leaving me my favorite treats in my room, sneaking me books and movies, taking me out on long drives when he had to leave the compound. I told him I couldn’t be with him, not when it risked Dominic, but he promised it wouldn’t. He’d keep things quiet, and Mario wouldn’t kill me because then he’d never get another chance to make more heirs. No woman would touch him willingly if he killed two of his wives, and he was all about the willingness of his partners. He got off on us saying yes, even when it was the only way out.”

“But my father found out about you two. How?”

“Cash told him just after we got married. On our wedding night, Cash convinced me to meet him and we…” She looked at me before her eyes darted away again. “He took photos, taunting Mario that he’d had me on our wedding night too. I’d already known that our affair was more about power than anything, but I didn’t realize that Cash didn’t care what happened to me. When Mario found out, I ran for Cash, but he wasn’t there. I thought I was going to die.”

“But you didn’t.”

“Cash was right. Mario knew that getting rid of me would bring questions he couldn’t afford to answer—about his sanity, his virility, his control over me, and his people. His very hold on Seattle was at risk.”

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