Page 72 of Wicked Rivals

I motioned to the velvet armchair for her to take a seat.

She chose the sofa instead.

The sofa where I’d held Val after fucking her on my desk. I couldn’t look at the desk without my cock stiffening. That made things difficult, so I took the armchair myself, facing away from the desk.

Benedetta crossed her ankles, folded her hands on her lap.

“We’re supposed to be getting married tomorrow,” she said.

“That doesn’t mean I have to tell you everything. Standing in front of the priest and saying our vows doesn’t make us equal partners. Do you understand that?”

Her eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.

“Yes, I know that. I still think either you or my father should have told me about your son. I’m entitled to at least that much.”

With this level of visible control over her anger, maybe Benedetta had some fire in her. If she did, it was buried deep, and I had no interest in digging it up with her or any woman other than Val.

Even if that woman was my future wife.

“You’re entitled to whatever I say you are, Benedetta. Nothing more, nothing less. I can be a fair man, but I won’t be if you push me.”

“I don’t think I’m being unreasonable here, Stefano. I understand what this is between us. A contract. On my part, there are no expectations of love or anything of that nature. I’m not walking into this under any illusion.”

I scoffed. “Then what’s the problem?”

The second I’d said the words, I felt like an asshole. Here I was, completely dismissing a kind woman who’d done absolutely nothing to deserve my ire.

“I think it’s only fair you let me know why people will point at me and whisper. When you made this agreement with my father, you made an agreement with me as well.

“We swore to have a childless marriage. You made me promise to relinquish any future claims to motherhood, to spare other children from being forced into this life the way you and I were.”

“And you agreed,” I pointed out.

“I didn’t have a choice.”

Her words dripped with venom, even as the perfect line of her lips curled into a smile.

It took me a minute to realize it, but then I saw that smile for what it really was—pure hatred.

Now when I looked at her, really lookedand considered her as a person instead of a means to an end, I believed she was far more capable of violence than I’d given her credit for.

Not enough to convince me she had arranged the attack on Enzo, but she certainly was capable of something like it.

This was a mafia princess sitting across from me, after all, and Benedetta presented herself perfectly that way.

Her parents raised her to accept only perfection before it came time for them to sell her to the highest bidder, to ensure the family’s strength and position.

But this one had her own thoughts, ambitions, and desires.

That wouldn’t affect my decision to marry her. I cared only about the power that came with her hand, the power I needed to fulfill a promise and avenge my family.

Had my ambition and my blood lust really blinded me so much that I hadn’t seen the snake I had agreed to marry?

With a deep breath, Benedetta straightened her back, and like magic, the anger in her expression melted away, the mask of cold indifference sliding into its place.

“You still agreed,” I said.

“I agreed because that’s what’s expected of me. I understood your reasoning too, don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t my choice, but I absolutely see the logic and even some warped form of mercy behind your decision. It made sense.”

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