Page 7 of Deception & Desire

“That’s not what I meant.”

I can see the resentment in her gaze, all her pain bubbling to the surface of her expression.

I’m taking away her future. All her plans, her goals, her dreams, ruined by the monster who is the don of Manhattan. In her eyes, I was her greatest adversary, the enemy she would have to whore herself out to for the greater good.

Once, it might have pained me to be perceived like this.

But these days, I don’t have much time for sentimentality.

“I will not force you to marry me. You can walk out that door right now, and I will not let a single person come after you,” I tell her truthfully, ignoring the way Teo and Rocco seem to bristle at my words.

Mia swallows again, her gaze beginning to waver.

“But you know what the consequences will be if you do that.” I keep hold of her gaze. “It’s your choice.”

She manages to fight through a few more seconds of rage, before closing her eyes completely. She’s simply breathing in and out, gathering herself now.

She doesn’t open her eyes when she speaks again. “If I do this, know that I will never forgive you. I will despise you until the day I die.”

“I can live with that.”

“I will never love you, either.” Her eyes flash open. “And I will not tolerate any mistresses.”

“Nor will I tolerate any man who looks at you with anything less than respect,” I counter easily. That part, at least, is something that has always come naturally to me. I take care of my things.

She gives me a disbelieving look. “So you’re just fine with us condemning each other to celibacy?”

I take a moment to rake my eyes very purposefully over her body. The curve of her hip, the toned muscles of her arms, the expanse of her bare neck. The attraction comes naturally, too. “Not quite.”

A pretty little flush spreads across her cheeks. “Beyond what is necessary to get me pregnant,” she amends bitterly.

So, she is not completely adverse to the sight of me then. Interesting.

“I’ve made my decision, Miss Chiavari. As I’ve said, the choice is yours.”

Mia glances back at her father, who has now made it down the aisle to hover nervously at her elbow.

They share another long look that I pointedly stare away from. I notice, for the first time since Mia entered the room, the priest standing at my side, silently taking in the entire situation.

I dread to think what Teo must be paying him for this.

Mia suddenly clears her throat, drawing my attention back to her. Her chin is now stubbornly pointing in the air.

“I will marry you,” she declares solemnly, and my heart begins to race in my chest.

This is truly happening.

“I will fulfill my duty to the Guild and to my father, and that is all,” she continues before turning to look at Teo. “I assume this means I’m no longer considered a liability?”

There’s a bitterness in her tone that I don’t quite understand, but I watch as Teo nods. “Once you become a Natali, your allegiance will be to the Prince’s Hand.”

Mia chokes on a laugh. “So, I’m someone else's problem now, am I,Princeling?”

“Mia,” Cas says quietly.

“I’m so furious at all of you,” her friend snaps back.

Cassandra seems to accept this. “I know. I wish it was different. I wish we could have planned this together. You can hate me. That’s okay. All I can do is be here for you now.”

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