Page 3 of Deception & Desire

Trust my father to force me to come to some fancy ass restaurant on my one day off.

But that’s a problem for future Mia Chiavari. Right now, my only priority is to sleep off this stupidly awful day and praythat whatever karma has decided to make my life so hellish has blown over by the time I wake up again.

“You look incredible, honey,”Marco Chiavari greets me on the stairs leading up to the hotel.

It’s been a while since I’ve had to wear heels like this, so I find myself staggering slightly as I greet my father.

He’s dressed quite handsomely himself, not that I’d ever admit it to his face. The old codger has more pride than a pack of lions, and it has become my sworn duty as his only daughter to keep him humble.

“We couldn’t have just stayed in and gotten take out?” I grumble as I kiss him on both cheeks.

“This is important, Mia.”

I pull away from his embrace in response to his tone, finally registering the guarded look in his eyes. “What is it?”

“I just love you. Very much.”

A chill runs down my spine.

He’s never said that to me, not as an adult. Not in so many words. He’s the kind of man who’d rather send an envelope of unmarked bills to my apartment when I’m low on rent than have a genuine conversation about emotions.

Something is wrong. Something is very, very wrong.

I grab his hand. “Papà.What’s going on?”

He squeezes my hand back. “Come. I’ll explain when we’re inside.”

“Is this about the Guild?” I ask anyway as he leads us in. “Are you in danger? Do you need me to get you out?”

My father laughs humorlessly as he pushes through the doors, bypassing the main reception area altogether to beeline for a set of doors on the far side of the hall.

“You worry about me too much.”

“I feel like I worry about you an adequate amount, actually,” I snap back at him before glancing back over my shoulder. “I think the restaurant was back there.”

He ignores me and continues to pull me across the hall.

I dig my heels in and pull us to a stop. “Not another step until you give mesomething.Where are you taking me?”

“There’s a room set up in the back. It’s…more discreet.”

Something finally clicks.

“Who else is here?”

“Mia…”

“No,” I take a step back. “Tell me.”

“I can’t?—”

“Can’t or won’t? Because if this is another one of Teo’s fucking interventions to get me to join the Guild, I’m leaving right now.”

“Mia!” My father’s voice booms out loudly enough for several of the other guests to look our way. “You will take my hand, and you will follow me into that room, or else, I swear to God, I will drag you in there myself.”

I snort. “Good luck with that. We both know your back isn’t up to it.”

“This is not a game anymore.” Each word that leaves his mouth feels like ice slicing across my skin. “You know how precarious the situation is between the Guild and the Prince’s Hand right now.”

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