Page 53 of Obsession & Oath

I exhale slowly, staring out at the gardens beyond the glass, watching the wind stir the leaves. I’ve always believed that my fate was set in stone, as unchangeable as the foundations of my father’s empire.

But what if it wasn’t? What if there was more to me than the life I was born into?

The thought is dangerous. It’s impossible. And yet, for the first time, I let myself hold onto it, even if only for a moment.

“You will come to me when you think of something,” Evelina says eventually, pulling me from my thoughts. “In the meantime, I hope you do not mind if I take some…liberties in regards to your stay here.”

I feel my brow furrow. “What do you mean?”

“I would like you to consider yourself my guest, not my son’s prisoner,” she decides resolutely. “We both know you will not run from here, so there is no need for such formal pretense. I will not have him send you to the dungeons whenever it is convenient for him.”

I bite back a smile. “As long as you’re the one to tell Dante.”

She shoots me a wicked smile. “Don’t you worry, Carmen. I think I will enjoy doing so very much.”

* * *

The evening of the ball arrives with all the fanfare one might expect of a literal castle.

The last few days have been a swarm of activity, and it had taken most of my efforts to stay out of the way of the various teams pruning, prodding, and decorating the vast halls and corridors.

Glimpses of Dante in the midst of it all were enough to make me promptly retreat somewhere he couldn’t find me. It was a cowardly move on my part, at least that much I can admit to myself.

But I wasn’t ready for that particular confrontation. Not when I’m still angry at him for Rocco’s visit, not when Evelina’s words have me spiraling and questioning everything I know. No, everything Iwantfor myself.

For the first time in my life, I’m thinking about a future that isn’t dictated by someone else. The fantasy of it all is intoxicating. The freedom of it is devastating.

I want it so badly.

But the reality of achieving it…makes me run from Dante at every opportunity.

Defying my father, hell, defying the Cartel, will come with no small amount of repercussions. The kind I don’t want to inflict on anyone else—even if they’ve acted like an asshole.

Especially when they’re currently looking for a good, uncomplicated Italian wife.

I push into my bedroom, trying to squash the undeniably jealous thoughts from my mind, intent on locking the door and refusing to acknowledge the festivities until it’s safe to come out in the morning.

Only there’s something hanging from the dresser that wasn’t there before.

A Venetian mask sits on the table next to it, a note poking out below, the words, “An honor, not a favor,”written on it in elegant script.

Chapter15

Dante

The castle has been transformed into something unrecognizable.

Golden candelabras line the grand hall, flames flickering and casting long, dancing shadows on the stone walls. The wax from the hundreds of flickering candles permeates the air with a soft, floral scent.

And everywhere—everywhere—there are masks.

Feathered, jeweled, laced. Some are delicate, veiling only the eyes, while others are elaborate works of art, obscuring the faces of the nobles and socialites who have come to play this game.

It’s all theatrics, all pretense, a world where identity is both hidden and on full display. And tonight, I am meant to be playing the lead role.

If only it were a tragic romance, I could meet my untimely demise before the night's end.

I lift the simple, black mask in my hand and fasten it over my face, adjusting it until it sits comfortably.

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