Page 59 of Depths of Desire
He takes a step back, arms crossed, gaze filled with ice. But I see the crack beneath the surface—he’s not just angry. He’s hurt. Then his voice drops, grave and unyielding. "But let me be clear: you don't have any choice in the matter."
The words hit like a slap. My breath stutters. A rush of panic rises like bile in my throat because beneath the cool delivery lies a truth that chills me more than his fangs ever could. He means it.
He means every damn word.
"What do you mean?" I ask, heart beginning to hammer.
Nico looks me straight in the eye. "You either marry me and hopefully end Malrick’s claim now, as I explained to you... or... well, things won't turn out so well for you."
The air in my lungs turns to ice. "What does that mean, Nico?” I demand, but I fear I know exactly what it means. I swallow hard.
“How will it look for the family—for Renzo—if Malrick's claim on you holds?"
I frown. "I don't know. What's that got to do with it?"
His jaw tics. "Malrick’s winning makes Renzo look weak. And if Renzo looks weak, then people are going to make a play to take over the family. They're going to try to steal our business and break us down. Renzo's not going to let that happen. Nor is my father."
My stomach drops to my knees. "What are you saying?" I ask, but I’m afraid of the answer.
His gaze hardens like steel. "What I'm saying, Luna, is your only option is to marry me. Anything else—as like I said—it won't turn out so well for you."
The words slam into me like a punch to the gut. Sweat breaks out along my back, dampens my palms. My breath catches as the weight of his words sinks in.
He’s telling me—without saying the exact words—that if I don’t marry him… they’ll kill me.
"See?" I say, voice about two octaves too high and shaking. "This—this is what I want to get away from."
Nico starts to say something, but then he cocks his head. “Pippa's here,” he says. “Maybe she can talk some sense into you.”
Relief floods me, and I try to hide the physical signs, but I know Nico knows something's going on. The look he gives me tells me as much. He gets up and walks back into the house.
I take a halting step and collapse into one of the seats around the table. My knees won't hold me. Maybe Pippa can get me out of here. Maybe I can go to the yacht and be done with all this. Because I do not—do not—want to be part of this family anymore.
The door opens once more, and Pippa walks through. She comes over to my side and I try to stand but my knees are still weak. She bends down and gives me a hug, then sits beside me. "What is it? You look pale."
"Nico just said he wants to marry me."
Pippa stares at me for a minute, then nods slowly. "That does make sense. If you marry Nico, then Malrick's claim is negated."
"But I don't want to be married to anybody. I don't want to be married to this family," I say, voice rising again.
She squeezes my hands. "I know, honey. It's hard. And it's not what any of us wanted. But... it's really not so bad."
"That's because you love Luca. I don’t love Nico.”
She cocks her head, raising an eyebrow. "I've seen how you two look at each other when we’re all together. Are you telling me you've been here, and you haven't slept with him?"
I hesitate. The heat crawls up my cheeks.
Pippa grins. "Thought so."
"It's not about what I feel about Nico. It's what I feel about the family. Only, Pippa... my entire family—my parents—they’ve been using me like some kind of bargaining chip. I don’t want that. I want to be free. Truly free to live my own life on my terms.” I take a breath. “Nico just told me I don't really have an option. I either marry him, or it's not going to end well for me.” I laugh bitterly. “You know what that means. There is no upside to this family. I don't want to be part of it."
"It’s not like we thought it would be, honest. You can be happy, I promise you.”
I grind my teeth. Why can’t she hear what I’m saying? "Like I said before, you and Mia are in love with your husbands. And they're in love with you. That makes all the difference."
"How do you know Nico doesn't care about you?" she asks.
