Page 37 of Cruelest Contract
Teresa Tempesta smiles at us, immortalized as a young bride who probably had every reason to believe she’d enjoy a long and happy future. She deserved this and it was taken from her, from all of them.
Everyone in this room knows what it means to be shattered by a single day.
My chest gets tight with wrath over the fucking unfairness of it all. Teresa was probably my age in this portrait, maybe even younger.
Why was she stolen from the people who loved her, who desperately needed her?
Unbidden stray notes of the whimsical tarantella echo between my ears. The chop of propellers interrupts. An internal defense mechanism smothers the memory before it can surface.
“Don’t look at it. Look at me.”
Julian is on my right, visible from the corner of my vision. I breathe a little easier at the sight of his tall, imposing body standing in solemn silence.
The memory mercifully retreats and I gaze at Julian’s mother, trying to detect hints of her sons in her smile.
“Hello, Teresa,” I say, the words rippled with sorrow.
Yes, I’m talking to a painting.
And yet the act feels entirely appropriate.
A gesture from Julian catches my attention. He’s making the sign of the cross. My grandfather was not a fan of the church and I haven’t set foot in one since my parents’ funeral.
But Julian’s brothers are also crossing themselves. I feel rather conspicuous when I do the same. I look to the right and find I’m being watched by Julian.
He says nothing but there’s a glimmer of appreciation in his eyes. I’m not sure of the cause. He might be silently thanking me for participating in their family’s solemn ritual. Or I might have just passed another test.
A moment of silence follows and no one moves until Cass speaks.
“I’ll be leaving for the Caymans shortly and I’ll be gone until Friday. When I get back, you’ll be ready to share your decision, Cecilia. The boys will accept your choice.”
This is evidently a signal that we are all dismissed.
And there’s no longer any doubt that every one of them takes this marriage arrangement thing very seriously.
Tye and Getty exit the room first. Out in the hallway, Getty elbows his brother and mutters something that causes Tye to bark with laughter. They observe me with wicked grins as I walk in their direction.
Meanwhile, Fort and Julian press close, right at my back. I’m literally surrounded.
Determined not to let any of them observe my anxiety, I paste a smile on my face and address all four of them. “Would this be a good day to ask for a tour of the ranch?”
“It’s already been all planned out,” Julian says, taking my elbow. “We’re way ahead of you.”
Tye loops his bulky arm through my other elbow and winks down at me. “Or haven’t you figured that out yet?”
I’m trying not to feel bullied and helpless as they steer me toward the door. It’s rather impossible.
How could I have ever fooled myself into believing that I have the power to outsmart these men?
They’ve decided the price to be paid for my brother’s life is me. They get what they want. Always. What’s more, I agreed to their terms the moment I stepped aboard their private jet.
The contract has already been written.
There is no cancellation clause.
8
JULIAN
