Page 24 of The Vatican
“Oh, God,” Jessica exclaimed, as she looked over at Ria. “You’re a Fiore?” She let out a sigh and smiled. “No wonder you can talk to him like that.”
Saveria smiled at Jessica, but then looked back over at me. “I was in the restroom, fixing my lipstick, when your…uh,friend, Jessica came in.” Saveria’s smile was wicked. “We met, clicked, and now it feels like we could really be the best of friends.”
I could feel the enamel grinding away from my teeth.
Ria turned her smile back onto Jessica. “And then, she was kind enough to recommend Franklin Hennessy.” Her eyes back on mine, she continued, “Of course, he’s not thebeastin bed thatyouare, but he leaves a girl smiling in the morning.” She turned back towards Jessica. “Right?”
And because Jessica was just plain fucking clueless, she said, “Oh, definitely. Franklin is just what you need to see you through the night.” Then Jessica looked back at me with hope in her eyes. “Long time no see, Francisco,” she said, her voice suddenly shy.
I wanted to torch the whole goddamn place down.
I spared Jessica a quick glance. “Hello, Jessica,” I said, my voice strained as fuck. Jessica wasn’t a bad person. She was just a casualty of our parents’ manipulations.
“Well, now that you’ve got your man, why don’t you point out Franklin?” Saveria asked Jessica.
“He’s over t-”
“Fiore.” There was no mistaking my tone. It came out like a thunderous growl, and there was enough heat in it to stop Jessica mid-sentence.
Ria lifted her chin and arched a brow. “Don’t be a hypocrite, Benetti,” she replied coolly. “If this place is good enough to get your dick wet, it’s good enough to satisfy my needs.” Her lip curled, and she looked vicious. “Plus, I have it on good authority that Jessica, here, knows what she’s talking about.”
My eyes on Ria, I said, “Jessica, will you excuse us. We-”
Ria grinned and faced Jessica. “Oh, no. You don’t have to excuse us,” she said. “I’m the third wheel here.” She leaned in like she was telling Jessica a dire secret. “He’s just playing big brother. You know how family can get sometimes.”
Jessica believed her.
She threw out a titter of a laugh. “Oh…yeah, I get it.”
Saveria looked back towards me. “So, don’t disappoint my new friend, Jessica, and I’ll just go grab Franklin and a good time will be had by all, yeah?”
I was going to fucking kill her.
I’ve done a lot of shit in my short life, but I was in serious danger of killing this woman. Something I’d never be able to come back from. Something my life would end for. Saveria was pushing in a way that was dangerous for both of us. She was the only person in our family that was equal to me in power, and if I didn’t conquer her, if I didn’t come out on top in this battle of the wills, she’d own me and burn down the entire Benetti Organization on an angry whim. On the platform of her torn and battered emotions. She believed she’s been betrayed, and she knew exactly what we did to people who betrayed us.
I couldn’t let her win.
No matter the cost to our future.
“Take one fucking step towardsanyman in this room, and I will fucking kill you, Fiore,” I bit out.
Jessica finally got a clue. “Uh…I’ll just let-”
Saveria smirked. “He’s joking, Jessica.” Holding my gaze, Ria added, “I’m sure you can take his mind off me. I’m sure you’re great at distracting him from anything that has to do with me.”
I wanted to roar the truth. No woman has ever had what it took to distract me from Saveria. It’s always been her, but this thing between us was so fucked-up, I wasn’t sure there was any fixing it.
This time, I looked over at Jessica. “Jessica, you need to leave,” I told her unfairly. “Luca and I need to talk.”
Ria’s breath hitched, while Jessica looked confused. I’ve always called her Fiore. “Who’s Luca?”
I jerked my head towards the woman in question. “Your new friend, Ria, is actually Luca Saveria Fiore. Ria for short.”
Jessica’s eyes rounded to comical proportions. “Holy shit,” she breathed. “Uh, yeah…” She turned and damn near ran from the table.
Once she was out of earshot, Saveria let loose. “What gives you the right?”
I stepped to her, grabbed her by the arm, and tossed her in the seat I had been occupying. I placed my hands on either side of the chair, caging her in. “Are you forgetting you’re going to be my wife?” I seethed. “I’d say that gives meeveryright.”
