Page 20 of The Vatican
“Yes,” I answered honestly. Her face fell and Uncle Phoenix cursed a blue streak as he took her into his arms.
“Maybe she just needs time to-”
“Aunt Robbie, Saveria isn’t like other people,” I reminded her. “She was raised the same as me. She was raised to do what needed to be done no matter the cost to her personally. I’ve seen her give in to her Fiore side, her Mancini side, and her Benetti side.” I peer over at her. “Ria’s not like you guys. She wasn’t brought into this world. She wasborn and bredfor this world.” I looked at Uncle Phoenix because he knew the truth. “You knew one day she’d be tested. And you knew when that day happened, she’d pass. We just never expectedusto be her test.”
“What do we do now?” My mom asked.
I wanted to tell her they’ve done enough, but I wasn’t that cruel, and my dad would kill me for speaking to my mother like that. So, instead, I said, “Nothing.”
“But-”
“Mom, she’s going to be my wife,” I reminded her. “That makes her my responsibility. It’s my marriage and I’m the one who’s going to have to fix this.”
“I never thought she’d…” Aunt Frankie trailed off, and my heart hurt for her.
I glanced around the room, and, while I didn’t want to be cruel, I wasn’t going to lie to them either. “Saveria’s not wrong, you know,” I said. “We’ve grown up watching all of you set the example of what a perfect marriage is supposed to be. You guys are practically a damn Disney movie.”
“Francisco, no marriage is perfect,” Mom said, correcting me.
I cocked my head at her. “I know that,” I told her. “But your love for each other-all of you-is undeniable. Hell, even Uncle Sal treats his wife like a rare gem, and he’s a fucking psychopath. But you guys set that example for him and Uncle Leo for when the time came for them to get married.” I let out a deep sigh. “I know you guys meant well. Am I’m sure, in your mind, you guys thought it would all work out magically because you guys believe in that shit. But Saveria wasn’t wrong. Wedidtake her choice away to love someone with all her heart. Wedidruin her hope for a fairy tale love. We took a major decision in her life away from her and held it close like the secret it was.”
“But…but you love her, right?” Aunt Frankie asked, worry in her voice that I might be right.
I softened my tone. “Aunt Frankie, I love your daughter more than anything or anyone in this world. I’ve always loved that girl. It was easy to let myself fall in love with her knowing she was going to be mine in the end. Saveria was being handed to me on a silver platter, so there was nothing stopping me from falling in love with her completely. But that’s not the issue.”
“Then what is?” Aunt Robbie asked.
“Saveria doesn’t just want to be loved, she wants to love in return,” I explained. “She wants to give herself completely to a man who she can trust to do that with.” I shook my head. “I’m not that man for her. I lied to her about sometime monumental. She’ll never forgive me for that. And because she’ll never forgive me for that, she’ll never allow herself to love me.That’sthe loveless marriage she was referring to.”
“You’re right,” Uncle Phoenix said, confirming my worst fear. “We fucked up.”
“May…maybe if…I don’t know. Maybe if we give her time, she’ll-”
“Mom, time is the last thing I can afford to give Ria right now,” I said. “She will run. If she believes, for even one second, that there might be a way out of this marriage, she’ll run.” I let out a dark laugh. “I can live with her hating me forever. I can’t live with her married to someone else.”
“Surely, there’s something we can do,” Aunt Robbie said, hope lacing each word.
I looked at my aunt. “I still don’t think you understand, Aunt Robbie.” I looked at each adult in the room. “Do you know what happened when I told her this morning?” None of them answered. “She came after me. And I don’t mean she slapped me across the face and got hysterical. She came after me with every bit of Fiore and Mancini in her blood. She came after me with every bit of Benetti in her soul. Her apartment looks like a tornado hit it because she fought me like I wasn’t a grown man twice her size and three times her weight.”
“Oh, my,” Aunt Robbie muttered, in shock.
“Yeah, Aunt Robbie. We fought like true adversaries. Like enemies,” I replied. “I can’t help but feel like I’m the only person who’s noticed what Saveria has truly grown into. You guys see the sweet little girl who played house with her dolls. You’ve been blinded by her grace and femininity. Saveria is that girl who can rock a six-inch heel, but have no problem pulling it off to murder you with it.”
“I think you’re exaggerating, Francisco,” Mom said.
I laughed. It wasn’t a pleasant laugh either. “You letThe Holy Trinityraise her,” I reminded her. “You’re in denial if you think Luca Saveria Fiore isn’t just as deadly as the rest of us on that side of the business.”
“When are you getting married?” Dad asked.
“I’m going to give her tomorrow to cool down,” I answered. “But I’m thinking Monday. The sooner the better.”
“And…and the wedding?” Aunt Frankie asked, and I knew why she was asking, but I wasn’t going to be able to help her.
“I’ll call Father O’Rourke and have him meet us here on Monday.” I hated breaking her heart, but it couldn’t be helped. “We’ll do it as she requested.”
“You’re seriously going to get married in your father’s office?” Mom asked.
I was losing my patience. “Yes,” I bit out. “Yes, because I don’t have a choice, Mom.” I looked between all three women. “Have you guys not been listening? Ria already believes this marriage is a sham, Mom. If I force her to wear a white dress and drag her into a church, she will burn the entire thing down to the ground.” I shook my head. “You guys are going to have to settle for our marriage and forget the wedding. The other kids can give you guys the big, grand weddings you want.”
