Page 82 of Brutal Crown
“I will make sure I never make the same mistakes my father made.
“I’ll make this worth it.”
Even though a part of me hates what I’ve become, I can’t walk away, not when there’s someone else to live for.
I press a single white flower into the soil beside the ring.
I stand up, slap the dirt off my knees, and walk back to where Marco is waiting for me.
“Thank you,” I say softly.
He nods once. “You’re welcome,Stellina. And from now on, you’ll be allowed out more,” he says. “But with detailed security.”
He pulls me into his arms. “You know, I’ll give you whatever you want.”
I nod. I already knew, but hearing it confirms all my thoughts.
I am still a prisoner, but my cage is only a little bigger now.
22
FRANCESCO
Iwatch her from the balcony above the east courtyard, half-shadowed by the pillars. Lia walks with Marco through the gardens, her hand tucked into the crook of his arm, a soft smile carved across her face like it belongs there. She’s slipping easily into the role of his future bride. A little too easily. She looks perfect by his side. They look perfect together.
She should be bymyside.
I’m slowly losing it. Not only am I forced to watch my brother claim my Lia, I’m forced to watch him claim my unborn child as well. My hands are chained behind me, and there’s nothing I can do. I hate it. I hate how helpless I am, how a man who commands so much power cannot do the one thing that means the world to him.
The first few days were the hardest, or at least I thought they were.
I left the house, unable to watch Marco flaunt her in my face. Unable to watch him hold her, touch her, kiss her. Unable to watch him have her publicly the way I crave to.
I slept in my office, in my bar, in my car. I smoked for hours straight until it felt like my lungs were giving out.
But my absence was starting to get noticed. Silvia was calling. The Morettis hadn’t heard from me and were worried. I still have my own wedding to plan, after all.
So I got my shit together and returned to the house. And that’s when the real challenge began.
Watching and not being able to do anything about it.
For the past few days, I’ve felt like a prisoner in my own home. I’m trapped in the clutches of my responsibility. In the clutches of honor, of obedience, of loyalty. To my family, the mafia, and the Society. I have never rebelled. As a child, I wasn’t allowed to justbelike other children my age. I was painfully aware of the role I had to live up to as the heir to the Romano family. I was told it was an honor, the best thing to happen to any man. Well, it didn’t fucking feel like it.
It never has.
All I’ve gotten in return are more responsibilities, more expectations, more rules. I’ve had to make bitter sacrifices.
I could handle it.
But now I’m supposed to stand by and applaud as the one thing I want the most gets taken away from me? Fuck that.
I’m done playing it safe. I will find a way to get myself out of this mess, even if I die in the process.
I clench the stone balustrade firmly until I feel it almost crush my bones.
Just then, Lia glances up, and her eyes meet mine.
It’s brief, but I savor the moment before she remembers she shouldn’t be looking at me.
