Page 45 of Broken Princess

"You will if you know what's good for you," he says, his voice low and dangerous. "For this family. Or have you forgotten what this was all for in the first place?"

"I know what it was about. Securing a truce with our enemies," I say. "Doing whatyouwant. Just like I went to the academy because it's whatyouwanted. Just like I take these stupid classes I don't care about and joined that stupid fraternity because it's whatyoudid when you were my age."

"It's tradition," he says, his voice taking on a tone that suggests he's done tolerating my insolence. "It's what our family does."

"No, it's whatIdo," I growl. "Youdid whatever the hell you wanted.Youmarried a woman you loved.Youchose the academy, and the fraternity, and my vapid fucking fiancée. And I'm done with it. I'm done with all of it. I'm breaking off the engagement."

"And doing what?" he bellows, stalking toward me. It's an intimidation tactic and one that would probably work on most people, considering he's practically a raging bull. "Going to some party school and drinking all your potential away? Making a fool of yourself and this family? Wasting your time on whatever whore has you so brainwashed you think you can just run away from your responsibilities?"

"It's better than living my entire life by your fucking rules," I snarl, standing toe to toe with him. "It's not paint by numbers. I'm going to be the head of the Rossi family. I've paid my dues and proven myself out there when I was even younger than you were."

"You've done shit," he says, shoving me hard into the wall.

Mom gives a startled cry, which is the only reason I shove him back instead of clocking him square in the jaw. I'm younger, faster, and stronger, and it would be so fucking easy to prove it...

Dad staggers back and seems genuinely shocked by my defiance. I can't say I blame him for that. I don't even fully know what's gotten into me myself. But it feels good to finally be fighting back.

"You're going to regret this," Dad says, his voice low and furious. "You're going to regret this until the day you die."

"What I regret is not doing this sooner," I shoot back.

His eyes narrow, and he says nothing for a few long, tense moments. When he finally speaks, his tone has changed. It's low and controlled. "Then do what you want. Make your choice. Betray your own family, and all we stand for, but you will be doing it alone."

I give a dry laugh. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," he says. "You do this—you call the engagement off—you can say goodbye to your inheritance. Geo will take your place."

"You have to be joking," I mutter. "I'm the firstborn. It's myrightto lead."

"Oh, I'm perfectly serious," Dad says firmly. "It's not your right, it's your privilege, and if you want to act like a stubborn, selfish child, then you can consider that privilege revoked. So I want you to think about that, Lorenzo. You think long and hard, and then you tell me what it's going to be."

I grit my teeth and clench my jaw, barely able to see through my rage. I never thought it would go this far, and as tempted as I am to call his bluff, I know that's not going to pan out the way I want.

So instead, I take a step back. And then another. And then I turn on my heel and walk out the door, knowing that I'll never be welcome back here again unless I fall in line.

I'm a made man. A soldier in the Rossi family.

Do I really have the strength to walk away from it all?

CHAPTER 21

AMELIA

Tonight at dinner, I have a plan.

It's going to involve stuffing down every last bit of rage and righteous indignation I feel, and being on good behavior. At least on the surface.

Stefan is coming over, and I know that Dad is going to be expecting me to pretend like nothing is wrong. If he actually thinks I'm just going to be okay with pretending like Stefan is the father of my baby and marrying him like a good little mafia princess, he's dead wrong.

But I'm not going to let him see that. I'm going to put on a brave face, and maybe even smile at Stefan, like everything is perfect. I know it's going to kill me, but I can do this. Dad expects it of me, and I'm not going to let him down. Not tonight. I need him off my case.

I just can't lay it on too thick or he'll know I'm up to something.

Stefan walks into the dining room, and I stand to greet him. I give him a small smile, but it doesn't reach my eyes. It's all I can manage. Stefan returns the smile, but his eyes are full of sympathy. Maybe even a little guilt.

"Amelia, it's good to see you," Stefan says, taking my hand and kissing it.

Dad watches us with a raised eyebrow, but says nothing. He's the only other one here, since Kayleigh and Natalie are who knows where.

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