Chapter 2

Vivienne

What the fuck was this messed-up shit?

There was no way I was even going to wait to find out if I had been sold off to the Vitale’s.

I took a step backwards, and felt my elbow hit something.

Shit!! It toppled. Double shit! And as it shattered, the conversation inside ceased immediately.

I was yet to get to move when the kitchen door swung open. My mother’s alert eyes met mine almost immediately and for a second… Neither of us moved.

This was the first time my mother was setting her eyes on me in six years and it was obvious that my coming here was a mistake.

“Vivienne…” I spun to my heels giving her no listening ear.

I could still hear her shouting my name as I shoved through the crowd, drawing curious stares. My heart pounded so hard I could hear the blood rushing in my ears as I shoved open the guest bedroom door and stormed inside.

No… no… no! Absolutely not!

I yanked my suitcase off the wardrobe and started hurriedly packing the remaining of my stuff just hanging around. Charger, Wallet, Passport, Laptop. My fingers trembled violently as I shoved everything inside.

I had thought Silas would be able to sneak in so I could show him a glimpse of the world I had escaped. But this? This was never supposed to have happened.

I hadn’t even gotten the full story from eavesdropping, but marriage? Vivienne and Massimo shouldn’t even be in the same sentence!

My uncle had even said my mother sold me off.

I must have underestimated the length my family would go to force their biddings down my throat.

This funeral had only been a bait to lure me home. I grabbed my phone and texted Silas again, ‘Please hurry.’

The bedroom door clicked shut behind me and I turned to see my mother standing there in all black lace and diamonds, looking less like a grieving widow and more like a woman late for brunch.

Typical Gretchen.

“What did he mean?” I demanded, pretending I didn’t so I could understand.

She arched her brow as she closed the distance between us, “I would have to remind you that there is no way to speak to your mother, Vivienne.”

I let out a bitter laugh.

“Well hello mother, I see you have been good and your grief hasn’t affected your immaculate fashion sense.” I mocked before adding, “Now what the hell did I just overhear?”

She studied me for a moment, as if deciding whether honesty was worth the effort. Then she sighed, sounding almost bored. “I’m sure you’re smart enough to know exactly what you heard.”

I just stared.

She continued, “Several shipments were lost this year. All the money left under your father’s care disappeared. The Vitales are only the first among the people we owe, and more than half of Massimo’s shipments vanished as well.”

A cold knot formed in my stomach.

That was a lot.

“What does that have to do with me?”

Her face hardened at my nonchalance, “You are the only Romano heir left with enough blood legitimacy to secure an alliance so please…”

“No.”

Her face remained blank.

“No?” she echoed.

I shook my head once, then replied. “No Mother. I can already tell where you and your delusional camp are going with this… I haven’t been one for the past six years so please don’t start now to refer to me as your heiress.”

Her answer came without hesitation.

“You will marry Cassian Vitale.”

For two seconds the room became eerily silent. Then I burst into laughter, “You’re joking Gretchen.”

“I am not and it’s mother to you.”

I stared at her, at the woman who had given birth to me and somehow looked utterly unmoved while handing me a life sentence.

“You can’t be serious.”

“It has already been shaken on.

“By who?” I could feel my voice rising. “You? Apollo? Who the fucks are you people decide my life for me?”

“Vivienne…”

“No!” I shouted, stepping toward her. “This is exactly why I left! This isn’t a family! And I refuse to be turned into one of your business transactions!”

She ignored what I said and went straight on.

“Your father is dead, Vivienne,” she said. “Duty no longer cares what you want.”

I felt something hot and vicious rise into my throat.

“I would rather burn this house down.”

“Then burn in it,” she replied, moving toward the door. “But you must marry him.”

She walked out.

Just like that.

As if she had merely informed me dinner would be served at seven.

Alsot immediately I realized no one had thought to lock me up.

I slammed the rest of my belongings into the suitcase, zipped it, and dragged it downstairs.

No one asked questions but I could feel their cold gazes as their whispers flew around and with every eye I met, a horrifying realization sank deeper.

They knew.

Every single person in this house knew I had been offered to the Vitale’s.

I dragged my suitcase toward the gates and called Silas again.

Voicemail.

Again.

Voicemail.

“Come on,” I whispered desperately, “Come on, Silas…this is certainly not the time!”

Still nothing.

Panic clawed up my throat. Even in death, Don Alessandro Romano and Victor had found a way to ruin my life.

My phone buzzed.

Silas: I’m parked out back. Hurry.

A sob of relief nearly escaped me.

Thank God.

A black SUV was packed by the garage when I got there. They still hadn’t come out to stop me which was surprising but I cared less.

I yanked open the rear door and climbed inside.

“Silas, you have no idea what these lunatics are trying to do…” I said breathlessly.

“My mother thinks she can force me into marrying Cassian fucking Vitale and I swear to God I would rather die single than…”

Silence.

My smile faltered.

“Silas?”

The SUV began moving.

A chill crawled down my spine and at the same time, my skin prickled at the unnatural silence. I took in my surroundings, the privacy divider, tinted windows and leather seat?

My heart was starting to thump so hard as I slowly came to the realization that Silas couldn’t afford an suv, especially one that had this rich cologne.

Slowly, my gaze lifted to the driver.

Silver-gray eyes met mine through the rearview mirror.

Cassian Vitale.

Oh God no.

I lunged for the handle and at the same time this sick bastard accelerated.

He said nothing… just stared at me.

“Stop the car Cassian!” I screamed, pounding the glass. “Stop the fucking car!”

He ignored me and picked up speed…

“Cassian!” I shrieked, twisting wildly. “Have you lost your mind… this is kidnapping?!”

His voice caused me to freeze, only for a second. “You don’t seem too excited to see me princess.”

I froze only for a second.

He sounded so different from the boy I had left behind.

“Where is my boyfriend?”

Cassian’s jaw flexed once before he reached beside him and tossed something over the seat that landed on my lap.

A phone with a broken screen with blood smeared across the case.

This was Silas’s phone.

My stomach dropped so much that I thought I might vomit.

Cassian’s eyes met mine in the mirror again.

“I suggest you sit still princess… not unless you want your boyfriend to be silenced permanently.”