Chapter 4

Vivienne

Massino wasn’t wearing the tie anymore, just his charcoal shirt with the sleeves rolled to his forearms, exposing a silver watch and veins that my sixteen-year-old self would have written poetry about.

“Vivienne,” he said at last, his voice sending an involuntary shiver down my spine. “I trust Cassian made the ride comfortable.”

He closed the door behind him. “You should sit down.”

“You don’t get to tell me what to do.”

A faint smile touched his mouth. “That is not currently an option.”

I laughed bitterly. “I’m no longer a child. You all can’t make decisions on my behalf anymore.”

Massimo walked farther into the room. I took several large steps backward, hating that I still noticed how good he looked.

“Make yourself comfortable,” he said, as though he hadn’t heard a word of my rant.

“I’ll be comfortable when I’m out of this place.”

His eyes rested on me for a second too long, “We both know that won’t be happening.”

My temper snapped.

“Seriously what is wrong with all of you?” I shouted. “You first lure me to the funeral and then kidnap my fiancé, drag me here and expect me to go along with it? Little Vivienne should just sit quietly and watch her life be ruined by monsters like yourselves?”

The nerve.

Massimo remained maddeningly still.

“Your father left extensive debts.”

“I don’t care.” I dismissed.

He continued, his voice calm as though he was talking to a kid, “You should.”

“I said I don’t care… that man stopped being a father a long time ago, why do I get to play his daughter in his death?!”

His voice lowered. “This is bigger than you, young woman. Your father owed a lot of very bad men who were not pleased when he took their property with him to hell.”

Bad men like himself? Why should that be my problem?

“Then take it up with him. Or his son. Or better yet, his wife.”

“I believe you are smart enough not to miss the point Vivienne…” His eyes darkened. “Your father and brother are dead. Your mother signed a treaty with the alliance long before her marriage to him. And you?”

The words hit like a slap.

“You are still a Romano in their eyes! Marriage to Cassian ties you to us and protects what little remains of your family name”

I looked away.

“I don’t bear my family name.”

“Tell that to the people out to get revenge… your words aren’t as relevant as you think!”

My eyes snapped back to his.

“You don’t get to tell me what’s relevant in my life.” Massimo moved toward the armchair and sat down. “Tomorrow,” I said, “I will see Silas, make sure he’s okay, and together we will leave, never to return again.”

He just stared.

Then, slowly, he patted the empty space beside him on the couch.

“Come here Piccola.”

Little one?

“Have you lost your damn mind?” I found myself yelling, to shield the fact that my heart had indeed skipped a beat.

“Come here…”

“No.”

His gaze sharpened. I took a step toward the door instead and before he could repeat himself again, I was at the door.

Locked!

I pulled harder and was about to yank again when I felt his hand wrap around my upper arm.

A gasp escaped my lips as the next thing I knew, I was thrown onto the bed. I was quick to scramble away instantly, pressing myself against the headboard as Massimo stood at the edge.

“Please do not ever mistake my patience with you for kindness.”

Fear skittered down my spine.

I hated it but hated him more.

“For every tantrum you throw,” he said, “Your little boyfriend pays for it.”

My breathing turned ragged and still I said, “You wouldn’t.”

Massimo’s brows lifted almost subtly.

This was Massimo Vitale. Of course he would…

“I do, however, have a surprise for you, one that would make you worry less about your chicken of a boyfriend.”

A faint smile ghosted his mouth as I eyed him suspiciously.

“Your husband will bring it.” And with that, he turned and left.

I stared at the closed door for what felt like an eternity then I let out a scream. My eyes searched the room, looking for any sign of a camera and, as expected, I found them.

My husband?!

Cassian!

“You both are sick if you think I would ever marry your son!” I screamed after a while of staring at nothing.

First, I had to get Silas out of this mess and then find a way to follow suit.

This wedding was never going to happen, and I didn’t care what I had to do to make sure of it.

“I hate you… fucking Vitale demons! I hate you all!”

I had no idea how much time had passed before the door opened again.

Cassian entered, with a tray of food, reminding me that before my whole world had gone into disarray in the blink of an eye, I had been searching for something to eat.

“I’m not hungry,” I snapped before he could speak. “And I am not your fucking prisoner.”

Cassian set the tray down on the table.

“Prisoners usually get worse rooms. Father must have booked the most expensive suite for you.”

I scoffed.

Ha. Ha. Ha.

Was that his attempt at a joke?

“Very funny, Cassian.”

He chuckled slightly and placed the tray in front of me, “You should eat.”

I eyed him up before eyeing the food and then dragged my attention back to him before shoving the food away.

He leaned against the dresser, and just watched me.

“I’d rather starve, and then you can marry my fucking dead body!”

His mouth twitched. “You know, your mother hasn’t called once.”

I stiffened. I didn’t care though!

Cassian continued casually, “Not to ask if you arrived or if you’ve eaten and yet I thought of bringing food to you Vivi.”

“Oh shut up.”

“She seems remarkably unconcerned for a woman who just handed over her daughter to the people she hates more in the whole world”

That’s right! Thank God I don’t have to spell how much I hated them… But he got one thing wrong, my family would always hold the number-one spot. No one could contest that position.

“Shut. Up and also I don’t care as much, I had gone six years without talking to her… my only mistake was coming back.”

He merely shrugged, and once again the silence between us stretched.

If he hadn’t betrayed me, I would have been all over him, trying to catch up on how he had lived these past six years.

The man standing before me wasn’t the shy, timid geek I had always protected from bullies years ago.

Had he even asked out that girl he had a crazy crush on?

And what skincare products did he use to clear those stubborn pimples?

The silence between us was turning unbearable, and it seemed I was the only one feeling that way because he, on the other hand, wore a faint smile while his gaze remained rooted on me.

Finally I asked, “How is my boyfriend?”

It was meant to rile him up.

Instead, I watched in horror as the look on his face was replaced by a cocky, cruel smile that spread slowly across his face.

Cassian pulled out his phone. “Funny you should ask. I’ve been waiting for that question.” He pressed play.

The video quality was clearer this time.

It was a dim office, and I could see Massimo seated behind a desk with Silas sitting across from him.

Alive.

I breathed out a sigh of relief too soon… way too soon because Massimo slid a black briefcase across the table and when Silas opened it… I knew I had lost my boyfriend.

It was stacks of cash, more money than Silas would make in ten years.

“If you take it,” Massimo said calmly, “we’ll drive you out of Boston tonight with enough to start over. In exchange, you forget Vivienne Romano ever exists.”

Silas looked stunned.

His eyes trailed over the stacks of money and for one hopeful second, I waited for him to refuse.

To say no.

To fight for me.

Instead, he asked, “And… that’s it?”

Massimo nodded.

A cheeky smile filled his face as he reached to close the briefcase he had just pulled toward himself.

“You have yourself a deal then.”

The screen went black and Cassian slipped the phone back into his pocket.

“SUPRISE!”