Ruthless Monarch

From behind me, I hear footsteps. I turn to see Viviana, but it’s only Julia.

“Where is she?” I ask her.

“She wasn’t there.”

I turn to Marino. “Where the fuck is my wife?”

“You’re too late.”

I step forward, my hands circling his throat. “Speak.”

“Salvatore has her, and knowing him . . .”

46

Viviana

* * *

His eyes are void of emotion. Dark and sinister.

He had come to my father’s house and took me. My father offered me up to him like a prize pig ready for the slaughter.

Now I’m in what seems to be an abandoned warehouse.

Alone, waiting for him to tell me what he wants from me.

The shackle around my ankle makes chills run up the back of my neck. But it’s the bed in the corner that truly terrifies me. I would rather die than be this monster’s plaything.

Kill me.

But not before he hurts me, not before he makes me pay for defying him.

I knew when this plan was set in motion that this could happen. I had hoped we would be able to pull it off.

But now, in the darkness of this dank space, I know I was just fooling myself. This was always the outcome.

Regardless if I had never married Matteo, this was my fate.

I don’t regret a minute.

Not one if it brought me to Matteo.

The sound of heavy footsteps has me scooting back and trying to hide. But there is nowhere to go.

His sinister laughter echoes through the air, and my gaze flies toward him. He’s stalking toward me, large and menacing.

“What are you going to do to me?”

“If you’re worried I’m going to rape you, don’t. You’re more trouble than you’re worth.”

“Then why am I here?”

“Come on, Viviana, you’re smarter than that.”

“Bait.”

“Ding. Ding. One point for the mafia queen.”

“He won’t come for me. He doesn’t care.”

He laughs again. “You better hope he does. If not, I’ll have to send you to him piece by piece until he has no choice but to pick up your scraps.”

“You assume too much,” I choke out, even though I know I’m lying. I just hope he doesn’t come. I would gladly die to protect him.

“My cousin loves you. And he will come for you. When he does, I’ll be here to kill him. And after, if you give me trouble . . .” He lets the threat hang in the air. “I’m going to call him soon. Is there anything you want me to tell him for you?” His lips tip up into a smirk.

“Go fuck yourself.”

His smile broadens, and he looks downright sinister in this light.

“With a mouth like that, I hope Matteo doesn’t come. I’ll make a shitload of money on you. Ironic with who your father is.”

My confusion must play across my face. “Oh, you don’t know? Didn’t you ever wonder why I got into business with him? Why I knew he wouldn’t be against my ideas for expansion?”

It hits me in the gut, and the wind is knocked out of my lungs at his declaration.

I always knew my father was evil, but this . . .

Tears fill my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall.

I can’t show him my sadness or my fear. He will consume it like a succubus prays on the weak.

“How sweet, you didn’t know.”

I’m frozen in place at his words as my mind spins frantically.

Strange pieces I didn’t know of a puzzle falling into place.

My body is twisted around, no longer able to look at him.

I can’t.

He’s the harbinger of death.

It’s only a matter of time.

47

Matteo

* * *

Shit is tense in the car on the way back to the compound. We have no idea when he grabbed her or where he took her. When we get back, we stand in the foyer with no direction on how to proceed. The only option now is to call my cousin. I know this. My men know this.

We have to sacrifice the king to save the queen.

Lorenzo finally breaks the silence, saying, “What do we do?”

“We have to figure out where she is, and then we have to go in and get her.”

“It’s not that simple.” Lorenzo starts to pace back and forth. “You can’t surrender. That’s what he wants.”

“If that’s the way I save her, that’s exactly what needs to be done.”

“I know where she is.” We all turn to where Julia is standing. No one speaks, just stares at her. “I know.” This time her voice is stronger and full of conviction. “Let me help.”

“This smells like a trap.”

“It’s not. She is my best friend. She-she’s my sister. I would never do anything to hurt her.”

Lorenzo steps forward, essentially caging her in. He looks like a beast next to her. “You already did,” he sneers.

“And I apologized. I feel awful. It’s my fault she was hurt, but I’ll never make that mistake again. You have to believe me.”