Ruthless Monarch

“How do you know who I am?”

That’s when I decide to laugh, but it’s not a real laugh. It’s a sinister one.

Perfect for instilling fear in her. “I know everything about you. I know your name.” I gesture around. “I know where you live, your drink of choice, what you studied, how you like your fucking eggs, and most importantly, I know you are the only daughter of Governor Marino,” I finish, deadpan.

“All public knowledge. You use Google.” She shrugs, but she is shaking. I can see it. “Big deal.”

“You majored in English lit. Graduating with a 4.0 average, and your best friend is Julia Checklov. Should I go on? Very well. You’ve been to the hospital two times, once for a broken wrist at the age of fifteen, and the other time from a fire at the age of ten.”

The shock on her face from before has nothing on the look she’s giving me now. Her normally large eyes are even bigger than usual. They look like they will burst from their sockets. She reminds me of a cartoon character.

I think she might pass out from how worked up she is, but instead, she nibbles on her lip and closes her eyes for a moment. When she finally opens them again, she looks calmer, stronger, with a passion that simmers beneath her surface. It’s intriguing, like a perfectly wrapped gift that will be even more enjoyable to tear apart.

“This is about my dad,” she states.

“Smart girl.” I smirk. “Bet you didn’t get that from your daddy.”

“Well, then you’re wasting your time. I know nothing about his work, and truth be told, he probably wouldn’t give you anything for me.”

“You think so little of your importance?”

“I have no importance.” She tips her chin up, and I can tell she believes what she says. Unfortunately, she is an unreliable narrator in her own story.

“Don’t you want to know why I’m here?” I can’t help but grin. Fuck, she is gorgeous. And fuck, she’ll be fun to play with.

“Honestly, not really.”

Her response makes me chuckle, despite the fact that I normally don’t. There is something about her. “Interesting answer. But regardless of what you want, I’m going to tell you.”

She doesn’t speak. Instead, she starts to nibble on her lip again. This must be her tell. She’s nervous. I store this information away in my mind.

“Your father wants you to marry Salvatore Amante.”

She stops chewing as her mouth drops open.

“How—”

I raise my hand up to silence her. “How do I know that? As I told you before, I know everything.”

Clearly, I have shocked her again, but she will soon learn that it is not often that something gets past me. My cousin being the exception.

Even from where I’m sitting across the room, I can still see how her jaw shakes. “W-what do you want from me?” she stutters.

“You’re not marrying him,” I say flatly. And mean it. She won’t.

She narrows her eyes and then shakes her head. “I don’t think you understand. My father—”

“Is the one of no importance in this story. I understand more than you will ever know, Viviana.”

“I don’t have a choice,” she whispers more to herself than to me, but I still answer.

“Yes, you do.” My voice is strong, and it leaves no room for objection. Instead, she studies me, trying to understand why I’m here talking to her.

“Why do you even care?”

This is the part where I get to smile. Well, more like smirk. This is the part where I tell her the future she has yet to figure out. Her role in this chess game between my cousin and me. “I care because you are going to marry me instead.”

I expect her to do something crazy and call me insane or scream at me, but instead, she narrows her eyes and gives me a look I can’t understand.

“Why would I do that?”

“I think you misunderstand. I’m not giving you a choice. I’m telling you. You will marry me.”

“And who are you?”

My mouth splits into a larger smile. “I’m happy you asked… I’m Matteo Amante.”

Cue the shock.

Cue the fear.

“You’re M-Matteo Amante?” she stutters.

“I see my name precedes me.”

Of course, it does. Everyone knows who I am. Not only am I considered one of New York’s most eligible bachelors, but if you travel in my circles, I’m also the deadliest.

Seeing as she’s the governor of New Jersey’s daughter, I’m not shocked that she knows.

“I can’t marry you.”

“You can, and you will. Your choice is my cousin or me. I can tell you I’m the better choice.”

“I’m not marrying anyone.”

“We both know you are out of options. We both know your father has been paying off your debt for years and hanging it over your head.”

Her eyes go wide. “How do you—”

“Know? Again, I know everything. I know all about the accident.”