Ruthless Monarch

She finally turns away from the window and looks at me.

“So, what’s the plan now?”

“Don’t worry about the plan. You are just here to sit and look pretty.”

She lets out a laugh. “Wow, sexist much.”

“It’s not sexist when it’s the truth. I married you to prove a point. I married you because you benefitted me strategically. That’s it. Nothing more. The only point you have to make now is sitting there.”

“And if I don’t.”

I lean toward her, my arms reaching out to trap her against the window. Our faces are so close I can feel her breath tickling my lips as she exhales. Her jaw trembles, but it’s the lip that does me in; the way she sucks it in and bites it ever so gently. If she was anyone else, I’d grab her and fuck her in this car.

“Do not mistake my kindness for weakness, Viviana. I have not hurt you . . . but I can.”

My words hang in the air like the threat they are.

I have kept my distance.

I have not demanded anything of her.

“You will be obedient. Do you understand?”

She doesn’t respond, just continues to nibble on her bottom lip.

“Speak, Viviana.”

“Yes, I understand,” she grits out through clenched teeth.

“Good.”

Now that’s settled, I pull my phone out of my pocket and call Lorenzo.

“How are things up ahead?” I ask.

When I travel, I usually bring an army of men. This time I only brought enough to keep us safe during the drive.

Two decoy cars, as well as one to scope out the terrain.

“Clear. No sign of anything out of the ordinary.”

It takes us about one hour to leave my family’s estate in New York to get to the governor’s house.

He doesn’t know we are coming, so this should be interesting.

“When we arrive, you are to speak to security. My men will be positioned if anything goes wrong, but we are going in relatively blind.”

“Relatively?”

“I have a man inside.”

“You do?”

I lift a brow. “I guess it shouldn’t surprise me. You seem to know everything.”

“I am always one step ahead. Remember that.”

Her face pales, but she rights herself.

When we start to pull down the long drive, Roberto rolls down the window so the security guard sees her face.

“Hi.” Her voice sounds friendly, and I have to hand it to her. Although she is nervous, she seems to handle herself well under pressure. “I’m here to see my dad.”

He looks at her and then nods.

“He didn’t seem surprised by your car or that you are being driven.”

“I never drive to see them. I either Uber or they send a car service.” She shrugs.

Roberto pulls the car around to the front of the circular driveway and then kills the engine, then he is out of the car, doing his job of appearing to be merely a driver.

We both exit before the door opens to the house. It swings open, and it appears that her mother is standing there.

“Vivi. I didn’t expect you,” her mother says, clear confusion evident in her voice as it pitches on the last word.

“I had some news I wanted to share with you and Dad.”

That’s when I step out from the car and into view.

Her mother stumbles, her gaze locked on me. She looks me up and down, but there is no recollection. She doesn’t know who I am, which I like. Not that it matters. Regardless, I’m getting in to speak to the governor tonight, but this way, at least, she won’t try to stop me.

“Hello, Mrs. Marino.” I walk up to her and take her hand, kissing the knuckle, and she giggles like a schoolgirl. “I’m Matteo.” It’s like taking candy from a baby.

“Come, let’s find your father,” she says to her daughter, who rolls her eyes at her mother behind her back.

Together, we walk through the foyer and down a hallway.

In the background, I can hear a man on the phone. It’s Governor Marino. I can’t hear the words, but it’s him.

“No. Absolutely not.” I hear as his wife opens the door. He hangs up the phone abruptly. Once he’s off the phone, she strolls into the room.

“I’m in the middle of something,” he barks at her. When Viviana hears him yell at her mom, her body stiffens.

“I’m so sorry. But Viviana is here, and she brought a friend,” she whispers, voice weak and full of fear.

Mrs. Marino steps farther into the room so that Viviana and I can walk in.

He can’t see me yet, but I can see him as he scowls at his daughter.

“What is the meaning of this?” His voice is almost a shout, making Viviana’s shoulders slouch forward.

I watch her and her mother, both of whom are now looking down in defeat.

An irrational urge to throttle him spreads through my limbs. My right hand clenches into a fist.

There is a strong desire to barge inside this office, grab him by the throat, and then kick the shit out of him, but I know that won’t bode well for my plan.