I might be looking forward to killing two tyrants, but the idea of tricking a girl into falling in love to keep him happy doesn’t sit well with me.
I’ll have to play along to some extent. I just hope Alessandro doesn’t bring Mila tonight. I couldn’t bear for her to see something that isn’t real.
The car comes to a stop outside the mayor’s mansion, and just as I go to open the door, he repeats, “Tell me you understand, Raphael, because you’re going to soon learn you don’t always get to make decisions with your heart.”
I won’t lie to Mila, but I sure as hell don’t mind lying to my father.
“I understand.”
Throwing open the door, I straighten out my tux jacket as I wait for my mother to climb out. Holding my arm out, my father nods from the other side of the car. Appearances are always deceptive, but all so important to him. He’ll like people seeing how devoted I am to my mother, which saves him from having to put on an act of wanting to be close to her. Honestly, I don’t know why she stays with him.
My father leads us inside where waiters are handing out glasses of champagne to the guests just arriving. I don’t particularly care for the stuff. It’s too pompous and gives me a killer headache the next morning. Still, I carry my glass around as not to look out of place, and freeze when I see Mila standing with her parents, talking with the mayor. I’ve come to learn her smiles, and the one she’s offering now is too tight in the corners.
As if she can sense me in the room, her eyes roam over the guests until they land on me, and her lips relax.
This time next year, she’ll be with me, and her smile will be genuine.
“Son, I’d like to introduce Annalise Dupree.”
My father’s haughty voice breaks the moment with Mila. Her smile slips when her eyes cut to the girl being pushed closer to me, and my mother slips her arm from mine and goes to stand beside my father.
I turn my attention to Annalise, noting that my father was right. She is beautiful, and willing. Holding her hand out, I do as expected and lift it to my mouth and press my lips to her lace gloved hand. Only she’s not even in the same universe when it comes to Mila’s beauty.
“It’s nice to meet you, Annalise.”
“It’s nice to meet you too.”
I don’t know what to say next, and I sense my father’s agitation building beside me.
“I’m sure you would both like some time to get to know one another. What do you say, Anthony, shall we leave them to get acquainted?” my father says loudly, making sure he’s heard by everyone in the room.
“Actually, if you wouldn’t mind, I need to use the restroom first. Would you mind staying with Annalise until I return?” I ask my mother, who smiles warmly.
“Of course.”
My father doesn’t get the chance to argue with me because I don’t hang around. The Marocchi’s and the Camarco’s stay as far apart as they can at these events, but I brazenly walk past Mila and her parents on my way to the bathroom. Her father is too busy schmoozing the mayor to notice me, but Mila tracks my every move.
When I dart my eyes toward the archway on my way out of the room, Mila gives a slight nod, and I sigh in relief.
There’s only the wait staff lingering around, and they’re not paid enough to interest themselves in me as I hover near the bathroom door. She doesn’t keep me waiting long. When she’s close enough, I reach out and take her hand, pulling her into the bathroom before kicking the door closed behind me.
Backing her up against the wall, I press my lips to hers before a single word can be spoken.
I need everything from her, but her touch is enough. She kisses me back, and I’m careful not to ruin her hair or rumple her dress, reminding myself she has to return to her father in the same state she left in.
“Who’s that girl?” she questions, breaking the kiss.
“Annalise Dupree. My father has arranged for us to be married a week after my birthday, which he just sprung on me during the drive here. He wants her to fall in love with me before the night’s over.”
Her fingers dig into my chest like talons, and I find myself falling deeper