snaked up my spine.
“The engagement party, of course. Well, at least it will be once they announce it.”
Just then, the server arrived with our champagne. I wasted no time holding out my glass. “Thank you,” I muttered, downing it in one. The bubbles fizzed all the way down and I covered my mouth with a hand.
Scott chuckled. “My fiancée just found out some exciting news.”
“Oh, well congratulations.” The server offered to refill my glass, but I declined. I needed to keep my wits about me, not succumb to the tempting distraction of alcohol.
“You should have another.” Scott motioned to the bottle on ice. “Loosen up a little.”
“I think I should probably stick to water.”
“Spoilsport,” he drawled. “I went to see Tristan today. The doctors said he could wake any day.”
Pain coiled around my heart. Me and my cousin might not have always seen eye to eye, but he was still my family, my blood. I didn’t want him to die.
“I hope he does.”
“At least Marchetti is gone. He’s lucky he isn’t rotting in a cell like he deserves for what he did to Tristan.” Scott said the words as if it negated his responsibility for what happened that night. If he hadn’t provoked Nicco we wouldn’t be sitting here right now.
Oh, who was I kidding?
I didn’t know how things would have turned out because it was abundantly clear that my life was not my own. I was but a puppet and my puppet master was a man who wore many faces.
Father.
Traitor.
Sinner.
Liar.
Roberto Capizola was a man I could no longer trust. A man who spoke of protecting me and putting me first, but who locked me away in our house for five years to save me from the truth.
My father was not a good man.
My legacy was not built on the blood, sweat, and tears of an honest past. It was built on lies and secrets and a dark past he didn’t think I was strong enough to know about.
I grabbed the bottle of champagne and refilled my glass.
“Are you ready to order?” The server reappeared, looking a little sheepish. Scott straightened and folded his hands on the table.
“I’d like my usual, hold the sauce with extra greens please.”
“Very good, Mr. Fascini. And for the lady?”
Before I could get out the first word, Scott said, “She’ll have the same, thank you.”
The server gave him a tight nod and started walking away, but indignation burned through me. “Excuse me,” I called after him grabbing one of the leather-bound menus. “Actually, I’d like a garden salad with a side order of the shrimp.”
“Excellent choice.” He gave me a small smile before hurrying away.
“I’m quite capable of ordering my own meal.”
“You want to be independent,” Scott relaxed in his chair again, “I can dig that. But you know, Arianne, you need to get used to being taken care of.”
“I’m not looking to be somebody’s arm candy, Scott.” His name vibrated through me.
His lip curled with amusement. “You have so much to learn about the world, Bellissima.”
“Do not call me that,” I seethed, my fingers curling around the edge of my seat.
“Our union will make our families strong. It will make us a force to be reckoned with. The Capizola and the Fascini.” Something flickered in his eyes. “You and me, it's happening, baby. So you can either get on board with that, or you can fight me at every turn. Either way, I’m going to enjoy the ride.”
The champagne washed in my stomach, and I swallowed the acid rushing up my throat. Scott wasn’t going to make this easy. He was going to push and taunt me at every turn.
He picked up his glass and inspected it, his eyes catching me through the polished crystal. “I am counting down the days until I can have you again.”
I sucked in a harsh breath. I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t sit and listen to his sick and twisted words. “Excuse me, I need to go to the bathroom.” Gingerly, I stood and grabbed my purse. Luis immediately caught my eye and moved into position to follow me. I hurried toward the back of the room and slipped into the ladies’ restroom.
There was a knock and Luis’ gruff voice followed. “Arianne? Are you okay?”
“Just a minute.” My voice cracked, as I fought desperately to keep the tears at bay. I’d foolishly thought that if I didn’t give Scott power over me, he couldn’t hurt me.
I was wrong.
People like Scott—men like Scott—didn’t wait to be given power, they