The Vatican - M.E. Clayton Page 0,19

Uncle Ciro was with them too. I had let myself in and headed straight for Uncle Luca’s office.

The door was open, so it denied me the chance at a theatrical entrance, but I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to need it.

I stormed into Uncle Luca’s office, all three men sitting at the small conference table in the corner, looking over some papers that were spread on top.

“Is it true?” I demanded, and all three heads turned my way. “Is it fucking true?!”

I watched as the men I loved most in the world stood up, guilt written all over their faces.

“Ria-” my dad started to say.

“No!” I snapped. “I want a yes or a no, Dad. Is it true? Did you guys promise me to Francisco?” I watched him straighten to his full height and my legs almost gave out on me.

It was true.

I started shaking my head. “How…how could you?” My eyes found each man. “How…why would you guys do something like this to me?”

“Ria, Francisco is a good man,” Uncle Ciro said, trying to ease into this conversation.

“I don’t want a good man!” I yelled.

“Luca!” Uncle Luca snapped. “What a thing to say.”

“There are good men everywhere,” I snapped. “They exist anywhere you look. They might not have lots of money, or be society’s idea of good-looking, but there are good men everywhere.” My eyes darted from man to man, hoping they could see what I was feeling. “I don’t want that. I want more, and you guys took that from me.”

“What are you talking about, Ria?” Dad asked.

The tears started, but I didn’t care. “I want a man who is going to look at me like you look at Mom, Dad.” I looked over at Uncle Ciro. “I want a man who has to touch me every time I’m in the room the way you never stop touching Aunt Robbie.” I looked over at Uncle Luca. “I want a man who exists only for me, the way you do for Aunt Remy.” I swiped at the tears that were falling. “I’ve spent my entire life surrounded by real life fairy tales, and for what? To show me what I’ll never have?”

“Luca, Francisco will be good to you,” Uncle Luca insisted.

I choked out an angry laugh. “Oh, just what every girl wants; a man who will treat her right because his daddy told him he better.”

“Saveria, you know better than that,” Dad bit out, clearing not knowing how to handle my spiraling emotions.

I shook my head. “You guys have spent my entire life showing me what unconditional love is, only to saddle me with a husband who’s just doing his duty. Francisco doesn’t love me. He tolerates me on the best of days. Why would you guys do this to me?” I could hear the hysteria bubbling up in my voice. “Why would you…subject me to a marriage where my husband is probably going to spend all his time at The fucking Sapphire?!”

“Saveria, that’s enough!” Dad yelled. “You’re being unfair.”

My watery eyes nearly popped out of my head. “I’m being unfair? Are you serious, right now?” None of the men commented. “If this is such a great idea, and Francisco is such a fucking catch, why not tell me? Why keep it a secret?”

“Saveria, we will only tolerate your disrespect for so long,” Dad remarked, rather than answer my questions. “You will watch how you speak to us.”

I was in-fucking-furiated.

“You spent my entire life lying to me and manipulating me for a desired outcome that you three decided on years ago, and you want to talk to me about disrespect?”

“Luca-”

“Don’t,” I snarled, hurt and betrayal squeezing every chamber of my heart.

The problem with all this was that I knew Francisco was serious when he said it’d be him or no one. He’d kill anyone who got in the way of what he wanted. He was a Benetti, after all. If his mind was set on having me, and he had the backing of our families, I was done for.

I looked at my dad, and my heart felt like it was being shattered into a million pieces. “You won’t be walking me down the aisle.” His chest caved. “There will be no wedding.”

“Ria-”

I shut Uncle Ciro down. “There’ll be a marriage, but no wedding,” I clarified. “Tell His Highness, when he’s ready, we can get married here.” I didn’t bother to soften the resentment in my eyes. “After all, this where you guys shake hands on all your business