“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.”
If she wants to speak, she can’t seem to find the words. Instead, she reminds me of a floundering fish as her mouth opens and closes.
“I know what happened. I know your father hangs it over your head, and I know the guilt.”
It’s a bluff. I don’t know shit yet.
I know vague details but not exactly what happened.
“How could you know this?” she whispers. “No one knows.”
“I’m not everyone.”
“You’re not my future husband, either.”
“Here’s where you’re wrong, Princess.”
The room goes silent around us. She’s trying to figure me out. Understand my motive. I can almost hear the wheels turning in her head.
“What will you do with this knowledge? If my father finds out . . .”
“You let me worry about your father.”
“And Julia, her brother. What about . . .?” she trails off.
“I will handle everything. Everything your father handles will fall on me.”
“Why?”
“Do not have any preconceived notions that I am doing this for you. I’m not a good guy. I’m not the hero. I need something, and you are the key to getting it.”
“And if I refuse?”
“You won’t.” I study her for a moment. I like her bite. I like that she thinks she can refuse me, that she thinks she has a choice.
“You’re confident.”
“I am. Plus, you do not want to deal with my cousin, who is a sadist. My deal will protect you. From him and your father.”
“And you’re not?”
“I am, but a different kind than him. I will handle your father. This will be a marriage in name only. You won’t have to worry about me. You will have your life, and I will have mine. . .”
My words are clear. This is a means to an end and nothing more.
She goes back to chewing her lip. I want to take my hand and grab it. It’s distracting as all fuck.
“What do you want from him?”
“Control. Revenge. Your father thought he could get in bed with my enemy. He will learn very fast that there is no going against me. My cousin will learn too. If you are his bartering chip, I’ll take it from him.”
“I’m the pawn.”
“Yes.”
“At least you’re honest.”
“That is one thing you will learn about me. I don’t lie.”
“So . . . you want to marry me?”
“No, Viviana. I don’t. But this is the course of action I am taking. Have no false illusions. I will never love you. I will never care for you. But if you do this, if you help me, I will take care of you.”
She goes quiet again.
Viviana Marino is beautiful when she’s pensive. Her big brown eyes deep with thought.
“When?”
“As soon as possible,” I answer.
I’m surprised by how fast she comes to a decision. I expected to have to threaten her or hang her secret over her head. But instead, she straightens her back and stands up.
“Okay.”
It’s done.
4
Viviana
* * *
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know I’m screwed.
Two proposals in one night. . .
None of them welcome.
My prospects of escaping unscathed are slim to none at this point.
Option number one: Fall in line with my father’s wishes. Yet again.
Option number two: Get in bed with his enemy . . . literally and figuratively.
My heart begins to race. He did say it would be in name only.