Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
He looks between us warily but leaves the room. Dawson lingers at the door and looks at me. “It’s good to see you, Rya.”
I give him a small smile. “You too, Dawson.”
“He’s apparently here to help organize things, and he’s my fiancé’s best man.”
The way she says fiancé twists knots in my stomach. I don’t even have a ring on my finger to fidget with, but I find myself wringing my hands anyway. So much time came between us as sisters, but to be reunited under these circumstances is horrible.
“Maria, can you please bring out some snacks and wine,” Honey instructs a nearby servant.
“Lots of wine,” I add. “Please, Maria.”
She nods courteously, and I follow my sister to the garden courtyard. The view from my family home is beautiful, and a wave of relief washes over me. I’d forgotten how at ease this view put me. It’s so different from the hustle and bustle of New York.
I sit across from her, and she watches me expectantly.
“Crue is a dangerous man,” I tell her.
She lets out a sharp breath. “You think I don’t know that? I don’t really care about Crue Monti right now.” I stare at her, somewhat surprised. She seemed like such a ‘good girl’ yesterday, like the perfect soon-to-be wife. “What I want to know is how deep this goes between the two of you. I will not be anyone’s second pick. But you really haven’t given me a choice.”
“What?”
“You were the one contracted for this marriage. Not me. Do you think I don’t know what type of man Crue Monti is? What he expects in a woman? Which is clearly the opposite of you.”
“Ouch,” I say, affronted. Has Honey always been like this?
“At least I’m better at hiding my reluctance.”
I nod in agreement. I suppose that much hasn’t changed since we were children. But what Honey wanted, she always got. Is this the first time she hasn’t? Or does she want this?
“So, explain to me why I should be reconsidering my engagement to one of the most powerful and wealthiest men in all of Italy.”
Maria places a tray of freshly made sandwiches on the table, vegetarian options included, and a bottle of red wine.
“No one is telling you that you have to reconsider your marriage.”
She pushes out another uppity breath and pours my glass of wine before her own. “The throwing water in my fiancé’s face and him losing his shit wildly over my sister tells me otherwise. Did you guys hook up?”
I take a sip of my wine and moan at its deliciousness. “On multiple occasions.”
“Do you love him?” she asks.
I cough, the wine going down the wrong way.
“Do you?” I ask.
“Wow. For a bigshot American lawyer, I thought you would be better at covering things up.” Honey shakes her head, picking at her sandwich. “Deflection. How dishonest of you.” She stares at me expectantly. In some ways, Honey is still a little princess, but she’s a woman now too. And it makes me miss her all the more.
“Because if you don’t stop this, I will go through with it. I will be the perfect wife he asks for and uphold the Ricci name. And what will you do?”
I can’t even look at the food while she casually eats.
“How can you so easily give away your freedom to a man you hardly know?” I ask, almost terrified of how submissive she has become.
“I’m not giving it away at all. I like my lifestyle. He’s attractive. Powerful. And I no doubt will get everything I ever ask for. What is so wrong with that?”
I can’t argue with her.
She continues, “As a Ricci, it is one of our roles to fulfill that duty. Contract or not. It’s not like either of us can suddenly marry a nobody. No one will ever be good enough for the Ricci name. Except maybe a Monti.”
I blow out a whistle. “You’ve been spending too much time with Papa.” I laugh.
“And you’ve been gone for too long, sister,” she replies sternly. “I’ve missed you all these years, and when you return, it’s under these circumstances. As if I’m being used as some pawn in Crue’s game with you. Do you know how humiliated I was yesterday?”
“I didn’t know he was going to come back here and propose to you,” I say defensively.
“Why? Because he’d already asked you?”
My nails tap against the table as I contemplate how much I should disclose. But she deserves to know the truth. All of it. “More like Crue dragged me to the alter, and I shot him in the leg so I could run away.”
Her eyes grow wide. “You shot Crue Monti and survived?”
“Everyone really gives him too much credit.” I wave it off dismissively.
She leans back in her chair thoughtfully. “So now what? Are you going to take him back, or am I going through with this wedding?”