Chapter 54- Shattered Glass
Lucia Words could cut deeper than any blade,
Through the one way glass, each of Dante’s casual dismissals sliced like sharpened steel. His voice that voice that had whispered Italian endearments in darkness, that had defended me to business rivals, that had commanded respect in boardrooms now reduced me to nothing more than convenient politics
“Pretty society princesses with good family connections are rather common in our circles.”
My fingers pressed against the glass, leaving smudges on its perfect surface. Like everything else in this elaborate trap, even my pain had been carefully choreographed for maximum effect
my pulse race. Now it just made my chest ache. “Though I must say,
“Simple business,” his voice carned that bored amusemem that had once made my pu
trying to use her as leverage shows rather amateur planning on your part
Amateur. Like believing I could be more than another name in his ledger of careful arrangements.
“The contract has very specific terms about dissolution in case of death or injury. Quite favorable terms, actually:”
e formed in my veins as understanding crystallized. He’d planned for every contingency even my death would bring business advantages. Every touch, every kiss, every moment I’d thought held sameilang real… all carefully calculated for maximum return on investment.
A perfect Romano solution
“Mrs. Romana!” One of Marco’s men appeared silently at my elbow. “You’re to come with us.
I noticed the shift in their stance less threatening now, more… anticipatory Something had changed in the careful choreography of this trap
*Your weapon, malam.” Another guard held out my pistol, grip–first. The same one they’d Liken at Giovanni’s. “You might need this.”
Understanding flickered at the edges of my mind, but grief made analysis difficile. “Why?”
“Orders” His face remained carefully blank, but something like satisfaction crossed his eyes. “You’re to enter that room now. How you handle what you heard is… up to you.
They were giving me bark my gun. Letting me confront Dante after hearing his casual dismissal of my
Like they wanted me to do something rish,
worth. Almost like…
The door opened with careful silence, lening me slip to the study unnoticed. Dante still sat in that leather chair, the picture of relaxed control as: he verbally sparred with his uncle. From this angle. I could see his face dearly that perfect musk of aristocratic boredom I’d once thought I could see beneath.
“Though I’ll grant you, she plays her part exceptionally well he was saying, examining his perfectly manicured nails. “Very convincing in public appearances.”
My finger found the safety on my pistol, disengaging it with practiced ease. The small click echoed in the suddenly silent room as both men turned
to face me.
“Lucia” Dante’s voice carried none of the warmth I’d once thought real. Just calm assessment of another piece in his careful game. “I see Marco’s men
have made their choire.”
“Not just them.” I kept my voice steady despite the claos in my chest, weapon trained on his heart. The same heart I’d foolishly thought might hold something beyond business arrangements “Though I mist congratulate you on a masterful performance these past months. You really had me convinced I might be more than another contract.”
Vincent’s eyes darted between us, calculation warring with satisfaction. Perfect Let him think he’d won. Let him believe grief made me predictable. “Now cara,” Dante started, but I cut him off with a sharp laugh.
“Don’t. Don’t you dare use that name like it means anything” My hands didn’t shake as I aimed. They never shook. Papa had made sure of that. “Though I suppose everything’s just business to you, isn’t a? Every endearment carefully chosen for maximum effect”
He stood slowly, hands raised in exaggermed peace. “You’re upset. Understandable, given the circumstances”
“Upset? Another laugh, this one holding edges sharp enough to draw blood. “No, upset was finding those contracts. This… this is something else entirely,”
“The lady seems rather displeased with your business arrangements, nephew.” Vincent’s voice carried false sympathy. Like he hadn’t orchestrated
this entire scene.
“The lady.” I said coldly, “is done being a convenient political anet.”
Dante’s eyes met mine – those dark eyes I’d once thought held heat when they looked at me. Now they just assised, calculated, planned Always the perfect Romano heir.
“Put the gun down, Lucia Ha voice carried that edge of command that had once made heat pool in my belly. This is beneath you.”
“Beneath me“” My finger tightened fractionally on the trigger. “Like being another name in your ledger of careful arrangements? Another pretty society princess playing her part?”
Vincent shifted slightly anticipation poorly masked as concem. “Perlups we should
Glupter 54–Shattered Glass Chapter.
“Bequiri.” I didn’t look away from Dante’s face. Couldn’t look away, even as grief tried to crack my careful control. “I want to hear him explain exactly how profinable my death would be. How many business advantages he’d gain from my convenient tragedy.”
Something flickered in Dante’s eyes – something that might have once given me hope. But I knew better now. Everything was business. Everything was carefully estrulated performance.
“You’re being dramatic. He sounded almost bored. “Though I suppose thats to be experted, given your current emotional sta “Emotional.” The word tasted like ashes. “Because God forbid anyone feel something real in your carefully controlled world”
“Real?” His laugh held no warmth, “Come now, you knew what this was from the beginning. A mutually beneficial arrangement. Nothing more, Each word struck like physical blows, but I maintained my aim. Let them think grief made me reckless. Let them believe pain made me stupid.
They’d never see if coming
“A business arrangement, Techoed softly. “Like all your other contracs. All your other carefully chosen companions.”
*Precisely. His smile showed too many teeth. “Though Funrst say, this display of dramaties is rather disappointing. I expected better business sense from a Valentina“
Vincent’s satisfaction grew with each exchange, his guard dropping fractionally as he watched his careful manipulations bear fruit. Perfect “Better business sense.” My hugh held something, dangerous now. Something that made both mearense slightly. Like malyzing return on investment? Calculating profit marglis on marriaget Planning for favorable terms in case of death
“Noran
“I said don’t call me that The words came out sharp enough to draw blood. I’m not your anything. Not your wife, not your partner, not even your most profitable arrangement anymore.”
Dante’s eyes narrowed slightly at that last part, Good Let him wonder. Let him calculate possibilities while I lined up my shot
“Put the gun down,” he said again, that command that had once felt like heat now just another carefully chosen tool. “Before you do something youll regret.”
“Regret?” I let my voire crack slightly. Let them think grief made me vulnerable. Like believing I could thinking those touches meant something beyond polnical convenience!”
more than another contract Li
Vincent shifted again, satisfaction making hum careless as he watched his nephew’s carefully constricted world crumble. Just a little closer….. “You’re upset,” Dante started, but deur hom off with another sharp laugh.
“No.” I sairi sofily, dangerously. T’m done being a useful asset in your perfectly controlled lifc
My finger tightened on the trigger as Vincent’s semile widened. Everything proceeding exactly according to plan.
Just not their plan
