Just before she leaves, I make sure to drive the point home. “And if you’re thinking of telling Carlo the truth, hoping to get his support, you’re dead wrong. The Wife-Killer doesn’t exactly have a soft spot for women. Both of his previous wives committed suicide just months after marrying him.”
“But you said they died of natural causes,” she whispers.
“They did. According to our laws,” I say with a smirk before adding, “And as you’ve probably noticed, the man is like the chief of a savage tribe. When he’s angry at the message, he slaughters the messenger first and deals with everything else later. If you tell him anything, his rage will hit you first.”
Her voice cracks as she murmurs, “I won’t say anything.”
Then she leaves the room.
FOURTEEN
Lucia
“I expect you to be ready to fulfill your wifely duties after your birthday party. You won’t need any form of contraception, I intend for us to have a child as soon as possible.”
Carlo’s words keep echoing in my head, another wave of nausea rising in my throat.
The same day Tony stormed out of my room, Carlo returned home. He called me in and told me that the time had come to consummate our marriage.
And it’s tonight.
The night of my birthday.
The night I’m supposed to escape this estate.
So many emotions are tearing through me at once—fear, worry, anxiety, and guilt. Guilt over the way I betrayed Carlo, and the fate being forced upon Emily, a fate I’ve played a key role in shaping.
In the end, helplessness overshadows every other feeling. There’s nothing I can do but to follow Tony into this madness.
The door opening snaps me out of my thoughts, and I push off the wall I was leaning against. I’ve been standing in the hallway outside Carlo’s office for a few minutes now, waiting for him.
His armor-like tattoo is hidden under a white collared shirt and a black suit, all ready for my birthday party. When his eyes land on me, they light up, his gaze trailing over me, making me squirm.
“We should go. The guests have been waiting for us for a while,” I mutter anxiously.
He leads the way but stops before entering the hall to take my hand. His brow furrows as he notices how cold my hand is, and he fully turns to face me.
“Nothing bad will happen to you tonight, Lucia. I have no intention of hurting you. And I won’t take any pleasure in it, either.” His voice is calm, almost reassuring.
I fight back tears, struggling to keep them from spilling over. Taking his hand in both of mine, I say with genuine gratitude, “You’ve been kind to me these past two years. You gave me a life my father never would have. You treated me with respect, something he never did. I want you to know I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, and that I would never hurt you out of my own will. I deeply respect you, Carlo.”
The words feel like a goodbye, and Carlo is too sharp not to sense that something is off. His eyes narrow at me, as if he’s trying to pierce through my mind and uncover the secrets I’m hiding.
Unable to hold his gaze, I lower my head. After a few moments, I hear him asking a question from one of the guards. “Is everything set?”
“Yes, boss. Everyone’s here. The guys are all at their posts. Only Tony’s missing. He left around sunset and hasn’t come back yet.”
“Emily?”
“She’s here. Off to the side, watching everybody like a scared little rabbit.”
“Send someone to get her out. I don’t want her around. She stays in her room until I say so.”
It catches me by surprise. I’d heard there was some kind of incident between Carlo and Emily, but the way he speaks about her leaves me stunned. Could he have figured out Emily’s true identity? If he has, that puts him one step ahead of Tony, and it means tonight’s entire plan could fall apart.
As Carlo takes my hand and leads me into the hall, there’s no time left to dwell on my fears. I put on a fake smile, just as expected, and begin to move through the crowd of guests.
From my father and my three older brothers, all I receive is a slight nod of acknowledgment. But Fabi pulls me into his arms, wishing me a happy birthday.
