Cosimo just stared at me. If it weren’t for the faint pulse beating at the base of his throat, he might as well have been made of granite. “Let’s go.”
Somehow,despite knowing Vita’s game in advance, her words had still found their mark.
I didn’tneedto survive a year. I didn’tneedto hold Cosimo’s interest. And maybe I was soft and naive, but I’d be gone in six months. Living a life far removed from this one. Living on my own terms.
Good. Great.
Her words should’ve rolled right off me.
And yet they burrowed deep inside like poisoned arrows and festered with each passing minute.
It didn’t help that Cosimo hadn’t said a thing to me since we’d gotten into the car. We were almost home. He wore a brooding expression as he stared ahead, apparently comfortable in the silence I found suffocating.
Wasn’t there anything he wanted to say to me? I didn’t stand up to Vita to get his approval, but I also didn’t expect to get the silent treatment in the aftermath.
My hands were clenched in my lap, my body tense and uncomfortable beneath the aquamarine dress. By the time we parked in the driveway, I was so desperate to get out of the car that I didn’t wait for him to come around to help me out. I just bolted inside.
The house was empty and quiet as I stumbled into the foyer. I kicked my heels off and moved toward the stairs.
A warm palm encircled my wrist. “Wait.”
“What do you want, Cosimo?” I snapped, my nerves too frayed to keep it cool.
“You’re not going to give me a lecture?” His voice was low. Hoarse.
“A lecture?”
“For not telling you Vita is after the position of don.”
I turned. There was only a small floor lamp illuminating the foyer, and it painted his face in dark shadows. My anger sizzled and burned through my insides. “Why would I? With a mother like her, I get why you have trust issues.”
His stony expression cracked, but I was too annoyed to parse through what was hiding beneath it. It was true. I wasn’t angry that he hadn’t told me about the succession issue. But it annoyed me that even now, after seeing me stand up to Vita, his response was to just keep shutting me out.
His throat worked. “You shouldn’t make her into an enemy.”
I tore my wrist out of his grip. “Who’s lecturing who? You know, you could at least give me a nod of acknowledgment for standing up for you.”
“I appreciate you doing that, but it was not necessary. She’s dangerous, Fabiana.”
My frustration spilled over. “And I’m too naive and soft to handle her, right? Is that what you really want to say? Guess what, that’s at least one thing the two of you agree on.”
His gaze narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean? She said that to you?”
“Forget it.” I moved, but he appeared in front of me, blocking my way.
“What did she say?” he demanded.
“Cosimo, I’m tired,” I snapped. “It’s been a long night.”
“Tell me what she said. You’re obviously upset.”
I couldn’t do this anymore. I needed to get away from him. “Fine,” I spat. “She said that I won’t be able to hold your attention for long. She’s right, but it doesn’t matter. She has no idea this is all fake. Happy? Now can youpleaselet me pass?”
His gaze flashed with contempt. “Can’t hold my attention?” Instead of stepping out of my way, he stepped toward me, forcing me to step back. “Can’t hold my attention?”
The anger in his voice stunned me.
“You’ve done nothing but hold my fucking attention since the day we met.”
