Page 159 of Forsaking All Others

He’s dressed all in black, as usual, and leaning casually, one elbow resting on the roof of the pink dollhouse still displayed in pride of place in my childhood playroom. The same dollhouse he’d bent me over all those years ago when he brutally stole my innocence.

“Valentino,” I gasp.

Without saying a word, he raises his hand to his mouth and clamps his teeth over the side of his hand. A hand bearing a ring I hoped I’d never see on his finger.

His eyes meet mine, and the quintessentially Sicilian message is clear; the ring shows he’s taken his father’s role in his family, making him all-powerful. And the warning…

‘If I ever catch you…’

A shiver runs down my spine. But before I can respond he nods, presumably to the camera man, and the screen goes dark.

I swallow hard. If I was pale before I’m probably looking like a bleached chameleon right now, blending in with Thorun’s dress to the point I can’t even be seen.

Starlen, obviously confused, clears his throat before fronting the camera.

“Well, well, family, huh?” He chuckles and gives a ‘you know how it is’ look at the camera before putting on a more sombre expression and continuing. “As we all know, when it comes to emotions some of us are eloquent, some of us hold our sentiments tight to our chest — if you haven’t picked up on that this season, then you’ve had your eyes closed. And yes, we might have expected something more for our fiery Sicilian, but it is what it is. He was obviously a man of few words and deep feelings.”

I swallow hard.

“Cut!”

Starlen spins to me.

“Who the fuck was that?”

“An enemy.”

“Why am I not surprised?” The director murmurs from close by.

“Vaffanculo!”

“Hey, hey,” Thorun grasps both my hands in hers and squeezes tightly. “It’s OK, focus on the prize, remember? Isn’t that what you always say?”

I grit my teeth and nod.

120

I pace up and down the room as I wait for the last part of this disgusting farce to come to a close, and cross my fingers my plan works.

I’d seen the messages from the families.

Thorun’s had touched me deeply, but Cat’s had made my fingers itch with violence. Not only because someone had dared openly and publicly to threaten a woman under my protection, but because he was stupid enough to show his face.

He’ll be easy to find now.

I’ll give her that cunt’s head — it will be my fucking pleasure.

‘Threaten my future wife on international television? Who the fuck does that jumped-up little prick think he is?’

I stop my pacing as I’m hit by a revelation.

Future wife.

I know who I need to choose.

Seeing that message had momentarily given me clarity. It’s true Falcon didn’t favour her, and neither did my parents. But Angie did. She said I should choose the Italian.

‘Someone as flawed as I am.’