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But he has this big, empty castle and a boatload of built-up angst and anger.
We cross a narrow bridge before we get to the front of the castle. I still can’t believe he lives here. I mean … Who lives in an actual castle? I didn’t even know such things existed outside Boston.
“Do you not get lonely in this big old mansion of yours?” I ask as he pulls up in the circular driveway, looking up at this impressive structure that has obviously stood the test of time. I can see several outbuildings just from the front of the house alone.
He scoffs. “I wish I had time to be lonely.”
I roll my eyes as he brings his car to a halt. I can only assume his men, aka the other babysitters, aren’t too far behind us. I can’t wait for the barrel of laughs I’m not going to have when I’m stuck indoors for the next few days.
He says I’m not on vacation, and it sure doesn’t feel like one, but if I am safe and I don’t have to worry like he says I am, I can bide my time and think about what I’m going to say to my uncle. My dad won’t give a hoot, so no love lost there, but it does provide me with time.
I need to tell him that I have no interest in marrying Vlad, and I have no interest in being with anyone that’s involved in any of these crime syndicates. I know nothing good can come out of me being with a man like that. He’s ruthless to the extreme.
I wish I had just been born into an ordinary family where none of this even matters.
No matter what families like, the Medicis, seem to believe about themselves, they’re all the same. I don’t care how ‘for the greater good’ they appear to be, and Marco Medici certainly has chirping to his own tune down pat.
He might think he’s all noble, which gives him a god complex over his apparent abhorrence against crimes against women and children, but that certainly doesn’t make him a hero.
I don’t need to be a part of any of it, and as soon as I get out of here, I want my freedom.
I need to be able to make my own decisions on who I want to be with, that’s the bottom line.
I know time is ticking, and while I don’t want to disappoint my uncle after he’s paid for my education, looked after me, and kept me safe growing up, I want to live my own life.
Surely that isn’t too much to ask.
“Are you getting out of the car, or are you going to sit there all afternoon?”
I hear Marco’s words and realize I’ve been sitting like a zombie for a few moments, seeing my life flash before my eyes. If only he knew the inner turmoil I was going through, not that he would care. But, maybe, just maybe, he would understand some of my hostility.
I’ve been told what to do and who to do it with for most of my life, and being here with him is the same old thing that I’m used to.
Do this. Do that. Be proper. Don’t disgrace the family.
“I was waiting for Rocco to roll up. I bet I could keep him occupied while you’re away downtown.” I laugh at my own genius attempt to rile him.
The look on his face tells me he’s had just about enough of my smart mouth for one day, and it’s only just after lunch.Oh, I can keep going all day, big boy.
“That’s not even one percent funny,” he tells me. “You’re under my protection now.”
I shrug my shoulders. I’m all talk, and I’ve no intention of seducing Rocco or any of these barbarians.
But I bet my assumptions about Marco are correct; he’s all work and no play.
I wonder idly how he spends his time when he’s not saving the world in his glorious castle.
It’s absolutely not lost on me that he’s got a massive stick up his ass, and it’d take some special type of woman to dislodge it. He talks about me, but he’s got divorce written all over him.
I pity the poor woman who ever did cross him, though. At the end of the day, he’s still a Medici and a pretty mean one at that.
He may have gallantly carried me to safety from that building, but he’s been nothing but hostile ever since. I’d like to see him survive what I’ve lived through this past week.
Little does he know, I’ve done many things for myself that didn’t involve my father and uncle, including not using their money, though that’s my father’s answer to everything. It’s like he thinks money can fix any little problem.
I’m sure Marco thinks I’m just some spoiled little rich girl with a chip on her shoulder, and I don’t care if he does. It’ll be better for me if he goes on thinking I’m just that.
“Will the bellhop bring my bags up?” I mock as we mount the stairs up to the front doors.
