Chapter 44
“I believe because he expected I’d put a ring on it”
“Which then makes it worse because it’s no better than trafficking me and you would be what, my john for all the rest of my days? At least this way I was only selling a thin piece of skin, a tiny barrier to be broken which couldn’t be resold over and over again, like the entirety of my body and soul. I wasn’t trafficking my person, just a piece of flesh which could never happen again.”
Her brother cleared his throat, “perhaps we need to take a breath.
Her father nodded his agreement, “what’s done is done. Alcee, your error in judgement cost our family greatly.”
“Actually, it didn’t.” Torq cut the older man off rudely. “You mentioned this to me on the phone the other night and I made it clear, I cancelled the contract without any idea, the woman I was with was your daughter. Alcee’s actions held no bearing at all on my decision.”
“I find this hard to believe.”
“Are you calling me a liar in my own office, Edgardo? I would hope you are not doing something so foolish as to call me a liar to my face.” His words made Tito and Bastiano shift to either of his shoulders and fold their arms over their thick chests.
Alore risked a look to Amal and Susana who were watching the exchange with their fingers over their lips, telltale signs they were struggling not to laugh. Were they actually finding this entire thing amusing?
“I am not calling you a liar, Tor-” he caught himself, “Don Lozano, I am merely saying the word on the street that the Mariani princess defied her family and slept with a stranger to void her agreement with the Lozano family was out and you must have heard.”
“It would seem to me you have leaks in your house.” Torq said bluntly. “I know for a fact if anything leaves this room here today, it is not my family or my allies who are speaking out of turn. How is it, something which happened at a hotel, which was completely eradicated by Alcee using her incredible gifts in technology, meaning nobody outside your house knew, hit the streets? Why would I know less than an hour after she left our hotel room that she wasn’t a virgin any longer unless you have le
Edgardo gave Alcee a dirty look, “because she made sure it happened”
“I did not.” She denied it fiercely. “I wanted three people to know what I did. Don Lozano. You. Mom. I erased my footprint everywhere.”
“I didn’t know, Edgardo. See, he wrapped one of his arms around Alcee’s belly and adjusted her on his lap as if holding her protectively, “I didn’t know Alcee was my Aya.”
“Aya?” Mercurio looked at her with a shake of his head. “You used the nickname Nonna gave you?”
“Yes. I used Aya Lombardi
“Jesus Christ, Alcee, Mercurio leaned forward, his elbows on his knees and his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose.
“He gave a fake name too. She looked at Torg. “You did not say you were Torquato Lozano.
“No, I did not.”
“Why did you cancel the engagement?” Mercurio asked curiously speaking over his father before he could say anything else offensive.
“Because the night with my Aya,” he gave her a half smile, “made me realize I did not want to spend the rest of my life with someone who was not of my choosing. The night I spent with Aya made me realize I wanted her. If I’d known Aya and Alcer were the same person, I would have continued the engagement.”
“You called it off because you wanted her to be your wife. The woman you paid for sex? her father scowled furiously
“Well
now you get your wish.”
“Yes, I do.”
cans the contract from then still stands.”
“Then it means
The bold statement from her father made her spine stiffen. She looked him in the eyes and saw his nostrils flare at her bold defiance.
Chapter 44
“On what grounds do you think the contract stands, Edgardo? There is no contract.”
“You are intending to marry her.”
“Yes. I am.”
“You want to marry my daughter, but you don’t want to honor the agreement my father and your grandfather made?”
“I’m sorry. At what point did you hear me say I wanted to marry your daughter?”
Edgardo looked at Torq in confusion. “She is on your lap. You are lording over her like she’s a toy for you to play with. You took her virginity, for a price, I imagine. You are going to marry her. The agreement was made.”
“Alcee, when your father found out about your pregnancy with Antero, my son, my heir,” the words were clipped and bitten, “what options did he give you?”
“Abortion or to leave the Mariani family.”
kill our son or to leave his family? What options did he give you to leave his family?”
“He put a gun to me. He was going to kill me. When my mother stood in front of his gun, he told me to leave his house, and he disowned me. He put word on the street before I was at the end of driveway I was no longer the Mariani principessa.”
“So,” he turned his attention back to Edgardo who realized the direction Torg was going, “tell me again, whose daughter it is I intend to marry because it sure as fuck is very clear you don’t have a daughter, Edgardo. You tried to kill my Aya. You tried to force her to abort my Antero. You disowned her. The contract my grandfather tried to set up with you was to marry your virgin daughter. She’s not a virgin. She’s not your daughter.”
Her father’s jaw clenched tight, spittle foaming at his lips. “Who the fuck do you think you are to talk to me like this.”
“Don Torquato Gervasio Bruno Lozano, head of the Lozano family, the strongest syndicated family and the man who will protect my family, mine,” he looked pointedly at Alcer, “far better than a weak, had tempered old man ever could-
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