Page 32 of The Strength Of A Woman

He stops and looks over his shoulder.

His men stand by the building. In the background, Vittoria Petri is tasting an appetizer.

There is nothing distasteful about that.

I can’t even tell why I’m so consumed with her presence here or why I’m making this request.

He brings his eyes back to me.

“Tell me why you’re here. I’m sure our conversation will be over soon, and you can go back and not be bothered by her anymore,” he says, unrelenting.

I let it slide.

“Two weeks from now, there’s a party in Taormina.”

“So I’ve heard,” he says, slightly amused as he picks up his coffee to take another sip.

“The man they’re marrying me to will be there.”

His hand freezes midair before he brings his coffee to his lips and takes a small sip.

“How do you know?”

Mesmerized by the way he runs the edge of his teeth over his lip, I stay quiet.

“Leilani?”

“Huh?”

“How do you know that?”

“My aunt spoke to someone’sConsigliere. They confirmed it. Secretly, of course. It’s not public knowledge. Apparently, my aunt has become some sort of intermediary. Who knew she had it in her?” I snap. “At any rate,” I gesture with frustration. “It’s someone big.”

He studies me in silence.

“And that’s the reason you have risked another scolding from your family? Why are youreallyhere, Leilani?”

A ball of angst sets in my chest.

Gingerly setting my water to the side, I lean closer to him over the table.

“Listen to me, Callum. You might think I’m stupid. You might think I’m young. God knows what my own mother might’ve told you about me. But you can’t deny that my instinct is just as sharp as yours. You’re not in this family because you love them. You didn’t marry Bianca because you wanted her. They set you up as much as they’re setting me up now. They wanted you to take over their empire, and now that she’s gone, they’re looking for someone bigger than you to marry me, so they can finish you. Do you think it will serve you in any way?”

He narrows his eyes at me, a muscle pulsing in his jaw as he ponders my words.

“Go on.”

“Whether we like it or not, you and I are in the same boat. You may be their king now, but they’re about to make you into a pawn like me and knock you off the chessboard without a smidgen of regret.”

He stays quiet, his eyes more interested in how my lips move than what they’re saying.

“Maybe it’s all for the better,” he murmurs.

That’s not what I wanted to hear from him.

“How can you say that?”

He finally relaxes, sets his elbows on the table, and slightly leans forward while I sag back in my seat.