Page 100 of Reckless Desires

Mom takes my hand. “I should take on the wedding planning so you can rest.”

“Mom, the last thing on my mind is a wedding.”

“Just four months away, lots to do.” She pulls out a magazine. “Look at this venue. Just stunning.”

“Mom,” I beg for her to stop.

“Well, don’t tell me you changed your mind?”

“I haven’t really made up my mind at all. You’re the one pushing for this wedding. Why don’t you marry Alessio yourself!”

“Don’t be ungrateful! After what you’ve been through, you’re lucky Alessio will still touch you.”

Her words pierce through my heart. “Are you seriously saying that to me? You think I wanted to be trafficked?”

“Well, of course not. But I’m sure everyone thinks the worst. And who wants to lie with someone who’s been with more people than they can count.” She flips through the magazine.

Her assumptions of what happened to me make me sick to my stomach. She never asked what happened, and even if I got the worst of it, why would my own mother say something like that to me?

“What if I change my mind and don’t marry him at all?” I challenge.

“Don’t be ridiculous. You deserve a good life, and Alessio will give you anything you want. You’d be stupid to pass this up. Don’t be like Selene. At least Alessio will overlook your infertility. And now that Clarissa and that baby are gone, there’s nothing for you to worry about. You can thank me for that.”

“Thank you for what exactly?”

She flips a page. “I hired a PI to dig up something on her.”

“Why?”

“She was blocking your throne.”

“Alessio isn’t royalty, Mom! There’s more to life than money and power.”

She shuts the magazine and tosses it on the chair. “Money and power are what got us here and will keep us here.”

“Us?” I ask.

“Yes, us.” She smiles warmly. “I have yet another daughter marrying the head of the family. The people we surround ourselves with matter, Lily. How do you think I can keep up expenses?”

Tears swell up in my eyes. “Were you always like this?”

“Like what, hunny?” She looks at me, confused.

Suddenly, I hear Stasia and Selene in my head—all their warnings about Mom trying to suck them dry, how manipulative she is, and how Serafina pointed out Mom is only nice when she wants something that benefits her.

“The man that was in here before.” I glare at her. “You don’t remember him?”

“Should I?” She tilts her head. “Hunny, you know I don’t pay attention to Alessio’s associates.”

“He’s not Alessio’s associate, Mom,” I snap. “He is the one who saved me, twice now. You met him when he dropped me off at the house. You guilted me into going to a gala because you wanted to thank him again for bringing me home. How do you not remember him?”

She opens her mouth then shuts it. “I guess I just didn’t realize. He was covered in blood and looked a wreck.”

The door opens, and a nurse walks with a wheelchair.

“Ms. Andretti, we need to do some more testing. I just need to get you in the wheelchair.” Her smile is warm and her voice soft. My own mother can’t even speak to me that way.

“What kind of testing?” my mom questions.