Page 79 of My Sunfall

“Lucas,” I murmur, barely a breath.

He is tied to a metal chair in the center of the dimly lit room. His wrists are bound behind him, judging from the way his shoulders are pulled back in an awkward angle. His head hangs slightly, and dried blood trails down the side of his face. His crumpled shirt is torn open and covered in dirt and blood. Every breath he takes looks painful.

His head lifts when he hears my voice. “Cara mia…” he rasps. His voice is hoarse, his face bruised and bloody. There is a deep gash running from his brow down to his jaw, and his nose looks broken.

Every piece of me threatens to shatter. Before I can take another step forward, a shadow emerges from behind him and I let out a gasp when I recognize the man.

Lorenzo Vitale.

He places the barrel of a gun against the back of Lucas’ head. “Ah,” Lorenzo purrs, “there she is, right on time.”

I swallow the bile rising in my throat and force my breathing to steady. “What do you want?” I ask, schooling my face into an emotionless mask.

“Oh, straight to the point. I like that.” He circles Lucas slowly, then stops in front of me. “You will divorce him”—he motions toward Lucas with his gun—“and marry me.”

“Let him go first. This has nothing to do with him.”

He shakes his head. “No. It has everything to do with him.”

Lucas glares up at him, hatred simmering in his icy blue eyes.

I look back at Lorenzo. “It’s me you want. I’m here. Isn’t that enough?”

“No,” Lorenzo murmurs, coming a step closer until he is standing a few inches before me. “It’s not enough. I want your inheritance, the land in Italy, the businesses. All of it. And you’re going to give me that with your signature.”

Of course. That’s what this is all about. “And if I refuse?”

“Then your husband dies,” Lorenzo says simply. “You see, I can shoot him right now, make you a widow and enforce the contract…or you can simply sign the divorce and fulfill your mother’s wish. Become everything your mother promised you would be.”

I lift my chin. “And if I agree?”

Lorenzo’s smile turns triumphant. “Then you leave him behind, willingly, and step into the life you were always meant for. You’ll have wealth, influence, your rightful position as a queen by my side. A future far grander than anything he could ever give you.”

Lorenzo watches my face intently, but I let nothing show. I take a slow, steady breath. “You want my inheritance,” I say softly. “You want me to divorce him, walk away from this marriage completely.”

“Yes.” Lorenzo’s eyes gleam. “Willingly.”

I remain silent for a beat, as if weighing my options.

“Chiara…” Lucas’ voice is strained.

I don’t look at him. “What if…” I begin, voice low, “what if I’m not opposed to signing everything over? What if I’ve been… reconsidering things for a while now?”

Lucas’ breath catches audibly. I sense his stare burning into the side of my face, but I ignore him entirely.

Lorenzo’s expression sharpens with interest.

“Chiara,” Lucas growls, struggling against the ties. “Don’t—”

“Quiet,” Lorenzo snaps.

I keep my gaze on Lorenzo, unblinking. “I’ve been thinking a lot since the day we talked in front of my parents’ grave. And I’m beginning to see that you were right. My mother saw bigger things for me than this city has to offer.”

I keep my eyes on his and lift my chin. “But before I decide, I want to speak to him.” I tilt my head to where Lucas is seething on the chair. “To say goodbye. After all, we’ve been married for a brief moment.”

Lorenzo studies me with a speculative gaze. But then the suspicious glint becomes greedy. He relents. “You may say goodbye. One minute, and keep your hands in sight.”

I nod, shifting my emotionless gaze onto Lucas. I saunter toward him. When I am standing before him, I trail my fingers over his shoulder, then slide them up to his jaw to tilt his head up. His eyes are filled with pain, confusion and something akin to betrayal, but I steel myself, not letting any emotion show.