12. Shock of Betrayal
CHAPTER 12
SHOCK OF BETRAYAL
J ia
No. No. No. This cannot be happening.
The shock of betrayal steals the air from my lungs, a sting so brazen I’m left standing there with my mouth gaping like an imbecile. I can’t even summon the courage to glance over at the asshole beside me. Marco must have known.
God, how long had Yéye been planning this?
I attempt a glare at my grandfather, but the big Italian brute blocks my path. It takes every ounce of self-restraint I possess not to shout and curse at my traitorous grandpa. The public affront would not be tolerated in our world. But how could he do this to me? Hot tears sting my eyes, a whirlwind of fury, anger and indignation battering my insides. Why would he pretend to give me a choice, when in the end, I truly had none?
“Relax, spitfire, you don’t want to cause a scene.” Marco’s breath sails across the shell of my ear, his shoulder brushing mine .
“Don’t fucking talk to me,” I hiss.
The corner of his lip curls, confirming what I suspected. He knew all along. Of course my grandfather would go behind my back and seek out a marriage arrangement with whom he considered a suitable male. How could I be so stupid to think otherwise?
“Well, this is quite a surprise.” Jianjun clears his throat and motions for the rest of us to sit.
No, shit. The words nearly spill out. In my frenzy, I hadn’t taken a moment to assess the expressions of disbelief painted on the faces of the circle of males around the table. The look of utter outrage carved into Lei Wang’s countenance makes this almost worth it. Almost .
Jianjun turns his wary gaze to my grandfather who seems entirely unruffled. As if marrying off his only granddaughter to the Italian mob is a normal occurrence. God, I’m so angry. And hurt. I shove down the pain tightening my ribcage and focus on the rage. Anger is strength, while the hurt won’t help me at all. It will simply make me weak, and now, I must be stronger than ever.
“How quickly will this arrangement take place?” Jianjun finally asks.
Hao Wei quirks an interested brow as the question hangs in the air.
Yes, how long do I have? Enough time to plan an escape?
“The details have yet to be solidified,” Yéye replies. “But once they are, rest assured you will all be invited to the grand celebration.”
Celebration? Is he completely delusional? Maybe my grandfather inhaled more of that poisonous smoke than we thought. My mind jumps back in time to the attack at CityZen. Was that why Marco had saved me? Was he simply assuring his prized wife would be around long enough to perform her duties ?
“And you, Mr. Rossi,” Jianjun barks. “You are prepared to take on the obligation of running yet another organization?”
Marco nods, a grin flashing perfect teeth. He wraps an arm around my shoulders, and a shudder creeps up my spine at the unexpected touch. “Rest assured I will leave most of the day-to-day responsibilities of running the Four Seas to my lovely future bride. I have more than enough on my plate with my own enterprises.”
My jaw unhinges, and I pivot ever so slightly to face my fiancé for the first time since the announcement. His answer is completely unexpected.
“Still,” Jianjun continues, “I would feel better about this new arrangement if we could all sit down and discuss its ramifications.”
“To my knowledge, there was no such discussion when the Valentinos brokered peace with the Red Dragons,” Yéye interjects. “Why would this be any different?”
“Because neither Luca nor Dante Valentino were handed over the reins to one of the essential legs of the Triad. They merely struck a business deal. This marriage is so much more.”
I couldn’t argue there.
This is forever .
My stomach roils, gut churning until I’m certain the measly contents of my belly are about to make a reappearance. I bolt out of my chair and race to the door before I can embarrass my entire bloodline. The pungent scent of fried oil smacks into me as I whirl around the corner and reach the kitchen, and I completely lose control of my innards.
Buckling over just a few steps past the kitchen, I heave out the toxic tangle of nerves. Bile splatters across the floor and splashes up my legs. My knees tremble as another wave of nausea pushes up the remains of my breakfast.
My hand shoots out to reach for a wall to steady myself, but a steel band laces around my waist, nearly forcing more out before a hushed whisper calms the raging storm. “I’ve got you, spitfire.” The deep tenor is so entirely unexpected, my heart staggers.
Spitting out the foul taste in my mouth, I wipe my chin and hazard a glance over my shoulder. There’s no need, really. I know exactly who I’ll find. The scent of bergamot and cedarwood somehow trumps the overpowering smells of the kitchen.
Those mismatched eyes meet mine, and instead of the cocky flash I expect, something deeper lurks beyond the jeweled surface. “I’ve got to say I’ve never had that sort of effect on a woman.” He smirks and that arrogant smile falls back into place.
“Let go of me,” I hiss.
“You sure, spitfire? I don’t want you to slip and fall into that mess.” He ticks his head at the pool of vomit at our feet.
To my horror, bile is splashed across his designer black loafers. Oh God, I will never survive this day.
“Yes,” I growl. “I’m perfectly capable of standing on my own.”
“If you say so.” His steel grip falls away and despite the tremor in my legs, I’m able to remain standing by holding onto the wall. Not my finest moment, but anything is better than leaning on the smirking bastard.
He simply stands there with his hands shoved into his pants’ pockets as I attempt to put myself together. I hoped Yéye would come after me so I could have a minute alone with him, but the rest of the attendees remain apparently unmoving in that room. I wonder what else is being said.
“You don’t have to stay here with me,” I bark as I run my hand through my hair, sweeping the stray wisps behind my ears.
He shrugs. “I don’t really want to go back there either.”
“Why don’t you just go home then? ”
“Because I promised your grandfather I would get you both to and from the meeting safely.”
“You really think Lei would come after me now? I couldn’t imagine him ever daring to cross the great Marco Rossi…”
A glimmer of amusement sparks in those unique irises. “Listen here, spitfire, I understand that you’re angry about being kept in the dark, but trust me, I’m a pawn in this just as much as you are.”
I snort on a laugh. “I bet.” Shaking my head, I bite down on the string of curses poised on my tongue. “You’re a man. You have no idea what it’s like to be a woman in this world. I had no say in this. None, whatsoever. How long have you known?”
His lips thin into a hard line.
“Just tell me, damn it.”
“My brother has been trying to persuade me on the merits of this arrangement for months now.”
“Months?” I squeal.
“But nothing was set in stone until a few days ago when I lost a bet with my brother?—”
“ What ?”
He drags a hand over his face and heaves out a sigh. “It doesn’t matter?—”
“Like hell it doesn’t. You’re telling me I’m forced to marry you because of a stupid bet with your twin?”
“It’s not like that, Jia. This would’ve happened either way. You know Qian was on the verge of a strategic alliance with Nico months ago.”
“But then you killed him.”
“ Cazzo , Jia, I didn’t kill him?—”
I shake my head, cutting him off again. “You may not have been the one to pull the trigger, but you were there. You were all there – the Rossies, the Valentinos, you’re all to blame.”
A wave of heavy footfalls jerks my attention to the procession of males filing from the meeting room. Yéye is one of the last to exit, speaking in hushed whispers with Jianjun and Hao Wei. They pause by the door, and I count the seconds until I can lay in on my grandfather in private.
I expected this from Qian, I would’ve expected it from my father, but never from him. His betrayal lashes at my insides, tearing my gut into bloody ribbons.
I’m so angry and hurt I don’t even notice Lei circle back. He stands before me with a circle of men behind him. “You made the wrong decision today, Jia,” he grits out.
Before he can utter another syllable, a streak of darkness flashes across my eyes and by the time I blink, Lei is pinned to the wall. Marco looms over him, his thick fingers tight around Lei’s throat. “And you made the wrong decision in daring to speak to my fiancée,” he growls.
I gasp at the venom in his tone and the murderous glare smoldering in those piercing eyes.
Lei’s men tighten the circle around Marco, but he cocks his head over his shoulder with a vicious smile. “Get any closer and I’ll snap his neck before any of you idiots have time to pull out a gun.”
The males murmur curses, but the half a dozen men step back.
“Now, let’s get something clear right from the start, Wang,” Marco snarls, flashing his teeth. “Jia is mine now, and anything you have to say to her goes through me. Do you understand?”
I’m impressed Lei isn’t pissing himself beneath the intimidating glare of the enormous Italian. Instead, his already thin lips squeeze into an even thinner line.
“She’s in charge of your shitty little organization now, and if you try any of this rebellious garbage, I’ll personally see to it that you are punished. No one threatens my future wife and lives.” His fingers tighten around Lei’s throat and a choking sound erupts through the smaller man’s clenched teeth. “Are. We. Clear?”
“Yes,” he forces out .
Marco smacks Lei on the cheek and grins. “Good boy.” Slowly releasing him, he whirls around at the circle of Four Seas rebels. “Now get the fuck out of here and behave yourselves. Jia will be in touch soon.”