The Marcelli Princess

12

Mia sat on the back steps of the house and waited for the limo. Joe had offered to do it for her, but she wanted to look Rafael in the eyes while she explained the new rules in play. Not that she was alone. Thanks to Joe and Sam, there were at least a dozen security personnel around the house, and Joe hovered nearby.

Anger and hurt still defined her existence, but she was learning to live with the pain and regret, along with the constant ache in her heart. Knowing she had only herself to blame was both a blessing and curse. On the one hand, she could have very heated conversations with herself about what went wrong and vow never to be that stupid again. On the other hand, no one else really understood what she was going through.

She drew in a deep breath and was pleased to feel somewhat in control. No more tears-at least not in public-and no more outbursts. She was going to stay in charge and that meant keeping her emotions in check.

The trick was not to think too much. Not to remember how she’d given her heart to a man who had betrayed her.

The long black limo pulled into the driveway. Mia stood. Joe was at her side in an instant, along with six of the guards. As the car moved closer, Mia saw Umberto behind the wheel. Which meant Oliver was in back. Unless Rafael had brought in reinforcements.

“You made sure he wouldn’t have other security, right?” she asked Joe.

He patted her back. “Of course. Everything has been negotiated, from the time he could arrive to how many of my men would be on his men. He knows what will happen if he steps out of line.”

“You’ll kill him?” she asked brightly.

“No, I’ll beat the crap out of him and then I’ll make him leave.”

Not nearly good enough, she thought as the rear door of the limo opened and Oliver stepped out.

Joe motioned to one of his men. Oliver was searched. The same thing happened to Umberto when he exited the vehicle. Mia tensed as Rafael stepped into the afternoon sunlight.

Damn the man, he looked perfect. Well dressed, but casual, still handsome. She half expected to see horns or cloven feet, but there was only his brown hair and expensive leather loafers. His blue eyes seemed as compelling as always and very specific parts of her body were all too happy to have him in close proximity.

“Mia,” he said with a slight bow of his head.

“Judas.” She took a step toward him and squared her shoulders. “Just so we’re all clear, you are being allowed onto this property because it is your son’s fourth birthday and he wants you here. The reason he wants you here is because I didn’t tell him what a lying weasel you are. As you can see, you are severely outnumbered. The guards have been ordered to shoot to kill if you try anything.”

That last bit was a lie, but she didn’t care. Let him be afraid.

“You wouldn’t kill me,” he said calmly. “My being dead doesn’t solve your problem. Daniel is still the heir.”

“True, but your death gets rid of you, and for now that’s enough.”

“You wouldn’t risk the life of your son with flying bullets.”

“You want to make this about logistics, I’m making a point. You are not welcome here. No one likes you or trusts you. One false move and you are gone.”

Joe moved in. “A little FYI-there are more than a dozen security guards on duty.”

Rafael shrugged. “As you wish. I didn’t think I was as dangerous as all that. You are taking this very seriously, Mia.”

His casual attitude made her wish for long nails and a decent shot at his eyes. “You tried to steal my son. It doesn’t get more serious than that.”

Rafael drew in a breath. “I am sorry you are so angry and I am sorry I hurt you. That was never my intent. I should have told you the truth from the beginning.”

“Do you think any of that matters?” she asked, furious he would think an apology would make a difference.

“I was never going to keep you from him. You would have been able to see him whenever you liked.”

“How very generous you are. Give me a moment to catch my breath from the wonderfulness of you.”

His eyes narrowed. “You do not accept my apology?”

“Not even if it came with a couple of diamonds on a gold plate. The only thing you’re sorry about is getting caught before you could put your plan into action. You used me and my family. We trusted you, we believed you, and you repaid us with deception.”

Anger was good, she thought. Anger kept the pain at bay.

She moved right in front of him and poked him in the center of his chest. “I will never trust you again. There is nothing you can say or do that will make me believe a word you say. You played me for a fool. I’ll give you points for originality and effort. You did a hell of a job and told a great story. But you had your chance and you blew it. I don’t know what would have happened if you’d been honest. It’s something we’ll never know. I despise you and I hate that you’re Danny’s father. I will do what is right because I love my son. But you are never getting a piece of me again.”

She turned on her heel and walked away. Rafael watched her go. Even as he resented the situation, he found himself admiring the power of her convictions and the grace in her movements.

She was, he admitted to himself, quite a woman. Also, she was much more angry than he had thought she would be. Daniel was his heir-what did she expect him to do? Allow his son to be raised here? Away from his people?

“Impossible,” he muttered.

Joe smiled insincerely. “That’s what we were saying about you. The party is this way.”

Rafael followed him around to the side of the house, where several large tables had been set up in the shade. There were a dozen or so children, most likely from Danny’s school, a few parents, and much of the Marcelli clan. He recognized Brenna and her husband, Joe’s wife, Francesca, and, of course, the Grands.

They were all watching him as if waiting for him to pull out a weapon and hold them all hostage. He saw the anger in their eyes and knew that he didn’t have to deal with just Mia’s rage.

“Daddy, Daddy!” Danny raced toward him.

Rafael crouched down and reached for the boy. Daniel crashed into him and wrapped his arms around Rafael’s neck.

For a moment, Rafael hugged him just as tightly.

“I missed you,” Danny said. “Why’d you go away?”

He didn’t have an answer for that, and oddly, he found he couldn’t speak. His throat felt tight and thick.

“Daddy?” Daniel stepped back and looked at him. “Why’d you have to go away?”

“Business,” Rafael managed as he stared at the boy. Until that moment, he hadn’t realized he was afraid he would never see him again. “Sometimes it is work to be a prince.”

“I like being the heir.”

“I’m sure you do. Are you having a good party?”

Daniel nodded. “I have so many presents, and there’s cake.” He reached for his father’s hand. “Come see.”

Rafael stood and allowed himself to be tugged toward the gathering. He saw Umberto and Oliver surrounded by several of Joe’s guards. While the other parents smiled warmly at him, the Marcellis all looked as if they were picturing him dead.

Mia wasn’t kidding about protecting her son. She said she would use any means and he believed her. She was strong, but he was stronger. Somehow he would defeat them all.

“I love it, Daddy,” Daniel said as he fingered the new leather saddle Rafael had given him. “There’s a D and a A and a N…” He frowned, then grabbed his mother’s arm. “It’s not Danny. I thought it was Danny.”

Mia glanced at the saddle, then narrowed her eyes. “You’re right. It’s not Danny. It’s Daniel. I’m sorry your daddy got your name wrong.”

“That’s okay,” Daniel told Rafael. “Sometimes I’m Daniel, but mostly when I’ve been bad.”

“In Calandria, you’ll be Daniel all the time,” Rafael said easily. “As the heir, you will go by the more formal version of your name.”

Daniel stared at him for a second, then shrugged and reached for the next present. It was a remote car from Joe. Daniel gasped with delight and raced over to his uncle.

“Can we play tonight? Will you play with me? Please.”

Joe ruffled the boy’s hair. “Sure thing, kid. We’ll have a race.”

Daniel hugged the other man. Rafael watched, uncomfortable with the boy’s obvious affection for the larger man. He turned back to the table of presents and scowled when he realized his presents-the saddle, brushes for the pony, and an expensive set of leather-bound children’s stories-had been whisked away. All the other presents were still scattered about, but his were gone.

He turned to Mia. “Will you keep my gifts from him? That seems very small of you. Whatever your complaints with me, they have nothing to do with my son.”

“Our son,” she said evenly. “The pony supplies are near to the pony, and Brenna and Nic took the books inside so they wouldn’t be ruined in the sun. Danny’s not used to leather-bound books. It will take him some time to learn how to read them responsibly. Or read at all.”

He felt the censure in her words, as if he’d chosen inappropriately. “Those are stories for children.”

“Perhaps on your planet. Here on earth, we don’t read our kids literal translations of the Grimms’ fairy tales. They’re just a little too brutal.”

“What are you talking about?” he demanded.

“Have you ever read them? Really read them? Children do not fare well. Although I do remember a particular favorite about an evil prince being eaten by a bear. Hmm, perhaps I’ll read that to Danny tonight.”

“Who wants cake?” Grandma Tessa asked before he could respond to Mia.

The two grandmothers carried out a large cake decorated with race cars. The children gathered around as the cake was placed in the center of the middle table. Four candles were lit.

Mia sat on the bench in front of the cake and put Daniel on her lap. “Okay, big guy. This is it. Your chance to make a wish. Now close your eyes and wish really hard. Then open your eyes and blow out the candles. Make sure you don’t tell anyone your wish, okay?”

Daniel squirmed with delight. He’d long since abandoned his party hat, and there were several food stains on his striped T-shirt. While he screwed up his whole face as he considered his wish, Rafael thought of his childhood birthday parties.

There had been other children, of course, and their parents. Everyone had dressed formally. There had been an orchestra and some kind of entertainment. The gifts had been left on a table for him to open later, with his nanny. He’d been required to write a thank-you note after opening each present, which had stretched out the process to several days.

After he’d gone off to boarding school, birthdays had been joint affairs, celebrated with the other boys having birthdays that month. The school had prided itself on treating even royal sons like everyone else, so there had been no special celebration for him.

Daniel opened his eyes and blew out the candles. Everyone cheered.

“All right, birthday boy,” Grammy M said as she hovered over the cake. “You get the first piece. Which one do you want? A corner, with lots of frosting?”

Daniel nodded, then pointed to the corner he wanted. Rafael recalled having to wait for his cake until everyone else had been served.

Grammy M cut him an impossibly large piece. Daniel took it and began to eat. The other children were served next, then the parents. Grandma Tessa passed Rafael a plate with a mint on it.

He stared at the small piece of candy, then looked at the old woman, who glared right back.

“Daddy, don’t you want cake?” Daniel asked.

“Your father doesn’t like cake,” Mia said easily. “Isn’t that true, Rafael?”

The fire in her eyes told him she would be delighted to have him defy her. That way she’d have an excuse to take him on again. But he didn’t want to fight with Mia anymore. Not when the more important task was to win her back.

“Your mother is right,” he said gently. “Birthday cake does not agree with me.”

“I guess we’ll have to put the rat poison in something else,” Grandma Tessa muttered as she moved away.

Conversation quieted as the cake was consumed. Rafael was aware of how the Marcelli family kept tabs on him. If he moved close to Daniel, one of them was right there. Umberto and Oliver were never left alone. The other parents noticed nothing, but Rafael saw it all. The family had closed ranks against him.

Like Mia, he fought anger, but for a different reason. They were all acting out of ignorance. They did not understand that Daniel had responsibilities and a place in the world. He could not learn how to be king in this backwater.

At last the party ended. Parents collected their children and left. Rafael spoke pleasantly with them and waited until he could be alone with Mia. Somehow he would make her understand. But when the last guest had left, Mia picked up Daniel and walked into the house. The rest of the family followed. When he moved to go with them, several of Joe’s security guards formed a line in front of the door.

“I don’t think you’ll be joining us for the post-party wrap-up,” Joe said with a smile. “Sorry about that, but we didn’t negotiate for more than the party.”

Which Joe had done deliberately. “You can’t keep me from my son forever.”

“Were you kept from Danny? Did you miss any part of his party?”

“I must see him. I must speak to Mia.”

Joe shrugged. “She doesn’t want to speak to you. When you first arrived, I warned you not to hurt her, and you didn’t listen.”

“I’m not afraid of you,” Rafael said contemptuously. “You are all talk and very little action.”

“I can’t tell you how much I want to prove you wrong right now, but I promised Mia I wouldn’t turn you inside out, and I keep my word. You blew it, prince. Mia’s reasonable and intelligent. She could have been on your side in this. She could have respected you. But you decided to trick her and she will never forgive you. None of us will. You may be Crown Prince Bla-de-bla from some fancy island, but right now you’re on my land. Marcelli land. We make the rules and the current rules are, you’re screwed.”

“Where’s my daddy?” Danny demanded, tears spilling down his cheeks. “I want my daddy. I’m the heir and you have to do what I say. Bring my daddy back right now!”

Mia did her best not to react to Danny’s tantrum. He was exhausted from the long day of celebrating his birthday and strung out on way too much sugar. But what she knew in her head didn’t prevent the helpless feeling in her heart.

“I want my daddy now!” Danny screamed. “Why did he go away? Why did he go aw-way.”

Danny collapsed on the family room floor, sobs making his whole body shake. Mia crouched next to him. “You’ll see your daddy soon,” she said quietly. “He came to your birthday and gave you a lot of nice presents. That was fun.”

“But he went away.” Danny raised his head and stared at her. “Mommy, make him come back. Please? Make him come b-back.”

The Grands swept into the room. “How’s the big birthday boy?” Grammy M asked as she pulled Danny to his feet and cuddled him. “What a fun day you had. So many friends and presents and just a little too much cake.”

Tessa crouched in front of him and smiled. “Imagine. You’re four now. Practically all grown up. You’ll be driving soon.”

That made Danny smile. “I can’t drive. I’m a little boy.”

“You don’t seem too little today,” Grammy M said. “You seem very big. I’m not sure I can carry you upstairs myself anymore. ’Tis a shame, because I liked that part of my day. Tessa, I’ll be needing your help.”

Tessa straightened and shook her head. “No, he’s too big for the both of us. We’ll need a crane. One of those large construction types. We’ll put it right there in the hallway and it can lift Danny up to the second floor.”

“I like that,” Grammy M said.

Danny giggled. “You don’t need a crane.”

“I’m thinking we do,” Grammy M said as she led him toward the stairs. “They’re yellow, which means it won’t go at all with the decorations. We’ll have to paint it. Maybe pink with flowers.”

Tessa moved closer to Mia and lowered her voice. “We’ll put him to bed tonight. He’s tired. Don’t take it personally.”

Mia appreciated the support but wasn’t sure she could take the advice. Danny had bonded with his father so quickly-how was she supposed to keep them apart now? She couldn’t trust Rafael, yet didn’t Danny deserve time with his father?

She waited until the trio was in Danny’s bedroom, then made her way to her own. She closed the door and crossed to the window.

The night was clear and cool. She could see stars, and when she opened the windows the scent of the ripening grapes filled her room like a strong perfume.

She wanted to turn back time. She wanted to have things like they were before Rafael had shown up, because his arrival had changed everything. In a matter of a few short weeks, he’d altered her world and nothing could make it as it was.

She knelt on the floor and rested her arms on the windowsill. Anger filled her. So much anger, and with it the uncomfortable realization that she was still in love with him.

Oh, she hated him and didn’t trust him, but none of that meant she didn’t love him. Even knowing he was a snake, her heart continued to beat out a rhythm designed to be heard only by him.

She supposed that’s what happened after being in love with the same man for over five years. She was going to need some time to get over him. Having to deal with him would make the process harder.

Danny would want to see his father. She’d made the mistake of talking about him to the boy long before Rafael had ever shown up. She’d said he was brave and strong and a wonderful man. There was no way she could now tell him the truth.

She felt trapped by circumstances. Trapped and alone and clueless about her next step. At least her family would help, she thought. The Marcellis would always be there for her.

She stood and crossed to her dresser. She pulled out the small box and looked at the silver ring Diego had bought her so long ago.

Purposefully, she went downstairs and into the kitchen. There she rummaged through the junk drawer until she found a hammer; then she walked out to the porch, put the ring on the railing, and crushed it with a single blow.

After returning the hammer to the drawer, she dropped the crushed piece of metal in the trash, but as she walked back to her room, she found she didn’t feel the least bit better.

The next night Brenna showed up with a box of chocolates and a bottle of Four Sisters cabernet sauvignon.

“You don’t get a vote,” she told Mia as she pulled her from the family room and herded her upstairs. “We’re going to curl up on your bed, get drunk, eat too much chocolate, and call everyone who’s ever pissed us off really bad names. You get extra points for creativity.”

Mia smiled as she plopped on her bed. “I’m in.”

“Good.” Brenna set the wine on the nightstand. “It was a great year. Just perfect weather and the sugar in the grapes couldn’t have been more right. I remember-”

“Uh, Brenna?” Mia interrupted. “Don’t really care about the process. Just the results.”

Brenna pulled a corkscrew from her jeans back pocket. “All my sisters are completely worthless about the magic of winemaking. How is that possible? How can I be the only one who cares?”

“A mystery you’ll have to take up with the Almighty.”

“I guess.” She expertly pulled out the cork, then poured them each a glass of wine.

Mia took a sip. “Not bad,” she said, reaching for the chocolates.

Brenna winced. “Not bad? Do you know how many medals this wine has won? Do you know how those brilliant people at Wine Spectator scored my wine?”

“No, and hey, don’t really care. But kudos to you.” She held out the now-open box of chocolates. “Want one?”

“Please.”

Brenna grabbed a truffle, her wine, and sank onto the bed. “I’m the only one with a soul. That’s all there is to it.”

“Then speaking for the soul-free contingent, thanks for stopping by.”

Brenna leaned toward her. “How do you feel?”

“Like crap. It still hurts to breathe. Most of the time I can’t believe how much I hurt and how hard it is to do anything. Danny is furious. He wants his father around. It was such a mistake to have Rafael live here. Now Danny has expectations and I can’t meet them.”

“Rafael was only here a few weeks. Danny will get over it.”

“He hasn’t yet.”

“He knows something is up.”

Mia shuddered as she thought of her son’s pain. “I never wanted him to be hurt.”

“Of course you didn’t. But you didn’t make Rafael an ass. He did that all on his own.”

Mia nodded. “I can’t believe what’s happened. How could I have been such an idiot?”

“We were all fooled. Like Katie said before, he had the prince thing going for him. Why would we think he was a liar?”

Mia nodded, knowing it was true and wishing it could make her feel better. “I’m going to have to deal with him, I just don’t know how to get past the anger.” She sipped her wine. “Nic betrayed you, Brenna. How did you recover?”

A few years ago Nic and Brenna had secretly started a relationship. She’d thought it was true love while he’d been planning to buy Marcelli Wines out from under her.

Her sister grabbed another chocolate. “It wasn’t easy. I was so in love with him and I thought he cared about me and the whole time he planned to screw my family. Wow-I guess it isn’t that different. I felt like you do, honey. I felt broken and stupid and empty. The difference was, we didn’t have a child together. I could tell myself I never wanted to see him again.”

“At least Nic came crawling back,” Mia muttered, remembering how her now brother-in-law had begged for forgiveness. “Rafael doesn’t even think he’s done anything wrong. I can’t believe the weasel apology he gave me at Danny’s birthday. ‘I’m sorry you were distressed. I’m sorry I got caught,’” she mocked, her voice low. “He should have started with ‘I’m sorry I’m a lying worm bastard and here’s a knife so you can run me through.’ Now that would have been an apology.”

Brenna reached over and patted her arm. “I wish I had magic words.”

“Me too. I wish I didn’t love him.” She sipped her wine. “I was going to marry him. Can you believe it? We were going to run off to Las Vegas the day after Danny’s birthday. What if I had? What if I’d gone to Calandria with him? I would have lost Danny.”

“But you didn’t. You discovered the truth in time.”

Mia hung on to that slim thought. “I just don’t know how I’m supposed to protect him from his father. Obviously I can’t keep Danny from Rafael and I can’t let him go to Calandria.”

“Deep breaths,” Brenna told her. “There’s no need to panic right now.”

“Because I can always panic later?”

“Exactly.” Her sister smiled. “Come on. We have this under control. Or we’re getting there. Isn’t the lawyer in Zach’s office looking into this for you?”

Mia nodded. “Her name is Sandy and she’s amazing. We’ve already talked a couple of times. She has some excellent ideas and ways we can use the law. Darcy’s been talking to the attorney general, and how many people can say that in casual conversation? Joe is looking into some interesting security measures. When I next have to face Rafael, I’ll be ready.”

Brenna shook her head. “No you won’t.”

Mia swallowed. “No, I won’t. I’ll have plenty of armor, but I won’t be ready for the war. How can I still love him? How can I have feelings for him? I hate him, Brenna. I loathe and despise him and I still miss him.”

“You can’t just turn your feelings off because he’s a jerk. You’re doing everything you can to protect your son. That’s the most important thing. But you’ve loved him for years. Why would that go away overnight?”

“But he’s a bastard,” Mia said. “Shouldn’t that change my feelings?”

“Wasn’t Diego a bit of a ruthless guy? He was a villain and you fell for him. Has Rafael really acted so out of character?”

Mia shuddered. “Yuck. What does that say about me and my taste in men? I was right to give them up. I should think about becoming a lesbian.”

Brenna laughed. “Oh, right. That’s going to happen. You could never do it.”

“I guess not. Once Danny’s grown up, I’ll become a nun or something. Use my life for good works. If I’m never having sex again, I’ll have plenty of energy to spare.”

“You’ll have sex again.”

“I don’t think so,” Mia said. “I don’t really see a romantic happy ending for me, do you?”

“Not with Rafael.”

Mia wasn’t sure there was another man for her. Which really sucked the big one.

“I wish I-”

The bedroom door opened and Joe stuck his head in. “Sorry to break up the girlfest, but we have a problem downstairs.”

Mia sprang to her feet. “Danny?”

“No. He’s fine. The Grands put him to bed. I just checked and he’s sound asleep. It’s Kelly.”

Mia and Brenna followed him down the stairs. Mia heard voices coming from the kitchen. She walked in and saw Kelly leaning against the counter.

“Mia,” she said, her voice thick. “Hey, how’s it going?” Her gaze locked on the glass still in Mia’s hand. “Is that wine? Can I have some?”

As she spoke, her entire body swayed.

“She’s drunk,” Brenna muttered. “This is perfect. Just perfect.”

“Just a little taste,” Kelly said. “Want me to dance for it? ’Coz that’s what I do. Dance for my supper.” She giggled, then tried a pirouette.

She managed half a turn, then she grabbed for the counter, missed, and sank slowly to the floor. By the time Mia reached her, she’d already passed out.