Forbidden Princess (Retribution Games #2) - Ella Miles Page 0,3
but he doesn’t speak his judgment. He doesn’t realize there is no way for me to get drunk, not when my heart aches like it does. My heart ensures that I stay sober.
My eyes drift to the others at the table. Gage’s tux fits him perfectly. Hayes is wearing a navy blue suit, looking cool and sharp in it. Lennox is wearing a gray suit, but he’s already removed the jacket. His sleeves are rolled up like he doesn’t give a shit that this is supposed to be a black-tie affair.
And Caius sits perfectly still in his tux. He still hasn’t shown any emotion, not one damn tear. He’s barely spoken as well. Everyone mourns in different ways, but a tidal wave is waiting to crush him the moment he finally lets himself feel.
The doors at the back of the ballroom suddenly open, and Corsi and Rialta walk in surrounded by their guards. Corsi wears a tux that exudes his power and wealth, signaling that he is the king. Rialta shines as a dark princess in her slinky black lace dress that exposes the skin around her sides and swirls around her hips, leaving a train of sparkly lace at the back. Her tiara sits firmly on her head, and she walks without fear by her father’s side.
My eyes lock on her as she walks, studying her closely, trying to understand if she is the broken daughter of a monster afraid for her life and future, or if she’s a proud, dangerous princess who willingly does her father’s bidding.
She’s fooled me before; I won’t let her fool me again. I try to look through to her heart to see if it’s as black as her father’s, but I can’t tell.
They walk up onto the stage at the end of the room. And then Vincent Corsi starts speaking.
“Thank you all for gathering. As you know, we have several important things to discuss. First, I’d like you to celebrate the safe return of my daughter, Rialta Corsi.”
The crowd starts applauding, but I don’t. No one at my table does. Maybe we should to avoid any blowback, but there will be no cheering or happiness until I have the man who killed Odette’s blood on my hand.
“Now, for the less than happy news. As you all know, Rialta was set to be married to Nicolo Ricci on her twenty-first birthday.”
The room drops silent, and Rialta’s eyes widen in terror. The room is so quiet that I swear I can hear her heartbeat even from here. She’s petrified.
Good.
“But it is with a heavy heart that I have to report that Nicolo has been murdered.”
Corsi probably murdered him just so the bastard could arrange this game. When I called him, I could hear his giddiness at the thought of being able to control so many men at once.
“My daughter’s safety has been at risk over this last week, but the Retribution Kings ensured her safe return. And they helped me create a plan for how to keep her safe forever.”
Corsi nods his head toward me to offer his thanks. I merely look at him with a bored expression, like saving his daughter meant nothing to me.
“My daughter is in need of a husband, one who will keep her safe.”
Here we go.
“With such a prize as my daughter at stake, there are bound to be fights breaking out. So to ensure the best man for the job wins, I’ve devised a game. It will keep my daughter safe and prevent fighting amongst ourselves outside of the game. The winner gets to marry my daughter.”
I watch in twisted enjoyment as Rialta squirms on the stage. My sinister heart grins as she tries to get her panicked breathing under control.
Maybe she isn’t her father’s stooge? Maybe she truly is innocent?
Doesn’t matter, not anymore. Odette’s gone.
“I’m sure you are wondering what the rules are, but that will have to wait. For now, know this—any man here can enter, only one will win. If you enter and lose…well, I don’t recommend losing.” He smirks.
The crowd chuckles in response to his joke. No one at my table laughs.
“Enter however many men from your gang that you dare, but you must follow my rules. If you don’t, there will be consequences.” He snaps his fingers, and an image appears on a screen behind us of Ares dead from a gunshot.
The image doesn’t bring me any comfort because I don’t believe that Ares killed Odette. The image fades.