Page 60 of Lost Prince

Afterward, I roll us until she’s resting her head on my chest. No words are spoken. I’m grateful for that. I just want to pretend my life is this. Just her and me. Soon, I drift off to sleep, her body pressed against mine as if this is how the world should be.

I wake with a start, my head pounding from last night's overindulgence. The events of the evening before come rushing back. The tense dinner where my family bargained with my life, the argument with my siblings, drowning my frustrations at the club. But then Diana… finding peace in her arms.

I reach my hand out to find empty space in the bed next to me. The fog lifts and panic sets in. Diana's not beside me.

My heart races as I scan the room. Her bag's still here, but she's gone. Did she change her mind? Did Lana get to her?

I throw on clothes haphazardly, not bothering to button my shirt properly. My feet carry me swiftly through the halls, down to the kitchen driven by fear. What if she left?

The kitchen door swings open… There she is, humming softly as she stands at the stove. She's still here. She stayed.

I want to rush to her, to wrap her in my arms and never let go. But before I can take a step, Matteo's voice cuts through my thoughts.

"There you are. We've got work to do."

"Can't it wait?" I growl, my eyes darting back to Diana.

Matteo shakes his head. "Afraid not. Elio needs us at the warehouse. Now." He scans my appearance. “Maybe a quick shower first. Don’t want you stinking up the car.”

I give him the finger as I make my way upstairs to clean up and dress. As I shower, I wonder why the fuck I’m doing this. Why am I going to act like a mad dog for my siblings when I don’t think they really give a shit about me?

Fifteen minutes later, I’m in the passenger seat as Matteo drives. Thank fuck he’s quiet because I feel on edge. I don’t want to beat the shit out of anyone, but my nerves are such that I could lose it.

"So," he finally says, breaking the silence. "About this marriage proposal…"

I clench my jaw. "What about it?"

Matteo sighs. "Look, I know it's not ideal, but?—"

"Not ideal?" I scoff. “I’m a fucking pawn. What I want doesn’t matter as long as the family benefits.”

Matteo falls silent for a moment. When he speaks again, his voice is softer. "Is that really what you think?"

I let out a bitter laugh. "What else am I supposed to think? Sometimes, I wonder why I even came back. It's not like I remember any of you, anyway."

"Hey," Matteo says sharply, giving me a heated glare. "Don't talk like that. We're your family. We love you."

“You love the old Lazaro. I can’t imagine he’d be up for this marriage either. Rinella would likely not let his daughter marry the ‘mad dog’.”

“Rinella doesn’t give a shit about Ava.” Matteo’s fingers grip the steering wheel like he wishes he could throttle Rinella.

I take the comment as a dig. Like they all still think I’m a maniac and Rinella doesn’t care about it. “Gee, thanks.”

Matteo rolls his eyes. "This marriage could solve a lot of problems for the family. It's not just about you."

"Right," I snort. "Because it's always about the greater good, isn't it? Tell me, Matteo, how many sacrifices have you made for the family lately? How about Elio?" My mind goes back to Elio and Piper. The way he looks at her with a deep love. The same way she looks at him. He chose her over family duty. But I have no choice? That’s fucked.

I shake my head. “If this deal between the families is so important, why don't you marry her?”

“I would, but I’m not a D’Amato. Rinella wants a D’Amato.”

I frown at him. “We’re cousins. Your mom was my dad’s sister, right? You work in the family?—”

“Rinella wants the D’Amato name, I guess.”

Resentment builds. Elio got to choose. Even Lana, she’s with a cop. They got to choose.

My thoughts drift to Diana. More often than not, I don’t feel I can breathe unless she’s around. Could I do like Elio and Lana and choose her instead of family duty?