Page 116 of Unholy Union
Her curls are pinned up and her blouse is tucked smartly into high-waisted trousers like she’s come straight from some Vogue power spread. Her eyes scan the room as she crosses toward her seat—the only empty one at the table—and lowers herself into the chair.
With a polite smile at the others, she asks, “Have we reached me already? I assume it’s a tie?”
Mr. Barzini adjusts his glasses. “Indeed, Mrs. Valente. Your vote will determine the outcome of the motion.”
“Right, I figured,” she says. “In that case, I vote nay.”
Rinaldo’s eyes gleam with pride watching his daughter, but her attention has shifted elsewhere. She’s turned her head slightly in another direction. Her gaze flicks to the upper corner of the room to the small recording device mounted to the wall.
The same camera I’m watching her through as if she’s aware I am, a small smirk coming to her lips.
Chapter 24
Sabrina
Lethal Woman - Dove Cameron
“Ineed you to get a message to my father.”
Tessa’s eyes widen, her lashes fluttering with the kind of alarm that makes my stomach twist. The noise of the museum filters from beyond the stone pillar we’re tucked behind—soft music, murmured conversation, the occasional clink of a champagne flute. But here in this quiet corner where we’ve hidden ourselves, we have a moment alone.
Tessa stares at me like I’ve just asked her to assassinate a diplomat.
“Sabrina,” she whispers, her voice trembling, “what are you talking about?”
“You heard them. The Valentes are planning a takeover of my father’s company. They think I’m going to help them. That I’ll vote the way they want.”
Her lips part, but no sound comes out. I can see her pulse pounding in her throat.
“I’m going to play along,” I explain. “But you need to warn my father. Tell him exactly what I said. That it’s coming. And that he can count on me to save him.”
“Sab… are you sure?”
“Positive. Just do it. Text me a thumbs up when you have. Don’t say anything else. Any words might be too risky. Knowing Cato, he could have access to my phone somehow and read my texts.”
Tessa nods, looking more dazed than I’ve ever seen her.
It’s just a reminder that Tessa and her family might be old friends of ours, but she’s not part of the lifestyle the way mine is. The Lucchesi’s are clean except for a couple sketchy business dealings and some of the contract work her father’s done for mine.
She’s never had to deal with blood feuds or warring between rival families like I have.
“It’ll be okay,” I whisper, pulling her into a hug. “I’m serious. Just follow my lead.”
She nods again, her chin brushing my shoulder. I pull away before either of us can second-guess what we have to do.
Time to perform.
Cato thinks he knows me. He thinks he can read me like a book. But he has no idea what I’m capable of.
The Corsinis and Valentes have feuded for decades for a reason, and that’s because both families refuse to back down no matter what. That hasn’t changed simply because Cato Valente and I have exchanged vows at the altar and he slid a wedding ring on my finger.
In our world, love is weakness and hatred is a weapon.
I made the mistake of thinking I could fall in love with Cato Valente. But I was wrong.
So now I’ll do what I should’ve done the moment I saidI do.
I’ll destroy him and his family. I’ll burn everything they have to the ground, even if I have to sacrifice myself to do it.
