One Summer at The Villa: The Prince's Royal Concubine / Her Italian Soldier / A Devilishly Dark Deal. Rebecca Winters

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СКАЧАТЬ isn’t on the edge of bankruptcy.”

      Antonella had to work not to choke on the swallow of wine she’d just taken. “I’m not sure where you hear these things,” she replied carefully, “but we’re moving forward now that Dante is King. Monteverde is fine.”

      “And did you support that? Dante deposing your father?”

      “Yes,” she said simply. What was the use in denying it? “My father was…unbalanced.”

      “I had heard of this. But what if it was simply an excuse for your brother to take the throne?”

      “It wasn’t.” She picked up a cracker, nibbled a corner. “I was there, and I know what happened.”

      His eyes narrowed. “Interesting.”

      Anger began to uncoil itself in her belly at the tone of his voice. “Interesting? You have no idea, Cristiano. Do not presume to judge me or my brother for things you know nothing about.”

      “Then tell me.”

      She set the cracker down. She was no longer hungry, though whether it was because she’d had enough to eat or because of the sick feeling settling into the pit of her stomach over this conversation she couldn’t say. “Why would I want to do that? It’s my business, not yours.”

      “It could be my business.”

      She gaped at him. “How is this possible? You aren’t Monteverdian, and you mean nothing to me—just as I mean nothing to you.”

      “I’m hurt,” he said. “And after all we’ve been to each other.”

      Antonella set down her empty glass and leaned back again. “I don’t want to play these games with you, Cristiano. I’m tired, I’m sore, and I just want to go home.”

      “But you were on a mission here. A mission you failed. Surely you aren’t ready to give up so easily?”

      Her heart thundered in her ears. Cristiano leaned over and poured more wine into her glass. She picked it up, only half aware of what she was doing. Sipped.

       You failed.

      “I’m sure you are mistaken. Yes, we wanted Vega Steel to invest in Monteverde.” She shrugged. “We have a lot of ore, and it seemed quite natural. It would have been a good partnership. But there will be others.”

      “I think not,” he said, one corner of his mouth curving in a knowing smirk.

      Had she really felt sorry for him just a few minutes ago? It seemed impossible, incongruous with the man speaking to her now. This Cristiano elicited no sympathy in her soul.

      “I think this was Monteverde’s last chance,” he continued.

      The world threatened to cease spinning. “Last chance? You are deluded, Your Highness. This is only Monterossan wishful thinking.”

      “You can still save Monteverde, Principessa.”

      “You aren’t listening to me. Monteverde doesn’t need saving.”

      He leaned forward, eyes intense. “We both know it does. And I will give you a chance to do so.”

      Antonella ran her finger along the top of the glass to steady herself. Was he fishing for information? Or did he know the truth? She had to know if he was simply making wild guesses, or if he truly had a plan.

      “If what you say were true—and I am not saying it is—what are you proposing? Will you tell Raúl you’ve changed your mind? That he should invest in Monteverde instead?”

      “Monterosso will buy your ore.”

      In spite of the heat in the room, a chill washed over her. “We don’t need to sell you our ore, Cristiano. We can sell it to anyone we choose.”

      “Except no one else wants it. Vega Steel will build in Monterosso, and while we have ore deposits of our own, yours are bigger. Between our mines, and the incentives I offered Raúl on behalf of the kingdom, Vega Steel can import materials from Europe or South America just as easily. We do not need your ore, but I am offering to buy it.”

      “You will build guns and tanks,” she said.

      He shook his head. “Vega Steel builds ships, Antonella. Ships, girders, and industrial products.”

      “They will build what you want them to build.”

      “It does not work that way. Raúl has contracts to fulfill. And Monterosso is not a dictatorship.”

      “Neither is Monteverde.”

      He frowned. “You know that is not true.”

      “My father is no longer King, Cristiano. Monteverde is not a dictatorship.”

      “Nevertheless.” He poured more wine into his own glass. “You can save your country, Antonella. You have only to sell me the ore.”

      Her pulse was tripping into the danger zone. Her stomach threatened to upend everything she’d just put into it. She was trapped in this tiny room with him, and he was pressing her hard to admit truths she couldn’t.

      “The ore is not mine to sell, even if I were inclined to do so.”

      “The veins are on state property. Your brother is the King. It is in your ability to do this.”

      Was he insane? How did he expect her to talk Dante into such a thing, assuming she would ever agree it was for the best? It would be hard enough to convince him to seek help from Montebianco. But from Monterosso? Unthinkable. “I believe you are mistaken, Cristiano. Monteverde does not need to sell her ore to you.”

      His sneer was not encouraging. “Stop prevaricating, Antonella. We both know the truth. Monteverde is falling apart, and you have loans due that you cannot repay. Without this deal, you will fall into ruin.”

      “Then why not simply wait for it to happen? Monterosso can pick up the pieces,” she said bitterly. “You will finally achieve all your aims.”

      “Stability,” he said softly. “If Monteverde falls, there will be greater troubles in the region than you can imagine. Our enemies would pick Monteverde apart, and use the fragmentation to destabilize markets across the three nations. The war could spread with the chaos such events would inspire. I will not let this happen.”

      “If stability is so important, then why not loan us the money to make the payments?”

      “What is in this for Monterosso? Nothing, except money we would never see repaid.” He shook his head. “The ore, Antonella. It is the only way.”

      “What you say is impossible. Dante will never agree to it.”

      His gaze was sharp, as if he were scenting the air for weakness. She was very afraid he’d found it in her reaction. “He would if you convinced him it would work.”

      “It’s impossible,” she repeated. “Even if you are СКАЧАТЬ