Mancini's POV
Marie's single word hung in the air, and everyone, I was sure, was in shock. It was ironic, the rumours and everything were that Marie hated the marriage. I wanted to laugh. Now they would stop saying that I was the one holding Marie against her will in this marriage. They would see with their eyes.
I looked around the room and enjoyed looking at their surprised faces. I am, after all, Mancini, and the smartest and most powerful person in the room, even if they don't see it yet.
"You're making a good choice, my love," I said.
I had planned to turn this whole situation into something more chaotic. I needed a catalyst to cause an outbreak of war in the city, and I was sure I would work my way around killing the important people. But for now, I think I should step back and plan some more. I still needed some men. I needed to gather more people. My men were many, but not as Mateo's men. I needed to get some more people on my side and command more respect.
