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I frowned

“Born in blood Sworn in blood That’s their motto”

I nodded but rew

“I met with Salvatore Vitiello yesterday” Father met with the Capo dei Capi, the head of the New York o hadn’t taken place in a decade and the last time hadn’t ended well It was still referred to as the Bloody Thursday And Father wasn’t even the Boss He was only the Consigliere, the adviser to Fiore Cavallaro who ruled over the Outfit and with it the crime in the Midwest

“We agreed that for peace to be an option we had to become family” Father’s eyes bored into me and suddenly I didn’t want to hear what else he had to say “Cavallaro and I agreed that you would marry his oldest son Luca, the future Capo dei Capi of the Familia”

I felt like I was falling “Why me?”

“Vitiello and Fiore have been talking on the phone several times in the last feeeks, and Vitiello wanted the ive hihters, so he said you were the irl available” Gianna was just as beautiful, but she was younger That probably saved her

“There are so irls,” I choked I couldn’t breathe Father looked at me as if I was his most prized possession

“There aren’t irls with hair like yours Fiore described it as golden” Father guffawed “You are our door into the New York Familia”

“But, Father, I’m fifteen I can’t marry”

Father ree, you could What do we care for laws?”

I gripped the ar white, but I didn’t feel pain Nuh my body

“But I told Salvatore that the wedding would have to wait until you turn eighteen Your e and finish school Fiore let her begging get to him”

So the Boss had toldhad to wait My own father would have thrown me into the arms of my future husband now My husband A wave of sickness crashed over s about Luca Vitiello; he would become the head of the New York ot his nickna a man’s throat with his bare hands I didn’t kno old he was My cousin Bibiana had to marry a man thirty years her senior Luca couldn’t be that old, if his father hadn’t retired yet At least, that’s what I hoped Was he cruel?

He’d crushed a man’s throat He’ll be the head of the New York mob

“Father,” I whispered “Please don’t force me to marry that man”

Father’s expression tightened “You will marry Luca Vitiello I shook hands on it with his father Salvatore You will be a good wife to Luca, and when you ement celebrations, you’ll act like an obedient lady”

“Engagement party?” I echoed My voice sounded distant, as if a veil of fog covered my ears

“Of course It’s a good way to establish bonds between our faetting out of the deal We don’t want to disappoint him”