Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
But the thought of joining the Rossi family makes me sick.
Because that would mean getting close to him again.
And I don’t want that to happen.
The trip home is long and exhausting. Amadeus doesn’t treat me like a prisoner, but he doesn’t let me out of his sight for longer than a bathroom break. Once we land in Philadelphia, I step out onto the tarmac of the private airport and am greeted by my father, Uncle Cassio, and several more soldiers.
“You put on a parade to welcome me home,” I say with a tired smile as I approach my father.
He doesn’t smile back. Normally, I can make him laugh. All our favorite movies are comedies. I think I’m the only person in the entire world that can do it, except for Adam Sandler. Papa loves Sandler. With everyone else, he’s the terrifying Don Rinaldo. But with me, at least when I was little, he was just Papa.
Now though, it’s the Don welcoming me home. “How was your stay? Did you at least spend some quality time with my mother?”
“Yes, and she’s doing great, thanks for asking.”
He grunts, some of him softening. “What were you thinking, Allegra?”
“I didn’t want to marry him.”
“I know that. You made it clear. And you’re aware that it doesn’t matter what you want. We give what we have to the Famiglia.”
I try not to make a face. We give what we have. That’s his favorite phrase—I’m pretty sure he’s got it tattooed inside his freaking eyelids.
“Anyone else and I would’ve done it. Anyone but a Rossi.”
He steps closer, his voice dropping. Everyone’s watching us. Uncle Cassio’s got a scowl plastered on his lips—although the guy’s got a case of a classic resting-asshole-face so it’s hard to tell if he’s actually upset.
“You know how things are right now,” Papa says so only I can hear. He grabs onto my arm. My father is a tall man but narrow, his eyes sunken, his hair thinning. It’s a shock to realize he looks old. “Our business interests have been squeezed out by the legal sportsbooks, and our attempts to grow into new industries haven’t been fruitful. We need an alliance with another strong family to provide better business opportunities, or else we’ll start to cede turf to the Irish and the Russians. Especially now with this damn war.”
“I know that, Papa.” I stare down at the ground. “Anyone else. Just anyone else.”
“You got lucky. Renzo found another wife and it seems they’re happy together. But unfortunately, his younger brother is still a bachelor. Now, I let you stay in Italy with my mother for long enough, but it’s time for you to do what must be done. We need this marriage, Allegra. It’s important to the whole Rinaldo organization. Can you swear you won’t run?”
I don’t want to.
I’m not afraid of Saul Rossi. That’s not the problem. I wasn’t afraid of Renzo Rossi either. Even their other brother, Carlo, he doesn’t seem that bad.
It’s the last Rossi brother. The one I’ve known since Blackwoods College, since that terrible and incredible week.
Gian Rossi. The man who stabbed me in the chest.
I don’t want to join that family and get anywhere near him. I swore I’d hate those people forever after what he did to me, and it’s a promise I’ve managed to uphold for a long time now.
I got my looks from my mother and my pig-headed stubbornness from my father.
Except if I marry Saul, or Renzo, or Carlo, or even some Rossi cousin, I’ll be forced to see Gian again. I’ll be forced to have a Rossi baby, carry the Rossi name, when all I want to do is curse it for the rest of my life.
I hate Gian Rossi. I think he’s the only person I really do hate.
But there’s no running away anymore.
Papa won’t allow it. I know how bad the situation is within the Famiglia right now. Very few people are aware, only those closest to the inner circle, and Papa wants to keep it that way.
We give what we have.
Well, all I have is a uterus and a last name. What else can I give?
“I’m not going anywhere,” I say and my chest constricts as if someone’s pressing down on my ribcage. I can hardly breathe, hardly move, and my heart’s racing. “I’ll do what I have to.”
“That’s my daughter.” He squeezes my arm again and pulls me toward the waiting car. “Saul’s not a bad man. I’ll make sure you’re well taken care of so long as you make sure you don’t do anything else to embarrass me. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Papa.”
I understand everything. Smile, do what I’m told, squeeze out babies. Go join a family I despise. Do it all for the Rinaldo Famiglia.
Anyone else, I’d be here with a smile.
Anyone but the Rossis. Anyone but Gian and his siblings.