Page 66 of Bene

And why was her voice so faint?

“We—this clan—have given so much to you, haven’t we?” he asked.

God.

She wanted to say no.

She knew that wasn’t what he wanted, though.

“Yes,” Vanna whispered, “it has.”

And it took, too.

A lot.

They took so much from her.

They weren’t done taking, either.

Senior confirmed it, saying, “Mario brought it to my attention that at your age, and he’s right, you should be focusing more on the family—the clan, and your life.”

“I am focusing on my—”

“Marriage, family … business.”

She sucked in a sharp breath.

Her eyes burned.

Still, she held back those tears.

“You and Mario are to be married soon.”

Yeah.

There it was.

Vanna wanted to be surprised.

She wasn’t.

Her heart screamed to fight the news.

Her brain knew better.

This was Camorra.

The boss spoke.

The rest of them listened.

That didn’t mean she was happy because a rage like never before curled around her heart, squeezing with heat that damn near stopped the beats altogether. She didn’t know if Senior could see the hatred in her stare, but she didn’t really care, either.

“That so?” she finally asked.

Senior nodded. “It is.”

“How soon?”