Page 3 of Rafael

Because she can't be anything more than that to me.

"I don't know," Amelia sounds wretched. "He came to my apartment, and I escaped out the back. But I can't run forever."

"What did your grandfather say about this?" He's not the man in charge, but he's close to it. He could make sure that Vinnie doesn't hurt her.

I'm skating close to asking her about covering up a crime. The ethics are already fucked.

"I haven't spoken with him in over two years. He wanted me to marry Uncle Dino's protege. But I can't. I want out. I never wanted in in the first place. And I'm afraid if I talk to him and try and fix this, he'll make me do it. What can I do?" She's desperate, looking at me wide-eyed and needy.

I'm a shitheel for wanting to kiss her again.

Then I realize what she's said. "He wanted to marry you off?" I'll punch any man who gets close to her. She's not property to be handed off to some favored son.

But that's how it works in that world.

No wonder she wants to escape.

"He wasn't going to force me or anything," she sounds defensive, but she burrows in closer to me. "It was my choice."

Some choice if she can't ask for help because she refused. I bite those words back. It's a special kind of torture to hold her so close when she's not mine, but I'm not pulling away. "You know I have to tell you to go to the police."

"You are the police."

"Don't remind me." I should be planning to take Amelia to the police station right now, or at least planning to call this in. But those thoughts are far from my mind. "So you can't ask your grandfather without being forced into a marriage you don't want?"

She nods.

I'll kill the old man and her would-be fiancé. No one takes Amelia's choices from her.

"We'll find a way to make this right," I promise. "Vinnie DeLuca won't hurt you."

Amelia presses her lips together until they turn white like she's holding words in. But the dam breaks. "Why did you kiss me?"