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"And I don't won't to just be a pretty trophy."
He smiled at this. "Never thought you would be, bella.”
“I don’t want to be lied to and treated like a child.” Her eyes were fixated on Vinny’s office window as she said this.
Lucian nodded. “Anything else?”
"Yeah, I, um, I don’t want to be used as entertainment." He looked confused about this one. "My dad and Massimo used to bring me out at their parties and make me sing or play for them." She paused to take a deep breath. "That's something I do for me. Not for them."
"I understand, bella." He rested a hand on her knee. "I want to make you an offer."
Her eyes shot up to his. "What do you mean?"
"I want to move forward with this arrangement."
She swallowed hard. "You mean marry me?"
He gave her one of his reassuring smiles. "Yes, bella. But I have a few conditions and I want to make sure you agree first."
"Lay it on me." She forced a smile. Outside she was trying to bring back flirty and fun Adelina. Inside, she was a wreck.
"I want you to finish school."
Well, at least she had that going for her.
"We can work something out after you graduate for a career, I will never make you sing for guests, and I promise I will always tell you the truth. Okay?"
"Okay."
"I want a few promises, bella. No more picking up guys in bars."
Adelina's face flushed. Nothing more embarrassing than being called out on your sexual advances.
"I want to see you. Every week, we'll pick a day that doesn't interfere with school. We’ll also have to have an engagement party and participate in family functions as a couple, other than that I will stay out of your life for the remainder of your senior year." He took a long pause. "Finally, we'll have to have a wedding after your graduation."
This all felt very real suddenly. She would no longer be the careless college student, instead she'd be engaged to a mobster. One she barely knew.
"What do you say, bella?"
"Can I think about it?"
His mouth thinned, but he replied "of course".
He stood from his seat and dusted invisible lint off the navy pants. "I'll talk to your brother about school."
"Good luck." She replied sarcastically.
Within the hour Roberto had her back at her dorm room.
???
“Adelina Lucille DeMarco. Where the hell have you been? I’ve been losing my mind!” Gemma, Adelina’s roommate screeched when she walked through into their room after Roberto dropped her off. She quickly bounced off the bed to hug and kiss Adelina, holding her as if it’d been a year and not a week.
“House arrest.” Adelina muttered throwing her duffel on the twin bed.
“What happened?”
Gemma came from an Italian family that was also “connected”. Their mothers had been pregnant with them both at the same time while raising their older brothers. She was the youngest of three and it was no surprise her parents quit after her. She was a whirlwind of colors, noise, and constant chatter. Basically, a perfect match for Adelina. They had been best friends since kindergarten when one of the boys pushed Adelina off the swing and Gemma told him that her brother would kill him if he did it again. He didn’t do it again, which was probably a good idea as Gemma wasn’t really joking.
