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I felt a tingling between my legs at his words, at his breath on my skin. He annoyed me, but I was still allowed to be attracted to him sexually. “And if I don’t?” I asked even though I did.
“Then I won’t touch you,” he said genuinely and pulled back a bit to look into my eyes. “I am not a fucking rapist.”
He might have been just playing me, but his voice held so much disgust that I somehow believed him. I was not sure about him in many ways, but I believed this was a line he would not cross. Still, I asked one more question, “Even if we are married?”
“Yes.” He pulled back and let go of my arm. His face was serious. “Luce, I want to marry you because I need to marry at one point, and you seem like a good fit. You are not shy or scared. Your mindset is different from people in our circles. I don’t want a traditionalist wife, so you fit into that. I need a wife with a good last name. Appearances matter to an extent, but when we go back home, we can be different. We can have boundaries. This can even be an open marriage if that is what you want. However, we will still share life, and even if we aren’t real husband and wife, I don’t want to get stuck with someone I will hate. I want someone like you, and I also believe I can be good for you too.”
I stood there speechless. He was even ready to have an open marriage. That was bizarre for people like us. For some crazy reason, he seemed genuine too. He just seemed like a guy who had responsibilities and didn’t want to be ruined by them. I have seen many women like that but never any men. It was weird, but to think it was impossible would be sexist. I had to keep an open mind when it came to him then. Maybe he was really just too good.
If his words were true, he was the perfect match for me. He was freedom. His only flaw was living so far away from here.
Still, I wanted to know why he thought he was a good match for me. So I asked, “Why.”
He shrugged like the answer was so simple. “Don’t you want to get away? Your father is ready to sell you to the guy with the best last name. You have to sneak out and keep dangerous secrets. I don’t really know how your life is here, but I believe I can give you better.”
My chest ached because of how true his words were. “Every father does that,” I said, a little choked up. I wanted to believe I was not to blame for my father’s hate.
Valerio shook his head and looked at where we were sitting. “You see Antonio? Did you see how he looks at his wife? He looks at his daughter the same way. Do you think he will ever do what your father is doing?”
Backs of my eyes burned, and I gritted my teeth hard as I forced myself to keep the tears back. I didn’t cry. It didn’t solve anything, so I stopped a long time ago. I didn’t get upset over things. However, no one talked to me directly like this before.
I nodded absently. I needed to get away. I needed to hold Elsie or hold one of my cats. “I need to go.”
“Hey,” he said, stopping me. “I didn’t mean to upset you, but we don’t have much time, Luce, and I don’t want to lose this chance.” he lowered his voice. “I will get a ring tonight, and you can give me an answer tomorrow. If you say no, I will throw it away, but if you say yes, I will propose to you during the dinner.”
“Propose to me? Won’t you ask my father instead?”
He lifted a shoulder and gave me a silly smile. “I think I will enjoy riling him up a bit.”
A momentary chuckle left me, but I suppressed it soon. I was not like him. I didn’t have the luxury of being like him. I was in a fucked-up situation, and nothing was funny about that. However, this juvenile guy was most likely my salvation.
I nodded, and before turning back towards Elsie, I said, “Tomorrow.”
I could almost feel his smile and amused eyes behind my back.
Then I kept Valerio and his words in my head but held Elsie close to calm my heart. It was risky, and it was scary, but as I held Elsie’s small body, I realized I would do anything for her. If Valerio Vasile was ready to give me what I needed to keep her safe, I would take it. Even if it meant leaving Elsie behind, I would do it.
One day I could get her back. One day I was going to take her.
That’s why when my father approached me at the party and asked how it went with Valerio, I answered, “I think he is going to ask for my hand tomorrow at dinner.”
I was in desperate need of him, but I was definitely not going to let him play me. I was not going to make it easy for him because men always broke your heart when you made it easy for them.
Chapter 8
Valerio
“You have known this girl for a day,” Salvatore said from the screen. “Not even a day. Just a few hours.”
“Isn’t it more than enough for arranged marriages?” I asked simply.
When I told Antonio I was most likely going to propose to Luciana, he actually looked surprised. Priscilla was more sympathetic, but even she looked doubtful, so Antonio said there was no way I could do that before talking to Salvatore.
Thus, I ended up in a room with Antonio and Priscilla on my side, Salvatore and Mia on the screen, with Angelina in my brother’s arms, occasionally crying.
I was an adult, but I was the youngest adult in the family, so that made me a child in their eyes, when it came to big matters. I have been killing people since I was thirteen, but I guess I was still too young to choose a bride for myself.
“I have known Mia almost my whole life before having an arranged marriage.”
