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I put the ring on her finger, feeling that deep dark thing inside me grow in the worst way possible. I let the possessiveness take hold of me. It was okay as long as I could control it on the outside. I could let myself feel as long as it was in secret.
Chapter 9
Luciana
“Fucking brat didn’t even ask for my blessing.” My father looked murderous in his seat. I tried very hard not to roll my eyes. He couldn’t say a word when they were here, but apparently, now that they had left, he decided to stop being a coward.
I actually had fun with how he shrunk under Antonio Mazzoni’s gaze. I just wanted Priscilla to torture him with more stories. I could tell she liked the stories, but mostly she told them to bore my father.
I hoped more women were like her in Chicago. Maybe I could even have friends.
As I tried to ignore him, my father’s attention turned toward me. “And what about you? You said yes without even asking me.”
“Were you going to say no?”
His face hardened. “That is not the point. I would have made you regret what you did, but I am a good person, so I will let you live your last months in peace, Luciana.”
“How generous of you, Dad.” I mocked him. I am extremely annoyed, but still, something is stuck in my throat. I felt dizzy ever since I said yes to Valerio. I couldn’t even look at the elegant ring on my finger. I hated that he actually picked something I would like. I hated that he said yes to my every demand.
I couldn’t figure him out, but I took a chance. I just hoped I wouldn’t be disappointed.
“What if he doesn’t kill me?” I asked without even thinking.
My father looked at me with an almost amused face. “Are you getting your hopes up, Luce? I thought you accepted your fate the second you said yes.”
“I did,” I lied. “But what if?”
“There is no chance for this plan to fail.”
“Why?” I pushed. I knew Valerio was not going to kill me, but I had no idea what my father was going to do then. Unknown of my father scared me more than the unknown of my marriage. “Valerio seems like a laid-off guy. He is funny and relaxed compared to most Made Men. He might have different ideas concerning my situation. Things might be different in Chicago. I mean, didn’t you see how much Antonio Mazzoni was enchanted by his wife?”
He shook his head in disapproval. “He was fucking whipped, but that doesn’t mean shit. Just because they were different, don’t think they are good men, Luce. They are brutal. They are fucking killers like the rest of us. Also, have you seen how Mazzoni looked at his wife? He might be enchanted, but didn’t you see the possessiveness? Does he look like the type of man who would be okay with sharing?”
Previous partners didn’t equal sharing, but I didn’t even waste my breath telling that to my father. He was not going to accept that anyway. Instead, I nodded and said, “I did. You are right.”
I had to find another way to go about my plan. I had to be prepared for everything.
Actually, for a moment, I wanted to tell Valerio. I wanted to tell him all about my father’s plans. I wanted him to help me.
How nice would it be to have someone so powerful on my side?
I decided to act all rough and bitchy while telling him I accepted his offer. I wanted to show him he could not walk over me. I expected a fight or at least a little crack, but he gave me nothing. He just accepted everything, and he even looked amused while doing that. He actually liked how disobedient I was, or he was just one hell of an actor.
When he seemed unaffected by my attitude, I decided to say yes to him. I did consider telling him the whole truth, but it was dangerous. I didn’t know how he would react. I couldn’t risk it.
“You should just focus on your wedding planning right now. Vasile wants an early wedding,” My father said. He seemed so unaffected. I was just a pawn in his great scheme, and he was not even a bit sad about sacrificing me.
I never really hated my father, but at this moment, I did. I hated him so much. I hated him for everything he did to me and for everything he wanted to do to me. Thank God his plans were already off track, and one day I was going to make him regret giving up on me so easily.
“Are you going to keep your promise to me?” I asked. He looked at me like my words didn’t make any sense, so I elaborated, “About Elsie.”
“Of course I will. Unlike you, she is innocent. She does not deserve a punishment.”
“And if she does in the future? What if she makes something you find punishable? What if she turns out like me?”
He looked at me with dull eyes and said, “Then she will bear the consequences of her actions.”
I nodded and, without another word, left the living room. Tears gathered in my eyes as I made my way upstairs. I knew how my father was. I knew sacrificing myself would mean nothing. I knew I needed to stay alive to keep Elsie safe. He just confirmed it.
