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“Absolutely.” Says Bosco.
“Great. Where can I start?”
“You will need to pick out a dress.”
She glances from her father to me, and back. “Huh?”
“A wedding dress to be precise.” Her back stiffens. The heat of her rage is pouring off her. “We can wait until your mother is healed so she can go with you, or I can have a stylist bring the dresses here.”
She tries to stand and yank her hand away. I don’t let her. I pull her into my lap and whisper soothing words into her ear. She calms mildly. “Why in the hell would I need a wedding dress?” She tries to stand again. I snake my arm around her waist and won't let go. Bosco looks to me then to her. Her eyes move to Ricco who's also looking at me. She turns slowly in my lap.
“Before you freak out....” I start to say.
“Oh hell no!” She launches out of my lap. I had no hope of hanging on. She’s like a wild animal that has finally been caged. She’s rabid and I’m thankful that the clothes I gave her left no place to hide a weapon. We never replaced the five guns in this room either. If we had, I have no doubt she wouldn’t be reaching for one. “Over my dead body!” She backs herself into a corner. Tears pool in her eyes as she looks to Bosco. “Dad you can't be serious.”
“Without a blood male, I needed an alternative.”
“And you have one. You already agreed and promoted him. Luca is going to be Don. So why the hell do you need me to marry him?”
“Luca has only been approved on the condition he is tied to the Caruso name by marriage. Your marriage.”
“What, why? That’s stupid.”
“Like I said the position has to go to someone within our family. If not, the Council can entertain bids for a takeover. In the past this has led to civil war and blood in the streets. We can avoid that. With you being my daughter, once you get married that man is family, and the assumed Don.”
“So I won't marry. There that settles it. If I have no husband to stake the claim, it can go to Luca. You retire like you want. Luca gets to be Don.” She is scrambling for an out. I try not to take it offensively.
Bosco tries to get closer to her. She retreats. Her back slams against the bookshelf. I stand. Making my approach from an angle and slower than Bosco’s. “That’s not how it works. Without a definitive Don, one attached to our bloodline, the families will go to war. Each would be coming after you to force you into a marriage or end our bloodline with your death. I won’t let that happen to you.”
“What if I didn't exist? Very few people know about me. I can hack the records, erase all trace of my existence. The Don’s unknown child could have died in infancy for all they know.”
“It wouldn't matter. The family would still go to war.” Bosco genuinely looks heartbroken that he is forcing his daughter’s hand. He only met her this morning and already he is giving her away.
She looks at me as the tears begin to fall. “I'm sorry Luca. You seem great and you're hot, but I have been running my entire life. I only just found my dad, and my mom is reuniting with her family. This is too much.” I rush the last few steps to her. I place a hand on her cheek and tilt her head up to look at me. I want to comfort her. Aside from a hug and soothing words I am at a loss. I haven’t dated. I’ve fucked. I’m not used to handling emotions like this. I deal with soldiers. As attractive as she is, she is still a virtual stranger.
“Dad, Bosco, could you give us a minute?” Massimo and Val have already left the room.
“Sure thing kid.” Dad says.
Bosco steps closer. He opens his mouth to say something, but closes it. Pats Elena's hand and then says. “For what it's worth. I am sorry. If I could have held it off, I would have. The Council’s decision is final.” She doesn't say anything to him as he turns and exits. The door clicks and she falls to the ground sobbing. Shit. She has done wild and crazy shit all day. Had guns aimed at her, shot a few people, was in a car accident, met her father, and nothing not a tear or breakdown. Tell her she needs to marry and shit hits the fan.
I want to laugh at the irony that the marriage is to me when we were naked in the bath only hours ago. Not only that, just this morning I thought I was still betrothed to a fifteen year old.
Fuck was that just this morning? It’s after midnight so I guess it’s now yesterday morning.
“We don't need to rush this Elena. We can take this as slow as you need.”
“Really? Because my dad told me to pick out a dress. Sounds like the wedding is already planned.” She sniffs back the tears. “Wait. Was it already planned? Did you know about this? Is this why you were so eager to see me naked? You wanted to know what you were getting? Wanted to sample the merchandise?” She jumps up and practically runs across the room to get away from me. The caged animal look is back.
“Elena. Stop. You’re over-thinking this.”
“So you didn’t know?” I can’t lie to her. My silence confirms her suspicions. “Oh my god. I thought you….That we….” Her breathing becomes erratic. Her hand flies to her chest. Her knees buckle as I rush to her side. She’s having a panic attack. I take her in my arms. I stroke her hair with one hand and rub soothing circles on her back with the other.
“Please listen. Yes, I did know your father wanted us to marry. No, I didn’t come on to you upstairs to sample the goods. I find you attractive. Your tight body gets me hard, but it’s your passion, and your drive that got me hooked on you.”
“You like me? And please be honest.” She looks scared to ask. Like she can’t believe someone could like her.
I take her chin in my hand and move her head so I can kiss her lips. “Yes Elena. I like you very much. If we weren’t engaged I would date you.” She barks out a laugh and snuggles into my chest. “This wasn’t the way I wanted to tell you.”
