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“You are pathetic,” I managed, the ache in my heart more significant than any infliction of anguish on my body. I’d worshipped him. I’d thought he was my hero, a man who’d never let anything happen to me.
But I’d been wrong.
He snorted as he snatched me from Paulo’s hand, dragging me toward the entrance.
The door was opened before we made it onto the front porch, the man standing in the entrance foyer someone I’d never seen before. At least fifty, maybe older, he nodded briefly to my father before allowing his heated gaze to fall ever so slowly to my toes. When he issued a dark chuckle, smirking as he returned his attention to my eyes, I couldn’t seem to stop shaking.
He’d sized me up as someone would a fine piece of beef or bottle of wine.
Suddenly, everything made sense. The new dress. The secrecy. The attention paid to my beauty regime, including a trip to my favorite hairdresser.
I was being sold.
“Don Lorenzo. She’s everything you said she was and well worth the wait. I assume she’s pure?”
“Yes. As required.”
Pure? Oh, my God. He’d forced me to visit my gynecologist only days before. He’d been… checking that my virginity was intact. Oh, God. Nausea rolled into my stomach.
“Excellent. I’m very pleased.”
My father exhaled then pulled an envelope from his pocket, shoving it into the man’s hands. “The contract as discussed.”
“What is this about? Who are you?” I said tartly, trying to step away. My father’s fingers were icy when he jerked me back into position.
“Christiana, it’s time you meet your future husband, Xavier Luis. Be careful, Xavier. My daughter is a handful.”
“Don’t worry, Don Lorenzo. I will control her,” Xavier said as he laughed then pressed his finger across my lips. “Come inside, Christiana, and meet our guests. Our wedding is only a week away. There’s much to do before I take you as my bride.”
As I was pushed inside, I glanced over my shoulder, praying someone would rescue me, but I knew better.
There was no such thing as a knight in shining armor, no handsome prince waiting in the storm to take me to safety.
I would fend for myself and one day, my father would pay.
CHAPTER 3
“The strength of a family, like the strength of an army, is in its loyalty to each other.”
—Mario Puzo
Francesco
“We’ll figure it out, Francesco. There’s already been enough bloodshed. We don’t need a war on the streets of New York,” Maxwell said as he walked me to the car. Not only was he my godfather, he was also the Don of a powerful empire and I was the Underboss.
But today, we were together as a family, the powerful man marrying my sister years before.
“Maybe not, but the pig patriarch of the Bianchi family will be out for retaliation.” The chatter on the streets had become louder after Joey’s death, people terrified that a war was about to begin. Even those we considered possible allies had remained silent, refusing to take sides. Part of that was due to the Feds making a crushing blow with recent sweeps, rounding up soldiers from various crime syndicates. Fortunately, we’d been spared but it had opened the door for the Bianchis to stride through with minimal difficulty.
“Leave it to me to take care of. Do you understand?” Max was encouraging but commanding in his tone.
I knew better than to cross him, and he knew how I usually flew off the handle. He was right in that I couldn’t afford to do that. However, that didn’t mean I couldn’t round up the fuckers who’d been part of the reason the tragedy had occurred. “Understood.” I opened the driver’s door, jumping inside. There was no reason to discuss this any further, at least not now. “This isn’t the end. You know that.”
“We’ll be ready.”
God, I hoped so.
After starting the engine, I hissed, pulling out of his driveway at close to forty miles per hour.
