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“I don’t want to do it,” I whisper.I lived through one loveless marriage. I don’t think my heart can do it a second time,I don’t add.
He rubs a hand down his face. “You thinkIwant to get married? No one in our fucking worldwantsa husband or a wife. The men demand it because they believe a wife is their right, and the women remain agreeable because they believe it’s their duty.”
“Then change it,” I implore. “Wecan change that.”
He growls. “As archaic as it is, it’s required. Power, respect, and advantage are built with well-placed nuptials. We haven’t overcome what we have to step away from the power we hold over Chicago, Alessia.”
I turn my back on him, shoving our dirty dishes into the dishwasher and slamming it shut.
“Why did you deny CJ’s proposal?”
“That sniveling rat, I’ll keep his company on principle now.” I turn back to face him.
An almost smirk touches Salvatore’s lips.
I sigh. “Many reasons.”
“Explain them.”
“He’s my stepson. It’s unsavory.”
He scowls. “For fuck’s sake, Alessia. You can’t be serious?”
I remain quiet.
“No one believes you loved Charlesorthat Charles loved you.”
Salvatore just stabbed me right in the fucking heart, and whether he’s oblivious to his attack or careless to my pain, I hate him a little more all the same.
“You and CJ make much more sense to the world.”
I avert my eyes, playing with a button on my jacket. “Grace is in love with him.”
“Sorry?”
I lift my head. “Grace is in love with him.” I speak clearly, enunciating every word. “With CJ.”
“Who the fuck is Grace?”
I’m disappointed. While I’ve spent years blaming myself for the harm and heartbreak our family forced upon the Snow family, Salvatore moved on with little regard. “Lucy’s sister.”
He pinches the bridge of his nose. “You are being moronic. I’m not in the business of shielding people from broken hearts, and neither are you. I don’t give a flying fuck if Grace wants to sit on CJ’s cock.”
“We’ve taken enough from that family,” I whisper. “I won’t take her chance of happiness away too.”
“Wedidn’t do anything. I won’t take on Edoardo’s sins. You shouldn’t either.” He blows out an exasperated breath. “You can’t see reason right now. I can’t trust your judgment.” He looks positively broken by the statement. “Who the fuck are you right now?”
He walks from the kitchen, making his way to the front door. “Cease contact with Diego Greco.Immediately. You’re lying to me about something, and I don’t know what his game is. I don’t fucking trust him. He’s a fucking dead man for whatever he thinks he knows. He’s now a greater risk to Chicago than the advantage any union could promise to build. You’ll marry CJ Lincoln. I won’t hear anymore on the matter.”
He’s a dead man.
“I love him,” I yell out in panic, and my brother’s feet pause.
Fuck.
What am I doing? I’ve never lied to my brother.Never.I’ve kept things from him and omitted small details aboutmylife that do not affect our business. But I’ve never outwardly lied. Until this very moment.
“I love him,” I repeat more calmly.
