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I hoped that no one had seen, but one look at the expressions on the faces of the Santinos was enough to tell me that they had definitely noticed my clumsiness.
I silently cursed my mother for making me wear these ludicrous shoes.
I gratefully sank myself down into the second wingback chair, sitting on the edge of the seat with my hands tightly clasped in my lap. I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Is there something wrong, Father?”
“You must know that we have always hoped for a marriage bond between our family, the Bonardis, and the Santino family. We have now decided to go ahead with that union.”
Oh my God. They’d found my older sister, Juliana!
My heart soared—they’d finally gotten my sibling back after her kidnapping a few weeks ago. Gabriel Santino was in love with Juliana. It had always been thought that they would marry, and now they finally could.
“You’ve found Juliana?” My voice was giddy with excitement.
“Do not mention that girl’s name in this house! Everyone in the Società knows that she is a slut,” thundered my father, the venom in his voice making me sink back into my chair. “Your sister means nothing to me now. She is no longer part of this family.”
My father paused for a moment as if collecting himself, before continuing. “We have decided that you will marry into the Santino family.”
“I’m to marry Gabriel?” I was dumbfounded.
“No, he’s not interested in you.” My father was as blunt as always. “Instead, Emanuel has suggested his second son, Rafael. You will marry him in two months’ time.”
I stole a glance across at Rafael, who stood leaning against the mantel of the fireplace.
Despite his casual stance, Rafael’s whole demeanor was icy. He had handsome features and sandy-blond hair, but it was his dark blue eyes that I noticed as they radiated a stark coldness. A shiver ran through me.
The Società Mafia had started out by controlling the port and the drug trade in L.A. before extending its influence into other activities. Now it was one of the most formidable criminal organizations in the US, and the Santinos were some of the most powerful—and most feared—men in the country.
“What does Mother think about this?” I squeaked, forgetting my place. My father didn’t like to be questioned about anything, even if it did concern my whole life.
“Your mother will do whatever is the best for this family and the Società, as will you,” snapped my father. “We will sign the engagement contract today.” The Mafia was still a traditional institution and families followed the custom of signing an engagement contract.
“Today?” I blurted out. My mind was scrambling, trying to calculate the age gap between Rafael and me. He was twenty-five years, if I remembered correctly, making him seven years older than me.
“Yes, today,” interjected Emanuel Santino.
My gaze darted across to Rafael again and I wondered what he thought about this marriage. A black Brioni suit hugged his muscular body. Brioni and black: the typical Mafia uniform. And although his suit was obviously expensive, there was something untamed about him, and that sent a shiver through my body.
I knew that he couldn’t be thrilled with me as his future wife. After all, I knew that everyone thought I was plain and unattractive. It was my older sister who was the beauty of the family, and she’d always been the one to draw admiring looks. I’m sure he had expected, as the second son of the Capo, that he would at least marry someone prettier than me.
Emanuel pushed the engagement contract across the desk until it was in front of me. He might be Capo, but he was also a slimeball who treated his wife with a complete lack of respect, sleeping around with a long line of lovers and prostitutes. I prayed Rafael did not take after his father.
“Um…please may I ask why we are signing this today? Usually, the contract is signed at the engagement party.” I was unable to keep the bewilderment from my voice.
“The engagement party will be in a week’s time; however, we want this finalized today,” said the Capo. “Everyone is unsettled after the recent kidnapping of a Mafia daughter. We must focus on making the Società as strong as possible from within, and there is no better way than by a marriage between the families of the Capo and his Underboss. Once this contract is signed, we can announce the engagement to the rest of the organization. This union will be a demonstration of strength to the rest of the Società. And that should put a stop to the various jitters and rumors swirling around.”
Great, I was being used as a means to quiet the gossipmongers and calm the over-wrought nerves within the Società, regardless of what I might actually want.
I worried my lower lip, trying to think of a way to delay the signing. I was told two minutes ago that I was to marry Rafael Santino, and now I was being asked to sign away my life to him via the engagement contract. I knew that once the contract was signed, there was no way out and that I would be bound to Rafael Santino forever.
But then, I thought to myself, I am a Mafia daughter—I had no choice in the matter of who I was to marry. Did it really matter if I signed the contract now or next week? There was no way out of this, no way to escape Rafael Santino, no matter what my wishes on the subject were.
I licked my dry lips and picked up my father’s favorite fountain pen.
I looked up and in desperation said, “Wouldn’t Gabriel prefer to wait for Juliana to return, and then he can marry her? And then our families will be united through that marriage?” I couldn’t stop the words tumbling out—why couldn’t I just keep my mouth shut?
“For God’s sake, Jessica!” My father really lost it now. “She’s obviously no longer pure. When we get her back, no decent man will look at her. She’ll be worth no more than a used whore. Now sign the damn contract. We need to move on now that your sister is no longer of any use or value to us.”
Gabriel’s jaw tensed and his eyes darkened at my father’s harsh words. It was obvious he was still interested in Juliana, and I was glad that someone else apart from me still believed in her and realized that what had happened wasn’t her fault.
