AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My cruel fate.
Everyone has a story to tell. Mine is short one. A cautionary tale, if you will. A rotten, black bedtime story.
Oh, and I die at the end.
But not before I take that prick down with me.
4
DANTE
“It’s justmarriage, Dante.”
A low grumble escapes my throat as I glance across my study to where Carmy’s younger brother Nico is sprawled across one of my couches. He shrugs.
“I mean, in this world, it’s just what youdo. It’s the next step. I mean, look at what you’ve built, man.” He raises his brows to the high, gilded ceilings, the tastefully elegant furniture, and the frankly eye-popping view of the Long Island Sound past the sandy beach outside.
Yeah, I treated myself a bit when I purchased this place five years ago. I’m a single, thirty-four-year-old man who’s never married, had children, or had the slightest desire to do either of those. In a rational world, I would have no use for a ten thousand square foot, six-bedroom house on the ocean that I live inalone.
But I also have zero regrets. Nico’s right: I’ve built quite an empire for myself, especially considering I started life in as a tailor’s son.
“The next step?,” I parrot with a grunt, my mood sour.
It’s D-day. Soon, Maeve and her father will be arriving for her and me to jointly sign the blood marker that will cement our engagement. And more importantly, cement my place at the head of my empire.
I’ve met with all the dons who collectively make up The Commission: Luciano Amato. Michael Genovisi, who runs the Scaliami family. My distant cousin, Massimo, who is now running the Carveli family like the privileged, pampered, psycho little Napoleonic tyrant that he is. Even Cesare Marchetti, who has assured me that his capo, Angelo, won’t be coming after my dick with garden shears after all, now that I’m “settling down”.
They’re all for this marriage, and the “peace, connections, and understanding” it brings.
Too bad I still fuckinghatethe idea with every fiber of my being.
“Yes, the next step,” Nico shrugs, taking a sip of the whiskey in his hand, courtesy of my bar cart. “We’remafia, Dante. Us by birth, you by circumstance and association. Arranged marriages are to be expected.”
“Yeah?” I snap. “Then how aboutyoumarry the fucking high school kid.”
Carmy chuckles from where he’s sitting by one of my half-open windows, blowing smoke from his cigarette out into the sea air.
“She’s eighteen, Dante.”
“And?” I mutter.
“And…” He exhales with a huff. “Look I’m not endorsing sleeping with eighteen-year-old girls…”
“Soglad you’re clearing that up for us, bro.”
Carmy ignores Nico, flipping him off as he keeps his gaze focused on me.
“I’m just saying, youcould, and it’s not like you’d find yourself on an episode ofTo Catch A Predator.”
I roll my eyes. “There are several things Icoulddo that I have absolute zero interest in doing, dumbass.” I swivel my gaze to Nico. “And if you’re so gung-ho on arranged marriages, where the fuck is your fake wife? Either of you?”
Nico spreads his arms. “Privilege of being second born, man. I’m not a priority for dad. And if you’ll remember, Carmyhada few arranged engagements…”
“Yeah,” Carmine grins. “And then their fathers actuallymet me.”
I shake my head. “I’m pretty sure your tendency to shove your dick in said arranged fiancées before actually marrying them didn’t make for good first impressions with the future in-laws.”
Carmine frowns as he drags on his smoke. “What? Like you’d buy a car without test-driving it first? And, might I add, these cars were literally begging yours truly to be test-driven.”
