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I’d always known that, but it didn’t make it any easier.
My father had been grooming me for this role for a long time. He saw me as a pawn in a high-stakes game, and my marriage was to be the ultimate move in solidifying our dominance here in Boston. Moving into this city had been more difficult than he had ever imagined, and now we were on the brink of war.
An alliance through marriage couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.
The family my father had chosen for me was an organization of power players in the Boston criminal underground,The Murphys.
I knew their name well. My father believed that uniting our crime families would only strengthen his grip on Boston.
Iwas to be the bridge between their world and his.
I should be grateful that I did at least have one very small semblance of a choice in the matter. Only two of the Murphy brothers remained unmarried, the twins, Connor and Caden. I knew a little bit about them, and of the two, Connor seemed easier going than Caden.
Caden had a darker side, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready to meet it.
I’d met them both at the marriage reception for their brother Aidan Murphy and Irina Morozov, and to their credit, the two of them had been nothing but perfect gentleman. Connor had even poured me a shot of my favorite vodka and served it to me on a silver platter. Caden had peered back at me with a dark glint in his eyes, but there had been a certain grain of kindness hidden within those captivating blue depths.
Truthfully, I had been drawn to both, but I could only pick one.
In the end, I’d settled on Connor because I suspected that he would be the easier one to wrap around my finger, or at least that’s what I hoped. Beyond my usefulness in securing an alliance, I had ambitions of my own.
With my brother dead, I was next in line to inherit my father’s influence and power. If he wasn’t careful, I’d sweep it out right from under his feet.
Hopefully, Connor would help me do that.
I closed my eyes and took a moment for myself. The last two weeks had been a whirlwind. Planning this wedding had consumed my life. There were meetings with wedding planners to select the best venue, the painstaking search for the perfect dress, and a series of tastings to choose the ideal menu that would satisfy both Irish and Russian palates.
The guest list had been a source of much debate, considering the delicate nature of our alliance, and navigating the intricate politics of both crime families had proven to be just as challenging as finding the perfect flowers to match the bridal bouquet.
My days had been filled with one appointment after another, from dress fittings to hair and makeup trials, and late-night calls with Connor to ensure the coordination between our two families was running smoothly. Each detail had to be flawlessly executed, and it felt like I was walking a tightrope, juggling tradition, the complexities of each of our families, and my dream of a perfect wedding day.
Connor had given me all of that, and I was grateful to him for it.
Staring into my own eyes in the mirror, I tried to figure out what my future might hold. Nervous jitters fluttered through my stomach, and I attempted to quiet them, but they reigned free for several moments anyway.
Would Connor be kind, or would his reputation as a ruthless crime lord precede him? Would he be a good husband, and would I make a good wife?
I shook my head. None of that mattered. This was simply a marriage of convenience and alliance to ensure my family’ssurvival in this dog-eat-dog world. I had to keep telling myself that.
The most I could hope for was to carve a place for myself in this world. Love and happiness had no part of my future.
With a deep breath, I took in my reflection and smoothed my hands down the skirt of my dress. My wedding gown was a masterpiece. I’d known it was the one from the very first moment I’d put it on.
The neckline, a contemporary and sophisticated twist on tradition, featured a gentle sweetheart cut that gracefully traced my collarbones and highlighted the elegance of my neck. Subtle lace accents graced the edges of the neckline, adding a delicate touch to the otherwise minimalist design.
The waistline was tailored to perfection, cinching at just the right spot to accentuate my hourglass figure without being overly dramatic. A slim, elegant belt in a shade of sage green, the same hue as my eyes, added a touch of color and a subtle nod to our alliance.
The skirt gracefully fell from my waist to a soft, A-line silhouette that trailed behind me. The lace accents from the bodice continued down the skirt in a delicate, winding pattern, adding a layer of enchantment to the gown’s sleek lines.
In this dress, I felt like a modern-day queen.
I lifted my chin, staring into my own eyes. This was my duty. I could do this. I took another deep breath and a knock sounded at the entrance to my bridal suite.
“Come in!” I called out.
My father walked in through the door.
“My daughter… you look stunning,” he said, his voice a rich blend of pride and affection. He reached out and gently placed a hand on my shoulder, his touch a rare display of tenderness.
