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Grandpa Nazzaro pulls me into a section of the wedding venue that’s roped off for staff only, then leads me up a flight of stairs and into a comfortable room. In the center is a large table with a decanter of whiskey and several glasses. We sit in silence. I know better than to drink, or to ask what we’re doing. Finally, after whatmy watch tells me is 18 minutes, the door opens and a man enters who I recognize.
“Good to see you, Don Antonio,” I say to Tony Gagliardi, rising to my feet.
He comes over and pulls me into a hug I wasn’t expecting. “No need for the formality, Alessandro! This is a happy conversation.” He pours three whiskeys and hands glasses to my grandfather and I.
I nod my gratitude, faking a sip. “So, what’s the occasion? I’ll admit I didn’t think you would be very happy to see me. It was fucked up, what happened. I want to tell you that—”
“Water under the bridge,” says Gagliardi, waving it away. “Passions run hot. What we’re here for now is a union between two families.”
I glance sharply at my grandfather, but his face is stone. He keeps his vision trained on Gagliardi, and so I follow suit as the other mob boss continues:
“I might not have one foot in the grave like old Nazzaro here, but I’m old enough to think about my legacy. Let’s face it. We’re the two biggest families in Bover City, and we can squabble over territory all we like. The Gagliardi family controls this neighborhood, the Rossi family controls that neighborhood. But when it’s all said and done, I don’t want to leave my grandchildren, my great-grandchildren, half a city. And neither does your grandfather.”
It takes effort to keep my fingernails from digging into my fist, or my knuckles from going white.I agreed to this. I agreed to do what my grandfather wanted.
“All I have is one grandson,” says Nazzaro, finally turning to me. “And Tony has no sons, only a daughter. She’s of age, and you’re a man of honor now. You will marry her, and when Tony and I are gone, you will claim both empires for your children.”
For a moment, everything goes blank. The walls are closing in. But I keep my breathing steady, and my eyes open.
“This is what you wish of me,Nonno?”I ask, meeting his gaze.
Nothing but black ice stares back from behind his lenses. “It is,figlio mio.This marriage will secure my legacy, and yours.”
I close my eyes, then open them. When I take off my suit tonight, when I am at home alone, I will have time to rage. But here, I must not show weakness.
Taking a deep breath, I nod. “Then there shall be a wedding.”
“Excellent!” Tony exclaims, raising his glass. My grandfather does too, even though he normally avoids alcohol. We clink glasses, and when I put the cup to my lips this time, I do drink, inhaling slowly as I pull the dark liquid into my mouth.
Fuck!I was wrong. This is brandy, not whiskey. And to my tongue, it’s sickeningly sweet.
A metaphor for this whole fucking night. And the rest of my life too, apparently.
Chapter Four
Ava
I’ve pretty much come down from the weed by the time Isabella and I return to the reception. We haven’t been back five minutes before Marco, one of my father’s men, finds me in the crowd. It’s actually pretty funny to see him in a tuxedo, his bulky, roided-out frame looking like it’s about to pop the seams of his jacket. “Ms. Gagliardi? Your father would like you to come with me.”
Isabella makes eye contact, and I sigh. Growing up in the life, we’re both used to this shit. “I’ll catch you later, Bella.”
She hugs me, whispering in my ear.“I’ll text you the address for the party!”
At least I have something to look forward to when this is done. That’s what I think about as I follow Marco out of the main reception area and up a flight of stairs, allowing myself to get excited. My first legit college party at Bover City University. I’m going toditch this wedding and start getting ready as soon as my dad allows me to leave.
Marco motions me through a door and closes it behind me, standing watch outside. My stomach does a flip when I see that my father isn’t alone: with him is an older bald man who I’m pretty sure is the boss of the Rossi family, andAlessandro,the hot, moody guy from earlier. What the fuck is he doing here?
“Hi, dad, what’s going on?” I ask, avoiding eye contact with Alessandro. This isn’t remotely the situation I expected.
His tone is serious. “Sit down, Ava.” He motions to a chair. “We have something important to talk about. I want to introduce you to Nazzaro and Alessandro Rossi.”
My heart starting to beat faster, I do as he instructs. “Hopefully this won’t take long? I kinda have somewhere to be after this.”
I steal a look at Alessandro. He’s impassive, staring at the table in front of him, his previously neat dark hair now falling into his face. My confusion grows, and so does my concern.
“You’re a woman now,” says my father bluntly. “And that means there are certain duties your family requires of you.”
