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In the world I’d grown up in, while important, at the end of the day they meant nothing. They couldn’t. Or maybe I should have known that most men learned early on caring about any woman was a clear path to destruction. Fortunately, within the Cosa Nostra carried across the Big Lake from Italy, families remained of the utmost importance. Leaving a legacy was as important as gaining wealth.

Heirs.

That’s where my mother had failed first. She’d had a girl as her firstborn and my father had never allowed me to forget I was as unwanted as the plague. Had he softened over the years? Yes. For the most part I’d felt loved, a part of the family. Until he’d entered me into a contract.

It was an unforgiveable sin and as I glared at the man across the room, I felt nothing but animosity. The act of performing a duty was continually colliding with my utter hatred of the man. If he only knew the vile methods I’d imagined in killing him, he’d be shocked.

I was the good girl after all, the caring daughter.

People were drinking, dancing, and acting as if they didn’t have a single care in the world. Meanwhile, my life was crumbling.

“Don’t look so sad, my lovely wife. We have much to look forward to.”

Alejandro had flanked my side, holding a drink in his hand while he studied the crowd. He certainly didn’t seem any happier to be here than I did. Maybe we were on the same page after all. That didn’t mean I had any intention of liking him or allowing my guard to fall around him. In my mind, he was still the enemy.

The fact I’d fucked him meant nothing. Hadn’t it been my father who’d told me the day I turned eighteen that sex could be used as a weapon? His words had been something to the effect that women should use their feminine wiles. If they didn’t, they should consider themselves failures in life.

How profound, Daddy.

I snickered and raised my champagne flute. “Let’s have a toast to the beginning of oblivion.”

“You weren’t saying that a few moments ago.”

I turned toward Alejandro, glaring into his eyes. “We should get something straight. I understand the need and requirement for us to be… together. That doesn’t mean I will like or come to accept this union that was forced on me. But I learned a long time ago when to choose my battles. Just never turn your back on me.”

He was about to respond with one of his marvelous quips when Gabriel came racing from another part of the room. My icy heart melted as it always did around him.

“Mommy!”

“Oh, baby. There you are.” I barely managed to place my glass on the table before he bounded into my arms. Bending down, I scooped him up, cradling his small body as close to me as possible. A tremendous swell of emotion rushed through my system and I was suddenly teary-eyed. He was my little rock, a huge reason I wanted nothing to do with this life.

How was I going to cope with this? How could I manage to provide him with the life he deserved?

“I got to see a boat, Mommy. It was so big. Dis big.” He pulled away slightly, throwing out his arms. His little eyes were open wide.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, I know how much you adore boats, little man. Maybe we’ll get to tour one someday. Would you like that?”

“I can make that happen,” Alejandro said from beside me. I wanted to hate and chastise him for eavesdropping, but I held my tongue.

“Would you like that, sweet boy?” I asked. The clip in my voice was evident.

“Yes, Mommy! Pwetty pwease?”

“Of course, baby.” I had no idea what my little boy noticed, but his attention span was exactly as it should be for a little boy. Nonexistent.

He was already struggling to free himself from my tight hold. I laughed when he managed, tousling his hair. “Don’t leave this room, buddy. Okay?”

“I won’t, Mommy.”

“He’s adorable.”

Alejandro’s voice held the tone of sadness I’d heard before. However, I refused to care. I wasn’t his shrink or his confidant.

“He’s completely unaware he’s embroiled in a world of snakes and carnivorous beasts.”

“You make this life sound so miserable.”

“If you don’t recognize that by now, I have serious doubt about your conscience.”