Page 1 of Arranged

Chapter 1

THE MOMENT I ENTEREDthe restaurant, I spotted him.

Giovanni Mazza.

The boss of my family’s biggest rival.

He was sitting at the largest table, his dark brown eyes staring straight at me as if he wanted to find out all my secrets. His dark hair streaked with gray was perfectly combed, and his black suit was impeccable.

I’d never thought this day would come.

The Mazzas and my family had been at each other’s throats for a very long time. For the first time after decades of bloodshed and huge monetary and life losses, the Mazzas were willing to sit with us and try to negotiate peace.

It was something unheard of, and I was sure our enemies were waiting for the news of what was going to happen at this meeting with trepidation.

I strode toward the table, my head held high, my guards right behind me. My long, straight black hair was tied into a tight ponytail, and I was wearing a tight black suit and high boots.

My second-in-command, Rafael, had told me that if it weren’t for my blue eyes, I’d look as dark as death.

“Ms. Cassaro,” Giovanni said with a smile on his face as he rose to his feet.

“Mr. Mazza.” I shook his outstretched hand.

His gaze traveled up and down my body, and I made sure my expression was neutral. Even if the prospect of a deal between our families was exciting, I wasn’t about to show that.

I still had to hear Giovanni’s offer. There was a chance it would be something completely preposterous, and the deal would fall through after all.

After we took a seat and a waitress brought us some drinks, I eyed Giovanni.

“Let’s get straight to business,” he said. “I’m sure you’re a busy woman.”

“Yes, I am.”

“Our deal would be simple. We end the bloodshed and keep our territories as they are right now. We stay out of each other’s business. And if we end up with mutual enemies who want to take what’s ours, we fight them together. Instead of weakening ourselves by needless fighting while the others wait like sharks to catch us wounded, we can grow stronger.” He opened a file that was on the table and pulled out a contract, pushing it across the table to me. “You have all the details in here.”

I picked up the contract and skimmed through it, flipping through the pages. At first glance, there wasn’t anything suspicious or particularly alarming.

No traps that would give the Mazzas an unfair advantage or a loophole to get out of the deal and screw my family over.

But that didn’t mean something wasn’t hiding in there. My advisor and my lawyers would have to go through it very carefully before I agreed to sign anything. This deal obviously wasn’t actually legal, but it would be binding in the dark world of the underground.

“If you have any other suggestions, we can discuss them,” Giovanni said. “I think it’s in our best interest to reach an agreement.”

My gaze fell on one of the clauses in the contract, and I jerked my head back.

What the fuck?

“You want me to marry one of your sons?” I gaped at him.

“What better way is there to truly unite our families and send a strong message to our enemies? A tie like that is needed to solidify our deal.”

I pressed my lips into a tight line.

The last thing I wanted was to marry someone, and a Mazza at that. Wouldn’t that be like inviting a fox into a chicken coop?

Who knew what my husband would do?

Spy for the Mazzas?