Page 14 of Brutal Vows

Lili’s nervous gaze finds mine. I incline my head slightly, make a small motion with two fingers of my right hand, and watch her exhale in relief.

“Ah! Here she is now!”

Gianni holds out his arms. Lili hurries to him. He kisses her on both cheeks, then turns to Kieran. “Mr. Byrne, I’d like to introduce you to my daughter, Liliana. Lili, this is Mr. Byrne.”

Smiling shyly, Lili murmurs a hello.

“Please, call me Kieran. Pleasure to meet ye, lass.”

He extends his baseball mitt of a hand. Startled, Lili looks to me for guidance.

She’s never touched a man outside her immediate family.

Excluding the boy hiding in the wardrobe in her bedroom, that is. Judging by his state of undress, they’ve been doing quite a bit more than touching each other’s hands.

A problem I’ll address as soon as I’m finished with this one.

When I nod, Lili hesitantly stretches out her hand. It’s swallowed by Kieran’s, disappearing into his meaty grip.

Looking somber and respectful, Kieran says, “Don’t ye worry, lassie. He looks a fright, but he’s a pussycat, I promise ye.”

I stifle a snort.Pussycat, my ass. Your friend’s a rabid dog.

Catching the expression on my face, Lili says, “Um…”

“Yes, I’m sure Lili will very much enjoy making Mr. Quinn’s acquaintance. Won’t you,bambolotta?”

Gianni says his nickname for her like a threat.

I’d like to punch him in the throat.

“Yes, Papa.”

“Shall we go in, Reyna?”

I take one of Lili’s hands. Her father takes the other. We lead her into the study between us, a lamb to slaughter.

God, how I despise the tradition of arranged marriage. Knowing she’ll be spared the indignity of having to marry this particular Irish lout who calls himself an insect helps me feel better, but it will be someone else someday.

No matter how much I might want to, I won’t be able to protect Lili forever.

In the Cosa Nostra, it’s still the Dark Ages. Women are valued only for our ability to bear heirs, how well we can cook, or as cum dumpsters. We’re not even allowed to vote.

It’s enough to drive any woman mad.

Or to murder.

“Mr. Quinn,” Gianni is saying, his smile so bright, it could be seen from outer space. “Please allow me to present my daughter, Liliana.”

Spider—I cannot believe I allowed myself to call him that—looks at Liliana with no trace of emotion on his face. He could be looking at a block of cheese in a refrigerated deli case for all the interest he shows.

It surprises me. Lili’s an extremely pretty girl. Most men start salivating the moment they set eyes on her.

Not this one. He merely looks her up and down and murmurs a dismissive, “Hullo.”

Gianni glances at me in panic, but I can’t look at him because I’m too preoccupied trying not to break into song.

It will be so much better for me if Quinn is the one to call off the contract.