Page 13 of My Solemn Vow

“Eduardo really wants to marry Sarena to Nikolai instead. But Igor had it in his head that his son could handle you.”

Berto’s explanation makes my stomach roil.

“She’s eighteen!” I huff.

I don’t know what has me angrier, that they’re marrying off a practical child, forgoing the usual ‘college first’ requirement, or that I’m a pawn in Gregorio’s game of chess. I mean, yes, it’s obvious I’m turning down the marriage proposal, but this is anew mind game that I didn’t expect from Gregorio. He’s not that smart.

“They are a good match on paper. She and Nikolai both enjoy...” Berto shakes his head.

That’s when it hits me.This was Berto’s plan.Leticia said every decision mattered and mocked Berto. This is much more his speed.

“Come downstairs. Switch seats with me and see for your fuckin’ self. I know you think I’m some sort of monster, but I care for Sarena.” He mumbles, “Probably more than I care for you.”

He clears his throat. “It’s not like we’re marrying her off to one of those Irish pigs, the Cavanaghs, and calling the fucking truce. Could you imagine? No. It’s the Russians, they’ve been good friends for a long time. Even if you weren’t here to witness it for yourself.”

“You’re sure Sarena will like him?”How the fuck will I get her out of this?

Berto crosses his arms. “I swear on Grandmother Sofia, may she rest in peace, and her Bolognese recipe. Sarena and Nikolai will love each other before the meal is even over.”

“Fine.” I raise my chin and look away from him. “But I’m wearing something slutty.”

“Wouldn’t expect anything less, cousin.” Berto backs out of my doorway. “Mom hates that red dress you wore for Labor Day.”

“I own it in green too,” I tell him before closing the door.

His appearance upstairs and the offer of information were unexpected, to say the least, but I agreed to rejoin the ‘dinner party,’ if only to see for myself what he’s so certain about. So, I change into the floor-length green jersey-knit version of the dress I wore on Labor Day. With a massive slit up my thigh, it’s even more daring than I’d usually wear, but most importantly, ithas a single shoulder strap and shows off all the tattoos on my arms.

I strap a holster to my inner thigh down by my knee, on the opposite side away from the slit, and slide in the smallest gun I own. I’m not sure I trust what Berto said, and if it’s a lie and they try to send me with them tonight, then there will be bloodshed at Casa D’Medici.

Fuck Gregorio, fuck this power play, and fuck the deal with the Russians.

5

VALOR

THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

“Dad!” Kerrianne giggles as she jumps up and down on my bed, pulling me out of the half-hazy sleep state I was trying to cling to. “We’ll be late. Get up, sleepyhead!”

Making a big show of it, I moan and groan, then stretch and immediately regret it when I feel the tug of the freshly healing skin on my side. I hide the pain with a big yawn that I talk through. “What time is it?”

“Time to get up!” Kerrianne repeats. She drops to her knees next to me, bouncing.

I push myself up onto my elbows before reaching over and tapping my phone screen. It lights up and shows five thirty in the morning. Kerrianne’s school starts at nine. Sure, we may live under an hour away from it, but it only takes her an hour to get ready and eat.Bloody hell, child. You got being an early bird from your mother.

I flop back down and look at her. “No chance you’re gonna let me go back to bed for at least another hour, huh?”

She shakes her head. “Nope.”

“Alright.”

I push my blankets down and make like I’m getting out ofbed, but then I dart up and wrap her in my arms. Holding her against my chest, I pull her with me back down to the bed.

She fights back, little arms pushing and knees curling up to press against me. One of her bony knees hits last night’s bullet wound on my side, and I let out an ‘oof’ before rolling to protect it from her.

“Daaad,” she groans. “If we’re late, I’m not gonna be a happy camper.”

“I thought you were going to school not camp.” I tease her, tickling her sides.