Page 169 of Sins of the Orchid

“You better think twice about what you are going to say,” Santi threatened darkly.

Adriano laughed bitterly. “Or what? You’ll push me out of the Cosa Nostra. You already did, you fucking asshole. Funny how rules change now that you are marrying her.”

“Adriano, please,” I begged in a whisper. “We can talk about it and fix it.”

Of all the people in this world, I had a handful I’d always count on. Adriano was one of them. He had never,everhurt me. I spent more time with him than I did with my brothers and my father. And now, he was the one hurting.

“Like you talked to me about fucking my brother all along?” A gasp escaped me. Touché. He got me there. Though I didn’t do it all along. It was before we learned about the marriage contract.

“Like you kept it in your pants,” Santi hissed. “There isn’t a skirt in this city you haven’t lifted. Even after you knew about the marriage contract.”

I wasn’t surprised to hear about the latter. It didn’t hurt either. It never hurt when he got involved with other women. It would destroy me if Santi had other women though.

“Didn’t I tell you the Russo boys are no good for you, Amore?” Uncle Vincent growled. “You deserve so much better.”

Dad’s eyes narrowed on Adriano. “You cheated on my daughter?” He got into his face. “I should kill you right now.”

My gaze lingered on Adriano. It looked like he was ready to beat him too. Adriano stood there tense, ready to be thrown out or beaten down. It was written all over his face. The years of standing by him kicked in.

“But you are not, Dad,” I snapped, anger clear in my voice. “You will leave Adriano alone!”

All this was ludicrous. Adriano and I were never an item. You couldn’t cheat on a partner that never agreed to marry you,

“Grandma, please,” I begged. Would nobody come to their senses?

Ignoring me, she turned to Santi. “You better marry my granddaughter, Russo,” she demanded with a smirk. “Before the baby is born!”

“You have no say in this, you senile witch,” Dad shouted.

“And why in the hell do you all care?” I shouted, losing my shit. Grandma’s and Dad’s eyes flashed in surprise. “Did it ever occur to either of you to ask me what I want?” I glared at my two family members that I have loved and who have been bickering for as long as I’ve known them. “Stop fucking deciding for me.” I turned my eyes to Dad. “Both of you. Just fucking stop it!”

“Oh, shit.” Lorenzo whistled. “My little sister finally put everyone in their place.”

“Amore, I’m trying to do what your mother wanted,” Dad said, ignoring Lorenzo and glaring at Santi. He turned his eyes to Grandma. “I told you Margaret told me to keep Amore safe and then you do this shit. Shoving her knee deep into the Cosa Nostra. And I told you to keep out of my business when it comes to my daughter’s well-being, goddamnit! She is marrying Adriano, not Santino.”

She shrugged. “Ooops, my bad.” She smiled her sweet, conniving smile. “Russo said she was marrying him. Santino Russo.”

My dad and grandma were hopeless. It wouldn’t matter if I screamed at the top of my lungs from Mt. Rushmore, they’d still not hear what I had to say. It was like they couldn’t see eye-to-eye.

“Didn’t I say I host the best parties in New York City?” Grandma’s chipper voice fueled the flames. She was talking to the only stranger in the group.

“And who in the fuck are you?” Dad spat angrily.

“He’s a Venezuelan friend,” Grandma purred. “Or maybe a foe,” she added jokingly.

“Why in the fuck would you bring a stranger to this?” Adriano questioned her like she was batshit crazy.

None of this was getting us anywhere. I should tell them all to go to hell.

“I’m sorry, Dad,” I whispered at last, the decision settling over me. “I want to go with Santi.”

I didn’t like disappointing Dad nor upsetting him, but I wanted Santi. Like the desert thrived under the scorching heat of the sun, so did my heart and body. I told him I’d give up my empire for him, and I would. From where I stood, it looked like he was fighting for me now. Or was it some power pull. I took a step towards Santi, and his strong arm wrapped around my waist as though he worried I might change my mind and leave him.

He watched me with a soft expression. “It’s okay, Amore,” Santi soothed, then returned to fix his stare at my father. “Your dad and I will come to terms. One way or another.”

I closed my eyes for a brief second, inhaling and then exhaling slowly. His scent was my comfort and safety from the moment he brushed my tears away. I just hoped it remained that way.

Somewhere along the way, Santino became my home. My everything.