Page 11 of The Bonventi Secret

"How?" I finally manage to ask, my voice trembling. "How can you," I say and lean toward him, "I'm your sister, Gabriel. Your little sister. How can you sell me like I'm some damn bargaining chip?"

Gabriel's face shows his pain. "It's not like that, Liv. You don't understand?—"

"Then make me understand!" I scream, slamming my fist against the seat. "Because right now, all I see is my brother pimping me out to the goddamn mob!"

The words hang in the air between us, ugly and raw. Gabriel flinches as if I'd struck him. I'd never seen him do that.

"It's complicated," he begins, but I cut him off.

"Bullshit," I say. "It's simple. You're choosing them over me. Your real fucking family."

Gabriel's eyes flash with anger. "Everything I've ever done has been for you, Livia."

I laugh sarcastically. "Arranging my marriage to a mob boss is for me?"

"You think I wanted this?" Gabriel's voice rises to match mine. "You think this is easy for me? I've spent my entire life trying," he says and trails off. "Fuck, Livia, we don't have a choice anymore."

"There's always a choice," I argue, but my voice wavers. The reality of the situation is starting to sink in, and with it comes a wave of nausea.

I think I'm going to throw up.

"What happens if I say no?" I ask defiantly.

Gabriel doesn't speak.

"Gabriel," I press, my heart pounding. "What happens if I refuse?"

He meets my eyes, and I see a flicker of the brother I once knew—the one who used to chase away my nightmares, the one who kept me safe in our foster homes.

"Then we both die," he says softly. "And probably a lot of other people we've ever cared about, too."

He then leans forward as if trying to console me. "Livia, please, I know this is hard, but?—"

"Hard?" I interrupt. "Hard doesn't even begin to cover it. What you're saying—shit, you've taken everything from me. My choices, my future, my fucking free will. And for what? To save your own skin?"

He doesn't say a word, so I continue.

"I'm not a chess piece you can move around at will! I have a life. I have dreams, goals?—"

"And you'll still have those," he interrupts. "Enzo's a reasonable man. He'll let you finish your studies?—"

"Let me?" I say. "And what about what I want, huh? My research, my life in California. Does none of that matter?"

"Of course it matters," Gabriel insists. "It's just," he says and sighs. "Do you think I enjoy telling my baby sister—" He cuts himself off, taking a deep breath. "This is bigger than you, Livia. It's bigger than all of us."

I scoff, my body shaking with rage. "You bastard. You've betrayed me. Your own flesh and blood. You coward."

I see Gabriel's face tense up, his jaw tighten. He's fuming, but he doesn't say a word.

I lean back against the leather seat, my mind reeling. The anger that had fueled me moments ago begins to give way to desperation.

I can't let this happen. There has to be another way.

"Gabriel," I say, my voice softer now, pleading. "There must be something else we can do. Anything but this."

He looks at me, his eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and sadness. "Liv, I?—"

"No, listen to me," I interrupt, leaning forward. "I won that fellowship. I don't need any more money. You can give it to him. Shit, I'll… I'll sell my car, I?—"