Page 18 of The Mafia's Bride

“The accent gave you away. You’re probably from Tuscany?” At my shock, she smiles. “I spent a month traveling there two years ago. I know from the news that De Luca has relatives in that part of Italy.”

“I’m impressed.” I incline my head, more intrigued about this vixen than I should be.

There’s more to Sloane O’Brien than I thought.

“You’d be the first,” she mutters, wrapping her arms around her middle.

I don’t like the dejected tone or the way her face closes off.

I want her fire back, that fight. It’s as addicting as the pills I push.

“Excited for the wedding?”

That does its intended job, igniting a flame in those large eyes. She glares at me, ruby bottom lip puckering. “Great. You know about it too.”

At the curious statement, I tilt my head. “I do.”

“And I bet your second is just as thrilled as my sister is at the possibility of uniting the families and getting a bride.” Her gaze burns a hole into the couch. “Fantastic.”

Raising my eyebrow, a prickle of confusion hits my gut. She’s talking to me as if I’m not?—

Oh.This is too good. She doesn’t know who I am. She doesn’t know that I’m going to be her husband.

A good man would let her know. A good man would correct her, allow her the decency to know she’s complaining to her future spouse.

If I’ve learned anything—it’s that I’m not a good man.

“The entire family has been told of the upcoming nuptials.” My hands tighten, pulling the leather taunt and flexing my fingers under the sturdy weight. “It’s a big deal. The Zias are going crazy with wedding planning. We haven’t had a wedding, or a reason to celebrate, in some time.”

“Fuck.” She drops her head back, staring at the ceiling. “Well, you can tell your second that I don’t want to get married. In fact, I’m looking for any chance I can get at breaking this stupid contract.”

“Are you?” I gesture to the club, the flashes of her and another woman in my stairwell.

How far would it have gone, had I not interrupted? I’d rather not think on it. I’ll shoot something if I do. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t you bound by clan laws after accepting your Captain’s decree?”

She glowers at me, unused to someone knowing everything of importance.

“Point?”

“You’re not the only one this affects, menace. A lot of people, two families worth of people, are riding on this union. It’s supposed to be important to both sides.”

“Right.” She rolls her eyes, picking at the loose threads again. “Important for Maeve. Important for your second. Not so much for me.”

“You don’t think this is important for you?”

Her eyes flash. There’s that fire I’ve begun to crave. “I don’t know what you know about me, mysterious man who likes to ask annoying questions, but I am not someone who can just be given away. I’m a person, with thoughts and feelings, who doesn’t want to be married to a known killer.”

I nod, because I can’t fault her for that. My reputation can be a bit off-putting. Even though, most of it is fabricated. Family propaganda, and all that.

“Besides, what do I get out of this, other than removal from my family and put into some man’s bed to be used as he sees fit?” The words sound rehearsed. “I’m just a liability my sister got rid of the first chance she could, and now, I’m the one paying the price.”

A spike of frustration shoots through my body at the insinuation. Union, contract aside, Sloane is being given a role that holds a place of honor in my family. Zia Maria made it into a place to be revered, a woman who could handle the dark and the light and provide comfort in times of grief.

She gets my name, my family, my protection, mylife.

Most men in this life would not offer such loyalty to their spouses, but Nico taught me differently. I chose differently after my father abandoned my mother and sister; Iwouldbe different.

How fuckingdareshe think she wouldn’t be cherished as my wife?