Page 32 of Tragic Empire

“No, no,” he denies. “This kind of adjustment doesn’t need to be noted in any contract. It’s above the typical laws of men.”

“Oh?”

“Have you heard of a Moretti Blood Marriage?”

I must look as bewildered as I feel, because Cassio chuckles and doesn’t wait for my answer before offering clarification.

“I’m not surprised, it’s a centuries old tradition in our family. A ceremony that few Morettis have chosen to partake in. Essentially, you wouldn’t just become my wife, you’d become a Moretti.”

Blinking at him wildly, I wrap my arms around my stomach. “What does that even mean?”

“Instead of becoming Dante Moretti’s daughter-in-law, he would recognize you as his own blood. As far as our family is concerned, you would be Jade’s sister. All of my brothers would consider you one of our own. It’s like a marriage and an adoption, all in one.”

“That sounds… are you serious?”

“It’s not something that is done often. We all know about it, we all understand it, but not many of us choose to do it. Moretti men already consider marriage a life commitment, but a blood marriage is so much more.”

“And you want this? Withme?”

“I do,” Cassio pledges. “I want you to have more than a husband, Ana. I want you to have a family. Someone took yours far too soon, and I don’t mean to replace them, but I want to give you everything I can. My family is the biggest strength I have to offer, so let me share it.”

My heart is beating so fast, I can feel it drumming in my neck. I can’t deny that it’s an attractive offer, nor that I want to greedily accept.

“How do we do it?”

Cassio breathes out, like he’s relieved that I haven’t shot him down. He insists that we take a seat, and for the next few minutes, jumps into an in-depth explanation of how the ceremony will go. I know he called it a MorettiBloodMarriage, but I didn’t expect to actually bleed.

The reality of the new type of wedding doesn’t scare me away. In fact, it draws my interest the more he talks. He tells me the specific words needed to be exchanged, and the way we’ll be bound. He also says that we don’t need to prepare anything differently, and that all of the required elements will already be in the vicinity.

Before I know it, I’ve already agreed to participate.

“It might hurt,” he eventually warns. “Just a little.”

“What could possibly hurt me more than the pain I’m already drowning in?”

“I’m so sorry, Ana,” he says, hesitantly threading his hand in mine. His hold is comforting, and our fingers tangle neatly together despite their difference in size.

“I don’t know how much longer I can keep this brave act,” I admit in a whisper, my throat going tight. “I feel like I’m seconds from cracking, Cassio. How do I make it stop?”

“You’re strong, Ana. Stronger than you probably ever thought you could be.”

“I don’t feel strong.”

“You can do this,” he insists.

My lips tremble. “H-how?”

“Remember why you’re doing it,” Cassio advises. “Remember that somewhere out there, the people responsible for tormenting you could be watching. Don’t give them the satisfaction of seeing your pain. These bastards want you to break, Ana, and you’re allowed to. But they don’t get to see that from you, do they?”

My head shakes and he hums in encouragement.

“No, they don’t.” His large hands wrap around the top of my arms, offering a firm source of solace. “Once we’re done here, and on that plane, you break however you need to. I’ll be with you through every step, but now, now you hold your head high, and you show everyone why you aren’t to be fucked with. Can you do that, Ana?”

“I can,” I determine, straightening my shoulders.

“Good.” He squeezes my arms softly before standing. “I’ll see you at the altar,forza.”

ChapterEleven