Page 5

BIA

After I get settled in, I sit quietly on the edge of the bed waiting for someone to come get me.

When someone knocks on the door, I walk over and open it. Molly, one of the maids gives me a smile. “Dinner is ready. If you would follow me, please.”

I nod and silently follow her to the formal dining room. I tuck myself into my seat, I look around to see Kayleigh sitting across from me. I give her a small smile before I look to see everyone but Peter, Cillian, Leonidas, and Grandfather.

“Bia did you settle in well?”

“Yes, thank you Mrs. O’Sullivan. Your home is stunning.”

“Thank you, but please call me Grace. You will hopefully soon be family.”

“Of course.”

“Good. If there is anything you need, please don’t hesitate to ask,”

“Bia, tell us about yourself.” Keenan asks me asks me before I can respond to Grace.

“Oh, there isn’t much to tell. I mostly keep to myself; I do enjoy reading a lot.”

“You don’t go out and visit different places in Greece or spend time with friends?”

“No, I was busy with my education.”

“When you move here, we will make sure we take you out on the scenic tour. If you like medieval history, we can show you some beautiful castles and coastal landscapes from that era,” Kayleigh says smiling.

“That sounds lovely.”

“We will also have to take you to the farm.” Aiden says.

“Yes. The views are breath taking. Maybe-” Kayleigh is cut off when the doors open, and an angry Cillian walks in followed by Leonidas, Peter, and Grandfather.

Cillian stops when he sees me, he stares for a moment but he grunts as he sits down. He stares at me again but this time more intense like he is trying to solve some kind of puzzle. I give him a smile before looking toward Peter who sits at the head of the table. Grace sits on his left, Cillian is on his right, and the rest of his children sit on either side of the table. I’m between Leonidas and my grandfather.

Peter raises his glass. “To Cillian and Bia. To new beginnings. May their marriage be as bright as the sky and their shoulders be stronger than the obstacles they will overcome.”

“Cillian and Bia,” everyone toasts us.

Maids start setting plates out in front of everyone.

“When will the wedding be?” Grace asks.

“We will host an engagement ball back here in Ireland in a months' time,” Peter states. I gasped.

“Is everything okay, dear?” Grace asks. I bit the inside of my lip to avoid crying out in pain as Grandfather had just stabbed me in the leg with his fork.

“I'm just shocked that it's going to be so soon,” I tell her.

“Cillian needs to keep his birthright, so the sooner you are married the better.”

“Yes, I understand. It was a bit of a shock is all.” I state.

“Anything in particular you would like to have at the ball?”

“No, I'm not picky about anything I'm sure whatever you decide will be beautiful,” I answer Grace.

“Wonderful, I'll be reaching out to you and your mother once we start making plans. A good friend of mine is a party planner, and I know she would love to help us with this.”

“I can't wait.”

We continued with dinner talking about wedding details from table decorations to music. We had just finished dessert when Cillian walks up to me offering me his hand. I gently place my hand in his as he helps me up from my chair.

He turns and tells everyone that we are going to take a walk in the garden.

We continue to walk in silence until we are outside. Then Cillian drops my hand and takes a few steps away from me like I have a deadly disease.

“I hope you're not expecting us to have a marriage full of love. You already know that I recently buried my wife. You were raised as a Mafia princess, you know what is expected of you. You are to be seen and not heard and you act like the proper Mafia wife in public.”

“I understand, and I will do my duty as your wife.”

“Good. You are not to contact me unless you are in danger or it personally affects me. Any relationships that you have are now over. You are now part of the O’Sullivan family, and you owe me your undivided loyalty which includes not spreading your legs for any man. I will be the only man who will be able to touch you.”

“I have no boyfriend.”

“Good, keep it that way. I'm doing this because it is my duty to do so, not for any other reason. You do your duty, and I'll do my duty and we will be fine. Otherwise, we will have problems, and trust me, you don't want that,” he says before he storms away from me.

I take a moment to calm myself down. I look around the garden, seeing all the bright colors and the variety of flowers. I was distracted while I was smelling the roses, that I didn’t notice a man that approaches me.

“You must be Cillian’s new fiancée.”

I jump, having been startled by his voice directly behind me, I slowly turn around his eyes linger on my chest longer than I feel comfortable with.

“Uh, yes, that's me. My name is Bia.” I say trying to shuffle away from him.

“Well, I can definitely say he has good taste. At least he will get some good use out of you and you’re at least pretty enough to stomach while he fucks you.”

He offered me his hand. “My name is Tristan. I have been friends with Cillian since we were children. You will see me around plenty.”

“I have to be going now, it was nice meeting you.” I don't wait around for him to say anything else before I quickly walk back inside.

The rest of the evening is uneventful; the women continued to talk about the ball and my upcoming wedding, and the men go off into the office.

The next morning, the whole O'Sullivan family is there to wish us safe travels as we head back to Greece. I purposely stand a few feet away from my grandfather and my mother. When it was time to leave, I felt my grandfather's hand on my back to help me up the stairs but I flinch from his touch again.

I don’t turn back around but keep moving forward, knowing that once we’re inside of the plane, nothing will be there to save me from his wrath.