Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 83776 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83776 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
“You know as well as I do that marriage is stronger than any other formal bond. Contracts can be broken, but marriage is blood and family. It’s how our world has done things for a very long time, and for a good reason. Marriage won’t only just provide the guns and drugs we both need, but it’ll also strengthen our families by creating an unbreakable connection, because above all else, we need more allies if we’re going to survive.”
I don’t tell her about how my youngest brother, Angelo, is currently languishing in prison because someone within our organization ratted him out, or about the assassinations and murder attempts on high-ranking members of our Famiglia. There’s no outright war, but my family’s power has never been so threatened before, and my father believes this alliance is one way to show strength in the face of adversity.
She sits back, crosses her legs, and takes another drink. “I guess it doesn’t matter that I don’t want anything to do with you, right? Because if I don’t do this, my family will suffer.”
“And so will mine,” I tell her. “If I had my way, I wouldn’t be here right now either. We’re in the same position, baby.”
“Don’t call me baby.” She closes her eyes. “Fuck. Now I see why Renzo didn’t tell me all that. He wants me to make my own decision, and that would’ve been one fat guilt trip kick straight to my skull.”
“You have a good brother, but he’s too soft on you. The fact is, we’re fucked, baby. You and I are stuck together, because if we don’t do this, both our lives will be even worse.”
“I’m not sure how that’s even possible.” She swirls her glass and slams it down on the table. “There has to be another way. Someone else.”
“You want to force some other Rossi girl into marriage in your place?” I run a thumb across my mouth and narrow my eyes. “I didn’t know you were so fucking selfish.”
“Oh, fuck you,” she says and stands up, shoving the chair back. She’s seething mad again, but she knows I’m right, and it’s another reason I’m going through with this—because if I don’t, then one of my brothers will have to take my place, and that wouldn’t be fair to them.
They’ll have their turns. I’m second oldest, and it’s my turn to do my duty to the Famiglia, but even my little sisters will be asked to make this impossible decision one day in the future, and I have no doubt that they will all do what has to be done.
Because the family is greater than any one of us.
“Go ahead and confirm my story with your brother,” I tell her as she starts to storm away. “Hate me all you want, baby, but I’m not lying.”
She stops a few feet away, hands curl into fists, and whirls around to pin me with a stare that might kill a lesser man. She points one finger in my direction, and I’m impressed that it’s not shaking.
“I don’t want anything to do with you, Davide Bianco, or your fucking family. If I find out that you lied to me tonight, I’m walking. Do you understand? If you ever hold something back from me again, I’ll stab a fork in your eye. Do you hear me?”
I lean back in my chair and drape an arm over the back. “Don’t worry. Now that you’re mine, I’ll give you anything you want. Except your panties back.”
Her cheeks turn crimson and her mouth works through a litany of curses, and she finally spins around and storms off. I watch her go, my heart racing a quick patter in my chest, and I can’t remember the last time I felt like this. I’ve burned buildings and killed powerful men, I’ve slept with plenty of beautiful women and ascended to the heights of society, but I’ve never wanted someone the way I want Stefania Rossi in this moment.
“That seemed to go great,” Bruno says once she’s gone. He slumps down into her chair.
Emilio lingers near the railing. “That girl hates your guts.”
“I’ll grow on her.” I stand up, and my men stand with me. “That’s enough for tonight. Let’s get the fuck out of here.”
Because now that I’ve spoken with my wife-to-be, there’s no reason to make myself suffer in this place anymore.
Chapter 6
Davide
The Rossi Famiglia’s mansion is on the outskirts of the city in a hilly residential area called Manayunk. It’d be easy to miss, tucked back behind big bushes and tall trees and down an easily defensible lane guarded by armed men and security cameras.
Bruno parks in front of a lavish home with huge columns and multiple wings. My driver squints up at the windows, trying to get a feel for the layout, probably putting together a heist situation in his head already. The guy was a petty thief when I first met him, a teenager with floppy dark hair and baggy clothes, obsessed with breaking and entering into rich people’s homes. He was good at it too, and the habit never really left him, even though I turned him into a respectable member of the Bianco Famiglia. Now he’s one of my most trusted friends and advisors, although he’s a few years younger.