Alessia
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Ikeep my thoughtsfocused solely on my mission and its outcome.If I let in any outside noise, I’m going to crumble.It’s been thirty hours since Aunt Martina and Bianca dropped this in our laps.
I was instructed to take a picture of myself to send to the Vergine Selettore.Bianca refused to help me, claiming she wasn’t a miracle worker and sulking the rest of the day because she wasn’t the one bringing glory back to the Passero family.I slathered on some lipstick and mascara and let my long, dark hair fall naturally around my shoulders.
The picture was for the Vergine Selettore to see what she was working with—not that it would matter since she was being blackmailed into sending me to them, anyway.Poor woman.
Now I’m standing in the foyer of a luxury apartment building on the Upper Side of Manhattan, where I’ll meet the Vergine Selettore before a car sent by the Falchi family picks me up.
I pull my coat tighter around me.A minute has gone by since I last checked the time on my phone.I know this because I counted sixty seconds off in my head.One more minute, and the Vergine Selettore will come down to meet me.Five more minutes, and a car will arrive to take me to a hangar, where I’ll board a helicopter headed for a cabin in the mountains.
I’ve never been in a helicopter before, and I remove all thoughts about crashing to my death.I’m not going to die.I need to be around for Gianna.
I’ve asked Manny’s no-nonsense mother to come and stay with Gianna while I’m away.She’ll protect my sister from the female vultures in our home.I made Manny promise he would take care of Gianna if anything happened to me.Manny is the only man I trust with Gianna right now.He only has eyes for her.One day, he’s going to ask her to marry him, and it’s going to be the most amazing day ever.
“Alessia.”
I turn at the sound of my name.The Vergine Selettore, possibly in her late sixties, is as beautiful as a thirty-year-old.Gosh, how does she get her skin to look like glass?
“Madama,” I say, reaching out my hand to her.
She looks me up and down, nods, then throws her arms around me.
“Even more beautiful in person.But now I see the fire in your soul and the fight in your eyes.I hope you’re the one to bring that jezebel Martina, her stupid daughter, and that snake of a husband down to their knees in the mud for blackmailing us both into this incredibly foolish scheme of theirs.”
At least she knows I’m not here willingly.
“On the plus side, you’re exactly what I would have chosen for the Falchi myself.A small victory for me, but still a victory.Now all you have to do is sign these.”
She pulls out a few sheets of paper from an envelope she’d been clutching in her hand.
“What are they for?”
“Just the usual.An indemnity form stating you won’t sue the Falchi should there be any damage or injuries to your body during procreation.”
“What?”I ask, stunned.
“Trust me, it won’t come to that.These are just standard waivers.Come now, Alessia, sign these papers.Your car will be here shortly.”
I manage to skim the first few sheets, but she hurries me through the rest.None of it is going to matter, anyway.
“Done,” she says triumphantly, relief washing over her as she shoves the papers back into the envelope.But her smile is more nervous now.“There is light at the end of this.You have no idea how much power you’ve been given, Tesoro,” she says, hugging me again.
What on earth is that supposed to mean?
I don’t get to ask what she means, and I barely manage to grab my single suitcase before she ushers me out of the building into the cold.I dismiss a sleek black limo that slides up in front of the building until the chauffeur steps out and walks toward me.
“Good luck,” the Vergine Selettore says after handing the chauffeur the envelope containing the papers I signed and turning on her heel, leaving me alone on the sidewalk.
“Signora,” the smartly dressed man says, bowing his blonde head.
“Oh no, it’s just Alessia,” I correct him.
“Lady Alessia.My name is Jackson, and I’m your chauffeur,” he says, then gestures to my suitcase.“May I?”His smile is kind and warm, offering me a small reprieve from my rollercoaster thoughts.
Okay, so they sent a limousine.Whatever.
