I groan in frustration. “The police? Those men you met today own half the Boston PD. You'll be dead before you finish filing the report.”
“You're lying.” Her face pales.
“And as for your family, if you contact them, you put a target on their backs, too. And witness protection?” I shake my head. “For what? You don't even know what you witnessed.”
“Okay.” She begins to look uncertain, and thank god for that because she needs to doubt herself to get out of this mess. “Why would you do that for me? If they’re so dangerous, aren’t you afraid they’ll come for you?”
“If they’ve got deep pockets, I’ve got deeper,” I shrug, and she freezes. “I swear, I’m the only one who can protect you. I’m powerful in the city, Gela.”
“This is insane,” she whispers, going pale as she shakes her head. “This can't be happening.”
“Sign the papers willingly, or I sign them for you because I don’t want your death on my conscience.” I don’t sugarcoat it as I pass her the pen. I know I’m crossing a line here, bringing in a civilian into our world. But if she dies because I hesitated, I won’t be able to live with it.
She just stares at it, her entire body shaking. “It’s either this or you’re dead in a ditch somewhere. Decide.”
I wait with bated breath as she takes the pen, thinking this is it, she’s about to sign. But then, at the last minute, she looks up. “Why do I have to marry you for this? Why can’t you just…hide me away?”
“Because those criminals only respect territory and family. Everything else is off-limits,” I say without skipping a beat. But even as I do, I wonder if I’m being totally honest with myself. Maybe there is another way, but I don’t want to take any chances when it comes to her.
“How do you know this?”
“In my line of work, I need to keep an eye on everyone. Criminals, politicians, other businessmen.” I know it’s a little lie by omission, the way I insinuate I’m not that dangerous. That I’m just a businessman, but I know Gela won’t exactly stand around and smile at the idea of marrying into the Bratva.
And right now, I don’t need to be honest. I need to keep her safe.
She nods, like she’s soaking in my words. “And this marriage will only be on paper?” Her voice trembles.
“Only on paper,” I agree.
Even though the truth is that the thought of her in danger makes me willing to burn this city to the ground, this forced marriage is as much about keeping her close as it is about keeping her safe.
She looks at me, and I see the fight slowly draining from her as her new reality sets in. “If I sign this... what happens next?”
“It’s not a matter of if you sign this, it’s a matter of when, because you’re signing it no matter what. And then, you come with me, and I keep you safe. We figure out the rest as we go.”
She stares at the paper for a long time, and then, at last, signs where she has to with a trembling hand.
When she finishes, she looks up at me with such anger that it actually makes me reel.
“I hate you for this.”
“Fair enough,” I say with a twist in my heart, taking the paper from her to sign my name next to hers. “But at least you’ll be alive.”
“Some life,” she huffs and turns to walk out the door, like breathing the same air as me might cause her a disease.
I follow her with the papers, and once outside, I hand them to the balding man who's been waiting by the door.
“Let's go,” I say once we’re done, reaching for her arm, but she jerks away from me.
“Don't.”
Shit. I shouldn’t have. But after everything that happened today, wanting her close to me has become a habit of sorts. I respect her wish and lead her to the car without touching her, even by accident. She gets in willingly this time, which is an improvement, I suppose.
“Can we go back to mine so I can grab my things?” she asks defeatedly.
“Not yet. It's not safe if those guys know where you live.” I glance at her. “I'll have someone collect what you need tomorrow.”
“Whatever,” she says lifelessly, and I hate this dull version of her. She turns to stare out of the window, and though she’s trying to control herself, I think I see her sobbing silently, trying to keep it from me.
