“Ouch, Susanna,” I mutter.
“It’s true.”
“It’s not true,” Luca says. “I find Nina very beautiful. I am choosing her because I find Susanna too theatrical. I don’t want a theatrical wife. I want a wife I can be proud of.”
It’s another blow to Susanna’s self-esteem. “You’re saying that if you married me, you would be ashamed of me?”
“Yes.” Luca is not holding back. It’s obvious to me that he’s not the sort of man to sugarcoat things. This is the man I am going to marry. That realization makes me cold.
“Well, fuck you,” Susanna snaps. “I am so much better than you anyway. You’re going to regret choosing my boring sister over me. Mark my words.”
“Don’t be dramatic,” Mom mutters. “Luca has made his choice. We have to respect that now.”
“Whatever,” Susanna says, standing up. “I don’t have to listen to this.” She storms out of the room.
“I should talk to her,” I say but it’s not out of concern for my sister. It’s more because I don’t want to be around Luca more than I have to be. His intense eyes are settled right onto me and its too much to handle. I hurry after Susanna and find her in the kitchen.
“Don’t,” she says, holding up a hand before I can even speak. “I don’t want to hear it.”
“Hear what?”
“How you’re going to rub it in that you’re so much better than me.”
“I don’t think I’m better than you.”
“The handsome, powerful mafia man just chose you to be his wife. Of course you’re better than me.”
I can’t stop myself from rolling my eyes. “I am not. I didn’t want this. I wanted him to choose you.”
“Then you should have said that! Maybe if you had told him you don’t want him, he wouldn’t have chosen you.”
“You really want a man who chooses you second just because the one he really wants doesn’t want him?”
She blinks and thinks on it for a moment before she nods. “Yes. Because I’m tired of living with Mom. I’m tired of being stuck in this life. I want more out of it.”
“You’ll get more in the future. You know it. Alek will probably find another mafia man to marry you off to.”
“He better be more handsome than Luca is. I can’t believe this. He should have chosen me.”
I try reaching out for her but she pulls away.
“Don’t, Nina. I don’t want your comfort right now. This is partially your fault. He chose you for a reason. What did you say to him?”
“Nothing.”
She scoffs. “Whatever. You’re going to get married and live a life and I’m going to be stuck here. So I hope you’re happy. You’re no longer my sister.”
I know Susanna is partially just being dramatic but I also know there’s some truth to her words and that scares me most of all.
Chapter Three
Nina
Susanna and I are expected to go wedding dress shopping together before the wedding. It’s happening within the month. I’m not even allowed to spend more time with Luca before the big day since Alek wants to preserve my innocence.
“Innocence,” Susanna scoffs as we pick through wedding dresses. Our mom is across the store, talking with a sales associate. “You’re not innocent.”
“I am a virgin still.” It’s the way of the mafia. Girls are expected to wait until their wedding night. Since me and Susanna went to an all-girls’ high school, I wasn’t around boys that often to tempt me. And besides, Alek would never have let me date. He’s too overprotective.
