I have to laugh. It’s cruel, and I don’t like the sound of it, but honestly, I’d hoped for something more loving from a man proposing marriage. A business arrangement is a copout. I know he’s got feelings for me. I’ve seen the way he looks at me.
“There’s one more thing,” Francisco says.
“One more thing?” I ask skeptically. I’m on information overload at this point.
“I can’t ask you to be my wife, even if it is just a business arrangement, without telling you the truth,” he says. I can tell he’s nervous.
“Do I want to hear the truth?” I respond.
He doesn’t react to my sarcasm. Instead, he looks me dead in the eye and says, “I am the Don of the Corello family.”
I swallow heavily. I know what that means. I’ve seen all the movies, and I lived a portion of it through my dad. I’ve never met a Don before, but I’ve heard them talked about with reverence and fear. It means that Francisco is in charge of an entire criminal enterprise. Everyone on the streets defers to him, and nothing gets done without his consent.
“Take some time to think it over,” Francisco says, patting my hand.
I’m torn. Now that I know who he is, it doesn’t change anything. He’s still the kind man who held me tight as we danced, the person to whom I’m drawn even though I wish I weren’t. It’s kind of him to offer to spend the rest of his life with me just to keep me safe, but I want something more. I appreciate the fact that this may be my best shot at living in peace, but I always thought marriage would be something special. If I agree, then I’m settling for a life without true love. And that’s not appealing at all.
But would I really be settling? I care about Francisco in more ways than one. I haven’t been able to forget the explicit dreams I’ve had about him. What it would be like to make love to him for real. Although in his business arrangement, I’m not sure if therewould be a place for lovemaking. He’s not offering his body, mind, and soul to me, just his name, his protection.
I nod slightly to indicate that I’ll think about it. I’m feeling overwhelmed, and I don’t know how to escape the conversation. He picks up on that fact and stands up.
“I’ll give you some time,” he says, leaving the room without a goodbye.
I’m left all alone, staring at the four walls around me. Why does everything have to be so hard? I thought I had a handle on things until a few days ago. Now it seems like my entire life is up in the air again. Do I walk down the aisle with a man who only sort of cares about me? Or do I take my chances on the open road?
It seems like either choice I make is a losing one.
CHAPTER 18
FRANCISCO
My heart pounds as I walk down the stairs. I hadn’t realized how difficult it would be to propose. Of course, it wasn’t a traditional proposal. My emotions didn’t figure into it at all, only the truth is that they do. I really hope she’ll say yes, not because I want to combine our two powerful families, but because I want Marlena in my life.
I try to tell myself that I’m being practical. Giovanni was right with his throwaway comment. If we’re married, Andretti wouldn’t dare move against Marlena. But even as I say these things to myself, I know that I’m lying. Deep down, I care about her, and I want her by my side.
I want her in my bed, too.I think. But then I toss that thought away as soon as it comes. Though she’s ravishing, and any man in his right mind would be thrilled to spend the night with her, I know I’m not what she has in mind. She needs someone younger, someone up and coming, not a man who’s part of the mob—the very thing that killed her father.
She deserves the best husband life has to offer her. I just hope that the universe will conspire to bring us together, no matterwhat the circumstances. Maybe she’ll grow to think about me the same way I think about her. Stranger things have happened.
“I want a meeting of all the capos as soon as possible,” I tell Edoardo when I find him in the foyer.
“Yes, boss,” he says, pulling out his phone like the dedicated soldier that he is.
I retreat to my office, almost immediately interrupted by Marcello and Giovanni. They’ve both heard from Edoardo that I called a meeting, and are there to see what’s up before the rest of the capos arrive.
“What’s going on?” Giovanni asks.
I consider waiting until everyone is assembled so that I don’t have to explain myself twice. But I know that some of my men are going to be coming from far-flung corners of the city. It could be an hour before everyone arrives, and I don’t want to just sit there twiddling my thumbs.
“I assume you know Marlena is staying with us,” I say for Marcello’s benefit.
“Yes,” Marcello replies.
“I’ve asked her to marry me,” I explain.
“What!” Giovanni exclaims, either unwilling or unable to hide his shock.
I give him a cold stare until he calms down. This is my decision, and I don’t quite understand why he has a problem with it.
