Tore wiped a tear from his eye. “You really going to play along with this farce?”
“No farce,” I told them. “Giambrone’s still demanding the contract be upheld.”
“Idiot. He already married his daughter off.”
“Now he’s offering his youngest.”
“Isn’t she only nineteen?” Vinny poured himself another finger of whiskey.
“Her age has no bearing. I’d rather live in a ditch and get the plague than hitch myself to the Giambrones.”
“Then why the hell do you need to get married at all?” Tore asked, sitting at his desk and pulling his feet up.
“It’s my out.” I sat gingerly into an armchair in front of Tore’s desk. The bolted leather armrests were soft and cushiony, such a contrast to the hard, rough angles of prison life. Same with clothing, bedding, food, and so much more. It was going to take some getting used to. “Elio never signed a contract that wasn’t favorable to him. He always gave himself a way out. This is mine. He worded the contract in a way that not onlyallowed me to get married before a public engagement was made, but it would also void the contract with Giambrone if that happened.”
“You sly dog,” Tore added.
“So who’s the lucky lady?”
“I was hoping the two of you had some suggestions. Needs to be someone we can easily buy off or threaten.” Seven years ago, I never would have agreed to chaining myself to a random woman. Now, after time behind bars, I didn’t have it in me to care all that much, not when the one woman I wanted couldn’t be mine.
“Or someone loyal. A few of the capos and high-ranked enforcers have daughters in their twenties or thirties,” Vinny suggested.
“Careful, or the chosen bride’s father might think himself favored. Might cause some infighting with the capos,” Tore commented.
I nodded. “You’re right. I can’t have a power struggle right after taking back the reins.”
“You could just ask Ainsley,” Vinny muttered into his glass, or I thought that was what he said. I side-eyed him. He was staring at me, a small smile playing on his lips.
Two knocks thudded against the door.
“Hey, Tore,” Ainsley called from the other side of it. “I’ve got an errand to run for Cesare. I’ll meet up with you guys as planned in a bit.”
“Okay, Anzy. See you soon,” Tore yelled back.
“Why is she running errands for Doc?” I asked.
Vinny side-eyed me with a raised brow, while Tore waved the question aside.
“He took her on as his disciple or whatever a couple of years back. A way for her to get ahead in medical school and practicals.”
I knew that, but why today? Neither of them mentioned that anyone was injured or currently in need of medical care.
Tore waggled his finger at us. “Anzy wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
I tilted my head back and pressed my tongue hard against the floor of my mouth, begging for patience.
“She’s family. Trustworthy,” he continued. “Won’t cause power struggles with the capos. Not too young. She’s got her own place in town if you want to avoid her. And she’ll be too busy with the school year starting soon to be much of a bother.”
“No.”
“Why not?” The way Vinny asked sounded more like a taunt than out of real curiosity. “Tore’s right. She’s not a bad option. Won’t have to threaten her or bribe her, at least not the way we were discussing.”
“I said no.”
“You came to us with a problem, boss,” Vinny said plainly. “We’ve given a solution. Take it or leave it. But my guess is it’ll be harder than you think to find another adequate candidate this quickly.”
“Ainsley and I are ill-suited.”
