"Okay?" I say, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
He stares at me and then looks at the water. His high cheekbones and sharp features make my pulse flutter.
Out of nowhere, I get the feeling that all of this feels too good to be true.
This delicious meal, the ocean view, the handsome man with the good manners. And most of all, this light and airy feeling that's been bubbling to life inside me since I woke up this morning.
"As you might have already guessed, I'm part of a criminal organization," he says. "It's called theCamorra. We've been ruling over this part of Italy for centuries. We're composed of different clans, but they all answer to me. And I answer to the Don."
I watch him as he speaks. His head is turned away. He still won't look at me.
"My Don is currently in an American prison," he says. "However, he has liberties that other prisoners don't. He has ways of finding out about everything that happens in our world. He might be behind bars, but he's still very much running the show."
"Why are you telling me this?" I ask.
He looks at me then. And I can tell by the anguish in his eyes that whatever he's about to say will break my heart.
12
DANTE
Idon't know how to say the words.
So I reach into my pocket and pull out the small square box, setting it carefully on the table between us.
"What is that?" she asks.
I open the box, revealing the diamond ring I chose for her earlier this morning.
"Tell me that's not what I think it is," she whispers.
"I have an arrangement for you," I begin.
"An arrangement or an order?" she asks.
"It's an order from my Don, but it'll be beneficial for you as well."
"I'm so sick of people telling me what's beneficial for me," she replies. "I can't believe I thought even for a second that you were different."
I let her fume in silence for a moment.
I already knew she wasn’t going to like this proposition. But I’m going to offer it to her anyway.
"Marry me, Grace," I say. "Temporarily. You'll have my protection, and I'll have you by my side. It's a win-win."
"Temporarily?" she asks.
"Six months," I say. "If you want to walk away and have complete freedom after the six months are over, I'll give you that."
"What's in it for you?" she asks, leaning back in her seat.
She's right in front of me, but the girl I knew only a few minutes ago is long gone. The softness in her eyes is replaced by suspicion.
"I need a wife," I say. “For appearance’s sake.”
“Lucky me,” she says. “And what do I have to benefit from it?”
"Whether or not you want to admit it to yourself, you need my protection.”
