She smiles, but I note the resignation already dawning in her eyes because I’m guessing of all of us, she realizes that I am the one most likely to choose life outside of the convent. What can I say? I’ve always been a free spirit, and that won’t ever change.
She steps back and I turn to my sister and hug her hard, her sad sobs muffled by my habit.
With a soft kiss on her cheek, I whisper, “Don’t cry for me, Tiffany. Be happy for me, Rose, and for you. We have a huge adventure ahead and you must face it with confidence, or I doubt you are really my blood at all.”
Her small sniff catches a jagged edge of my heart, and I take a deep breath and force a bright smile on my face.
“I can’t keep the others waiting. Wish me luck.”
They say nothing, and as I turn and walk out of the door, I don’t look back, and I always knew I never would.
The bus is waiting,and there must be at least eight of my fellow nuns on board, ready for their weekly journey into town.
I slide into the seat beside Sister Charlotte, and she smiles serenely.
“We will miss you, Alice.”
“And I’ll miss you too.”
I reach for her hand and squeeze it because I will. I love the other sisters, there really is nothing not to love and as the bus pulls away from the safety of the convent, I swallow the lump in my throat as excitement is replaced with nerves because now I must rely on somebody else to do their part and I hope to God he does not let me down.
CHAPTER 2
SIMEON
“She’s leaving.”
Jack states the fucking obvious as we watch the bus pull out of the convent gates and onto the road leading to town.
“Any other cars?”
I enquire, and he shakes his head.
“Not so far.”
I nod with satisfaction because I’m not the only man interested in her: Alice Zaferelli, novice nun inside the Order of the Holy Mother of God and outside billionaire heiress. Under the terms and conditions of her father’s last will and testament, she must marry and be pregnant before her younger sister turns twenty-five.
It’s just a shame for the lady in question that man will be me.
The car remains at a discreet distance, and as we journey into town, my man is standing by in the airport cab, ready to whisk her away to the flight she is booked on — the seat next to mine, actually.
We were never going to take the risk that she would make it there by her own devices; her sister was in danger the minuteshe stepped into the cab taking her to the airport, and we will not make the same mistake.
If anything, I’m pissed to be here at all. The last thing I wanted was to be married to a stranger for money we don’t need. However, my father is a dominant presence and runs the Ravera mafia with a blade of steel. Go against him, and you go against the family, and so, along with my two single brothers, we get to marry the billions the diamond dynasty will deliver.
Enrico Zaferelli was the diamond king. He owned many diamond mines and invested in cryptocurrency, and rose to become the richest man in the entire world.
Then he died, leaving his fortune to three women. One of whom is on the bus in front, and my job is to keep her safe, secure her, marry her, and plant my seed in her belly before the sand runs to the bottom of the timer.
To say I’m pissed about that is an understatement.
I vowed never to marry, not intentionally anyway. It’s easier to fuck women and then leave them without the emotional baggage they bring. The last thing I want is to be responsible for one. She’s probably walking with a stick up her ass, and her pious attitude is sure to grate on my nerves. I hate my fucking life right now because a virgin nun was never on my wish list.
Jack remarks in his dull whisper, “Rico is in place by the convenience store in the cab rank. Three down. Charlie’s in the one in front and Frank’s in the one behind.”
“Good. What about the other three cars?”
“Parked and staking out the town as requested. If any stranger is spotted, they will be dealt with accordingly.”
