Before, I would have wondered if this was a game. Maybe he found out what happened that night in the club. But Nico doesn’t look like that kind of guy.
I should be happy; I’m attracted to her, but I can’t get the uneasy feeling out of me. I can’t quite grasp what it is. Nevertheless, we agreed, and now I’m wearing a suit in De Angelo’s mansion, ready to enter a new era of my life.
“This is the contract. Valentina has already signed it. Read it, and when you sign it, we can join the rest of the family in the other room.”
I skim through the contract of our agreement and sign my name near Valentina's chaotic signature.
“Now that’s done, it’s time to celebrate.” Nico takes the contract and leads the way to the other room. While he and Salvatore discuss business, all I can think about is her greeneyes and those cherry lips as I wonder why she agreed to this marriage
The sound of quiet music and chatter fills my ears, bringing my attention to the entrance of the room, and my eyes search for the woman I just got engaged to. I don’t have to search for long because she's the center of attention. I stop in my tracks as I take her in in her red, silk, backless dress, showing her defined back and ink on the side of her spine. But it’s not just her looks. Something is radiating from her that keeps the attention of the surrounding people. Those people being my family is raising my guard. What if the marriage doesn’t work out? My family is the one that will get hurt.
Nico takes a glass of champagne and taps his ring on it to draw attention.
“Thank you all for being here today. Even though this is just a small party for our closest friends and family, we gather here today to celebrate the bond between Cosa Nostra and Camorra with the engagement of my sister, Valentina, and Gabriel.” A smile spreads across his face. “This bond is significant to both families, and knowing that, we also hope Valentina and Gabriel find some common ground for the sake of this bond.”
I narrow my eyes at him. Of course he would joke about this, and the whole room seems to like it. I look around, and it seems I’m the only one not laughing.
“Now, could I please request Valentina and Gabriel join us?”
My eyes meet Valentina’s, and she smiles at me. I don’t make her wait, and in two long strides, I reach her. I inhale her scent, the one that is still engraved in my mind since that night at the club. I bet she still tastes the same.
I offer her my hand, and I watch as her small hand takes mine. It’s soft, and before my mind wanders to how her hand would look wrapped around other parts of me, we walk together toward Nico and Salvatore.
“Now that we can all see our couple, I would like to make a toast.” I take a glass of champagne and pass it to Valentina before taking one myself.
“To Valentina and Gabriel.”
I take a sip of my drink, my eyes never leaving Valentina’s. “Can we talk?”
She smiles and nods. She leads me away from all the eyes surrounding us. I follow her into the room next to the office, where I signed the contract just minutes ago. I look around the room, which I now realize is a library. When she takes a seat on the sofa, I sit next to her.
I’m supposed to give her a ring, but I have questions I need answers to first.
Her green eyes meet mine, and I ask, “Does your brother know?”
She raises her eyebrows. “Know what?”
“What happened at the club.”
She tilts her head to the side. “Why? Whatdidhappen at the club?”
I shake my head. “Don’t.”
She smiles. “You mean our make-out session? Why did you run away as soon as you knew who I was? And no, he doesn’t. It isn’t his business.”
“That wasn’t the reason,” I start to argue but stop. “Why did you agree to this marriage? Why you and not any other young woman? I was told there were plenty of others ready to agree to this kind of bond.”
She narrows her eyes. “Why not me?” Her croaky voice fills my ears.
“I thought you weren’t interested in another engagement after your last one.”
“I wasn’t, and if I had any say, I never would have agreed to that bond.” She leans forward. “But this bond is my choice. Anything else?”
“Why? Why is this one your choice?”
“That, I would like to keep to myself.” She leans further until her lips brush my ear. “Maybe I’ll tell you one day.” I inhale her scent deeply, and before I can act on her little stunt, she pulls away. “Now, where is my ring?”
I exhale and take the box from my pocket. I open it, take the emerald ring out, and put it on her finger. “I chose it because it matches the color of your eyes.”
