Chapter One
Gianna
I’m expected to marry.
It’s the reason why a man named Nico Esposito – a member of the Italian mafia – is seated across from me at my dinner table. My aunt, Francesca, is on one side of me while my brother, Enzo, sits at the head of the table even though this isn’t his house. It’s my aunt’s. But since he’s the highest ranking mafia man in this room, he gets to sit at the head of the table.
“So, Nico, do you plan to treat my niece with respect?” Francesca asks.
Nico chews loudly on a piece of steak. I pick at my own food with my head ducked into my chin. The last thing I want is morefood in my stomach. More food means more I’ll need to throw up later. I have to be skinny enough for Francesca to approve of.
“I do,” he finally answers after swallowing but he doesn’t wipe the steak sauce off his chin. Nico is a handsome man with classic features. Strong jaw. Nice black hair. A typical good looking Italian man. But even his looks can’t distract me from the sauce on his chin. I wish he’d wipe it off. “If you’ll honor me with Gianna’s hand in marriage, I’ll always treat her like a queen. I know you’re looking for more allies.” This he says to my brother. “I’ll be a good one to you. I know a lot of mafia men are not happy you’re working with the Bratva but I’m not one of them. I’ll be on your side, Enzo. I promise you that.”
Enzo smiles tightly. “That’s good to hear but I’m not sure I’m ready for my baby sister to be married off just yet.”
“Oh, hush,” Francesca says, gently swatting Enzo’s arm. “Gianna is twenty-one now. Ready to be married. Ready to make this family proud.”
“Of course. But I have worked hard to keep my sister safe. Would she be safe with you, Nico?”
Nico clears his throat loudly and I can’t help but cringe a little. Since my face is still lowered, no one seems to notice. Most people don’t notice me to begin with. I’ve always been painfully shy. My aunts little critiques all my life haven’t helped matters.
In that very moment, she pinches my arm, forcing me to look at her. She tilts her chin up, signaling I should do the same.
With a deep breath, I force my face to rise to meet Nico’s eyes.
“Gianna, I can promise that you would be safe with me,” Nico tells me. It takes everything inside of me to not look away. “I would be a good husband to you. And to you, Enzo, I would be a good ally.”
The fate of mafia daughters everywhere. Forced to get married to strangers. I know Enzo’s wife, Kira, was forced to marry him to keep peace between our families. That was just a year ago.Now, it’s my turn apparently. There’s been a war brewing for the past twelve months. A man named Marco Amato is not happy that my brother is working with the Russian mafia and that his bride is a Russian herself. So far, the war my brother is facing in New York has not reached me here in Connecticut. But I feel it in my gut that something is going to go wrong soon.
This potential marriage alliance to Nico is just the start.
Enzo subtly nods. “That is good to hear. My aunt is the one who truly knows you. We’ve never worked together before. How do I know I can trust you?”
“Because of my word,” Francesca says. “Isn’t my word good enough?”
Enzo doesn’t respond to that because we both know that our aunt’s word is not ‘good enough.’ “Nico?”
“I come from a good family. I have a lot of wealth and connections to my name. I can help you in this war with Marco Amato. I’ll be a good husband to your sister. That I will promise you.”
“You can’t ask for anything more, can you?” Francesca says, making Enzo sigh.
“I do need allies,” Enzo admits. “Italian Mafia ones. If you’re saying you can help me in this war, Nico, then I’ll believe you. But I don’t want to sell my sister off like she’s cattle.”
“She is just doing her duty,” Francesca says. “I was in an arranged marriage with your uncle. You have an arranged marriage yourself.” She sneers at the mention of Kira. My sister-in-law and aunt have never been on good terms. It’s not surprising that Kira didn’t come today, even though it would have been nice to see her. She’s the only one I have in my life who seems to understand me. Not even my own brother gets me the way Kira does.
“So it wouldn’t be unusual for Gianna to marry me,” Nico says, finally wiping the sauce off his chin. My sigh of relief is subtle so no one notices.
“Perhaps not.” Enzo looks into my eyes. “Gianna, what do you think?”
“Why does it matter what Gianna thinks?” Francesca cuts in before I can say a word. “She will do her duty like I did. She will make our family stronger by marrying a nice Italian man. Unlike your Russian wife.”
Enzo’s lips tighten. “Don’t speak badly of my wife, Francesca. We’ve spoken about this before.”
She waves a dismissive hand. “Your wife isn’t even here. She thinks herself too good to come here.”
“It’s because you always speak badly of Kira to her face that she didn’t want to come today. So stop.” Enzo’s voice speaks to no disagreements.
“Fine,” Francesca says with her own lips pursed.
