I scoff. “I’m not being handed over to Maksim because of love or myintelligence. It’s for this.” I gesture to my body. “Let’s not pretend otherwise.”
“Fucking hell, Valentina. It’s not that… at least not all. This is disrespectful to you and the family.”
"Respect?" I laugh. "How is it respect when all I am is a commodity? You can have twenty percent of the cut and my sister’s virginity, Maksim. Deal?”
Alessandro’s eyes flicker with guilt, but he quickly hides it. "This marriage keeps the peace. Hundreds of our men stay alive because of our sacrifice."
"Our sacrifice? At least call it what it is, Brother. You're not sacrificing anything. I am."
Before he can respond, Cristian appears at the end of the hall.
He stops mid-stride, his eyes widening before quickly dropping to the floor.
But not before I catch the flash of heat in them.
"Don Dante, The car is ready whenever Miss Dante is."
“What do you think, Cristian? Should she change?”
Cristian shifts. His response hesitates.
“You’re such a dick, Alessandro. You can’t order Cristian to check out my assets or you’ll have to kill him.”
Alessandro clears his through. “The car can wait. My sister needs to change first."
"I'm not changing," I declare, moving past Alessandro toward Cristian. "We're already late."
Cristian waits because Alesandro has more power over him than I do. I simply keep moving toward the stairs.
Alessandro sighs. “Keep an eye on her.”
“Yes, sir.”
When we reach the car, Cristian opens the door and I slide in, and he follows me.
As our driver puts the car in gear and heads up the driveway, Cristian leans in close and speaks in a low tone. "You're playing with fire, Valentina."
I smile. "Good thing I've never been afraid of getting burned."
Fifteen minutes later, I'm being escorted to a fancy boutique shopped by the rich and famous of Long Island.
Inside, squeals of delight greet me as Sofia, Giana Moretti, and Teresa rush forward.
They're Mafia princesses like me.
Spoiled and perhaps vain, but they're small vices when you consider our lives are not our own.
"The bride-to-be!" Sofia rushes over and hugs me.
“Oh my God, look at that dress. It’s positively gorgeous on you,” Giana exclaims.
“And sexy.” Teresa waggles her brows.
“Come one, we've pulled everything gorgeous for your trousseau.” Sofia loops her arm through mine, leading me toward a private room adorned with champagne flutes and petit fours.
Cristian positions himself by the entrance. I catch his reflection in the three-way mirror as I slip behind a velvet curtain.
"Try this first." Teresa passes a shimmering gold gown over the curtain. "It'll make Maksim's eyes pop out."
