Page 52 of The Arianna Arrangement

Valentina hated being called Tina, which was why I’d always addressed her that way. Two could play her bitchy game. She must have believed what I said though because she uncrossed her arms and sat up straight again. “I might not like you, but you’re the only person that can understand what I’m going through right now, and I needed someone to vent to.”

I might not have liked the woman either, but I could understand what it was like to have the men in your life make your decisions for you. She was also going to be my sister-in-law soon, so we might as well try to figure our shit out for the good of the family.

“Not here. The walls have ears. Follow me.” I stood and headed to where Tucker was talking to his father and uncles. When I approached he smiled, pulling me to his side and pressing a kiss to my temple. “I’m going to head upstairs for a little bit.”

His brow furrowed. “Everything okay?”

I nodded, leaning closer to whisper in his ear. “Valentina and I need somewhere to talk in private.”

Tucker gave me a nod and pressed a quick kiss to my lips. “Of course. Christian will be out in the hall, with other security if you need anything.” His eyes flicked to Valentina, then back to mine.

I was more than capable of handling this bitch if need be, but since we’d agreed I wouldn’t murder anyone again without consulting him first, I chose to take it as a reminder of that agreement instead of him insulting my abilities.

Neither one of us said a word until we were in mine and Tucker’s room with the door closed. “Let’s sit on the couches.” I gestured for her to lead the way. “There are devices in here that deactivate any cameras and mics so it’s safe to talk in here.”

She grinned and leaned back on the couch getting comfortable. “I might have to invest in some of those myself. But… Why are you concerned? Your brother’s in charge now, not your father. I’d think that would make you feel safer.” Valentina fidgeted with her necklace. “The twins assured me Alessandro isn’t like our fathers. Were they wrong?”

Her eyes held so much vulnerability when she looked up at me that I almost forgot all the shit between us. “They’re not wrong. Sandro is a good man. But he just took over the family. We all know that there are bumps in the road when power changes hands. It will take him a little time to make sure all the guys that were uber loyal to my father are just as loyal to him.”

She nodded and looked back down at her hands. “Makes sense.” We sat in silence for a bit before she finally sighed and got to it. “I don’t think I can do this. I mean, I always knew I’d have to marry whoever my father chose for me, and from what L swears, Sandro will be a good husband. It’s probably more than I could have asked for. But now that it’s reality,” her eyes met mine and I saw tears pooling there, “I’m fucking terrified. How do you make it look so easy?”

I bit my tongue to keep the bitchy remark inside. “Our situations are fairly different because I’ve known I’d marry Tuck since I was nine. I’ve spent the last three years living in Crestwood getting to fall in love with him. I’ve seen the side of him others don’t get to see. But all you know of my brother is the asshole he was to you, and the image he shows the world. And honestly, it’s probably going to be hard to get to know him because he’s in a shitty spot right now, having to make sure all his men stay loyal and no other family decides to get any crazy ideas.”

She chuckled but there was no humor in it. “I’ll be expected to fuck him on the wedding night and probably every night after until I’m pregnant. How am I supposed to do that with someone I don’t even know?”

“At least he won’t demand that your consummation be witnessed.” Her wide eyes snapped back to mine. “Yeah. My father wanted it witnessed. Even demanded verification that he came inside me.”

“Holy fuck. He really was a sick son of a bitch.”

I chuckled. “Yeah. I don’t know that anyone is really sad he’s gone. Well, except for his lackeys that benefited from his ways.”

“I’m not a virgin.” She let out a deep breath like that secret had been weighing her down.

“Does anyone else know that?”

She shook her head. Telling me that was a dangerous move for her. If I outed her secret, her entire world would come crumbling down. My brother could reject the contract, and her father wouldn’t be able to find a better one. It could lead to her being married off to one of her father’s sickest men as punishment for taking away her precious hymen.

Men seriously pissed me the fuck off sometimes.

It was that thought that made me decide to drop this hatred I had for her, and instead of ruining her life, I was going to make an ally.

“Everyone thinks I might be pregnant since my father was demanding an heir and Tuck had to cum in me in front of people on our wedding night. But I took a Plan B pill on the way to our honeymoon and he’s been using condoms since.” When her eyes connected with mine, I shrugged. “We’re about to be sisters. You’re going to be a Vitale. That means we have each other's backs.”

A small smile crossed her face as a tear dripped down her face. “How do I pass a hymen check?”

“I’ll talk to my brother.” Her eyes widened and I put up a hand to stop her freak out. “I won’t give away your secret. I’ll just find a way to make him see that requiring that is stupid as fuck.”

Valentina’s head dropped into her hands. “There won’t be virginal blood on the sheets for the next morning.”

I laughed. Like, deep belly laugh. Long enough that she looked at me like I was crazy. “Honey, they don’t know where the blood comes from. Either one of you can bleed on the sheet so the old school assholes get what they want. And Sandro will cover for you.”

“Won’t he be mad if he doesn’t know ahead of time and finds out that night?”

I shrugged. “Maybe. But by that point, what choice does he have? Call it out for everyone to know? No, that would make him look bad. People would think he was naive for not requiring the hymen check, and they’d say he was a fool and had been tricked. So he’ll go to his grave swearing his dick was red with your blood. However, I think that even if you tell him, he’ll still go forward with the contract.”

He needed a wife that would bring him a strong alliance. If that wasn’t the case, he wouldn’t be getting married right now, and certainly not to Valentina. This arrangement was purely political.

There was a soft knock on the door, then Tucker came in. “Sorry. I didn’t want to interrupt but Sandro wants to meet in his office.” His eyes flicked to Valentina, then back to me. “All four of us.”