Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 89772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
There we go with my name again.
I didn’t reply, conscious of our dynamic. Particularly in his office.
Speak when asked to.
“You are allowed in here for one reason and one reason only. I’m going to inform you of what is going to happen and when it’s going to occur. There will be no room for argument or discussion on what I am about to tell you. This is not negotiable. It’s been decided on your behalf and that is the end of it. Do you understand me?”
I don’t know how it was possible, but my heart sped up. Digging my nails into the palms of my hands under the table, I desperately tried keeping my emotions in check and willed myself to not pass out. The room was spinning, closing in on me, inch-by-inch.
“Yes.”
“You know I love you, and I would never put you in a situation you can’t handle or in danger. Am I making myself clear?”
“Yes.”
“Sienna Contessa Luciano, you’re my daughter. My only child, my flesh and blood. You will represent our family and do the right thing. Not only does this affect your life and mine, it affects everyone in this room.”
I swallowed hard, digging my nails deeper into my flesh.
“You know who these men are. You know what happened in our home two months ago. Because of our life, we have to make sure we’re stronger now than ever before. We will see this through. What we need is a united front to make sure this never happens again. Not to the Martinez family, ours, or any other men in this room. We all agree that this is what’s best for La Famiglia, Sienna. It’s not personal, it’s business.”
“Si,” the five families announced in unity.
“Your life is at stake and that is something I don’t take lightly,” Papà exclaimed.
I wanted to throw up.
I needed to fucking hurl.
I swear with every bone in my body I knew what he was going to say next.
“Sienna, stand up.”
I couldn’t find the words to express anything other than the turmoil running wild through every fiber of my being.
I. Was. Fuming.
In a dominant tone, I countered, “No.”
Papà didn’t falter, he slammed his fist down on the table, causing me to jolt.
“Do not defy me! I’m your father first, this isn’t a choice. It’s an order. Now, stand up.”
My eyes rimmed with tears, there was no holding it in or hiding it from him. From any of them. I didn’t care we weren’t alone, and I was showing weakness to a room full of men who’d take a bullet to the heart before they ever showed any emotions.
“Please,” I replied with trembling lips. “Don’t do this.”
“Sienna, I won’t ask you again.”
I wore the tears that slid down the sides of my face like a badge of honor, as I stood.
With pride.
No one could take them away from me. Not even El Capo.
“Come here.”
“I’m begging you…please, Papà.”
With one look, he hammered the final nail into my coffin. Begrudgingly, I made my way over to him until I was standing beside him and the man sitting to his right. When my father grabbed my hand, I closed my eyes.
He reasoned, “I do this because I love you, you won’t understand now, but one day you will.’
The second I felt El Capo place my hand into the hands of the mafioso I despised the most, there was no going back from this. I’d never forgive Papà.
Ever.
Resisting the urge to scream and run, I held my ground.
“Sienna, open your eyes,” he once again ordered in a tone I couldn’t disregard.
I did, displaying as much hate as I could muster with my seething glare toward the son of a bitch now standing in front of me. When I saw the diamond ring the asshole was sliding on my finger, I bit my tongue until I tasted blood.
It was my mother’s engagement ring.
This motherfucker.
Once it was on my finger, he lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it. Allowing his mouth to linger for far too long before he leaned in whispering in my ear, “Till death do us part. You’re mine now, princesa.”
Abruptly, I shoved him, hard.
He grinned.
Bastard.
“Sienna! That is no way to treat your fiancé. Apologize.”
“Capo, I don’t need an apology.” The son of a bitch had the balls to eye me up and down with predatory regard. “I enjoy her feistiness.”
“Leave it for the wedding night. Until then my daughter is mine.”
Mine.
Like I was just someone’s property and not a real person with wants and needs.
I couldn’t help myself, I spewed in a hateful voice, “You loved Mamà. You always said you wanted that for me. You promised I’d experience the love you had with her, you swore I’d marry for love and not an arrangement.”
“You love me, princesa. You just don’t know it yet.”
“I. Hate. You.”