Page 4 of These Deadly Vows

I’ll be forced to bend at his will after tonight.

I’ll no longer be under the watchful eye of my father. I should consider myself lucky that he waited until now to force the issue.

My cousins were married off at eighteen to fulfill their duty to the family. Bearing more soldiers for the never ending war to control the streets of Chicago.

Had life unfolded differently, I’d be married off to someone in New York or Las Vegas. To secure an alliance between families. Instead, I will marry the devil I know.

I wish Carla were here, but she just had to go to Italy on spring break. I envy her. I wanted to go with her, but my father needed me here.

It’s all led to this moment.

Chapter Two

Fifteen years ago

“I’m proud of you, son. With this union comes many great things. For the organization and your place at the head of the family when the time comes.”

I nod at my father as he puffs on his cigar, proud as a fucking peacock. What he doesn’t say is I’ll be King of his empire the second he takes his last breath.

My marriage to Victoria has been arranged since I was five. The day she was born, our fathers signed a contract, brokering peace between our families. I wish her old man could be here to witness the big day, but even more so, he’d be proud to know that she carries my son. The heir to both our fortunes. He’ll be the prince of Chicago. Everyone will love him, but they will also fear him.

“You’d better wake up Santiago.” He shakes his head. Things got a little wild at my bachelor party last night. “I’ll go see if Tori is ready to make an honest man of you.”

“We both know there’s nothing honest about me.” I grin and the palm of his hand whips across the back of my head in a flash.

“You come from my loins. Don’t be disrespectful. Today is a joyous occasion.”

A dark shadow passes over the windows of the church like a bad omen. My gut tightens. A bead of perspiration forms above my top lip.

“Don’t be nervous. Tonight will be the biggest celebration Chicago has ever seen.”

“I’m not nervous.”

“Would be a fool if you weren’t. Don’t think your mother hasn’t noticed the five pounds your soon to be wife has packed on.”

I stare at my shoes and purse my lips. My mother. God love her. She still believes that Victoria is a virgin. Hell, I claimed her innocence on her sixteenth birthday. It was a struggle to hold off till then. We’ve always had chemistry. That’s why we had to push the wedding up. Victoria told me she was three months pregnant six weeks ago.

I couldn’t keep it from my father. He and his men know every move I make.

My father leaves and I slap Santiago’s cheek.

“Wake up. I’ve got a wedding to attend.”

My dearest friend in the world scowls at me, then breaks into a wide smile.

The bastard is still drunk. He pulls a vial from his pocket and sniffs before offering it to me.

If I go out there loaded, my father will be the least of my worries. Victoria will never let me hear the end of it. She wants today to be perfect, and I intend to give her the fairy tale. The wedding she’s always dreamed of.

I shake my head as the rapid sound of machine guns fills the air along with screams. My blood turns to ice as ringing sounds in my ears.

Santiago and I take off out the door as the footsteps of the guests in attendance echo through the hallway as they flee.

Armed soldiers shoot everyone in their path, but all that matters is getting to her. To my soon to be wife and our unborn child.

Santiago jerks me back into a room and presses his back to it.

“Get out of my way.”

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