Page 15 of Heartless Union

The tears hit me before I can stop them. “Nothing will stop the pain I’ll feel when you die.”

“Oh, my Lara.” He pulls me into his arms. “I know. You’ve already lost your mom, and now, you’re losing me. I know it won’t be easy, but I want you to have support. Rocco can provide that for you.”

Can he? Rocco seems like the kind of man who’d rather not talk about anything. He didn’t bother to ask me any questions other than my age. Granted, I didn’t really ask him anything either.

“Just promise me you’ll stay for as long as possible,” I whisper into my dad’s neck.

He squeezes me tighter. “I promise. I’ll fight until my last breath.”

I sit back, wiping my tears away. “Rocco did ask me something interesting. He asked me if you’re a loyal man.”

“He probably asked because he wants to know about the family he’s marrying into. Nothing wrong with that.”

“I guess. It just seemed like a strange question.”

Dad smiles softly. “I know you’re nervous. This is a big thing I’m asking of you. To marry a man for protection rather than love. But you need to trust him. Leonardo is a successful business man and so is Rocco. You’ll be safe within their family.”

“I trust you,” I say. “But I’ll try to learn with Rocco.”

“And that’s all I can ask.”

How am I going to do this? I’m naturally shy, but I don’t want Rocco to walk all over me. Something in my gut tells me he would so easily do that. How can I stand up for myself when I need to be a docile wife to my husband?

And how am I going to be all right without my father’s unconditional love when I’m marrying a man who doesn’t even know me, let alone love me?

“We should go out and have some fun,” Ashley says, linking her arm through mine. We’re taking a walk in Central Park. The crisp air helps me not feel as nervous. It reminds me to breathe.

“We are out and having fun.”

She gives me a look. “Not taking a walk kind of fun. I’m talking about going to a nightclub.”

I almost stop walking over the shock I feel at Ashley’s comment. “A nightclub? You know I hate those kinds of places. They’re loud and smelly and full of people. I’d rather stay home and read.”

Ashley rolls her eyes. “I know you would. And I respect that. But we’ve been friends for years, and in that time, you’ve never gone out with me for a night on the town. You’re going to be married in a couple weeks. Which is crazy to me. But you’ve made up your mind, and that’s what you’re doing, so I’ll respect it. But you should have a night of pure fun before you’re married.”

“And do what?” I step out of the way to let an older couple pass by.

“Uh, get drunk.”

I nudge her. “I don’t drink. I’m not about to get drunk.”

“Ok, fine. Then flirt with boys. How about that?”

“I’m engaged, Ash. I can’t be flirting with other men.”

She squeezes my arm. “Come on. Of course, you can. You have an arranged marriage. There’s no love there. It’s not like you’re cheating on him. Just go and flirt. Get your first kiss with some hot guy.”

“I should have my first kiss with my husband,” I say.

Ashley groans as we sit down on a bench. “You’re too pure. It’s probably better you experience all your firsts with some other man than your future husband. That way, you have something to compare it to.”

“But what if I don’t want something to compare it to?”

“Then you’re weird.”

I smile, shaking my head. “Maybe you’re the weird one.”

“Maybe. But, Lara, you should experience life before you’re bound to a guy forever. A guy you don’t know anything about. He could be a controlling abusive asshole for all you know.”

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