Page 9 of Consort of the Crime Queen

"Well, well," he sneers, looking me up and down. "Doesn't this room suit you nicely? Fit for a princess. Or should I say, a mafia whore."

I bite my tongue to restrain the torrent of vitriol I'd love to unleash. Antagonizing him will not help me now, nor showing him the power I've built up within myself since the last time he saw me.

He grabs me roughly. "You've made a goddamn mess of things, girl. I ought to give you the beating you deserve."

I wrench my face from his grasp.

"Enough, Jimmy." My mother's soft voice slices through the tension. "She's been through so much already."

He rounds on her. "You stay out of this, woman. It's none of your concern." Dismissing her, he turns back to me. "Well, despite trying your best to ruin my deal with the Imperiolis, I'm going to make this right." His smile chills my blood. "Let's get Don Imperioli and Nero in here. We'll have a priest perform the ceremony immediately. No more games."

My chest constricts. "Nero is here?"

"Of course. I told him the news right away. He's here to make you his wife. Today."

"I want a proper wedding." My voice comes out steady, betraying none of the panic roiling inside. "In a church, before God."

He scoffs. "Are you clinging to some childish notions of romance? There's no time for that."

I see my opening. "If you care nothing for what I want, at least consider Mama." I turn to her. "Surely you wish to see your only daughter wed formally? To have that memory?"

She can see I have something planned, and she nods at once. Her eyes glisten with tears as she takes my hand. "All I've ever wanted was for you to be happy, safe and loved." Her voice breaks over the words.

My father's scornful laugh interrupts us. "Still a naive little fool. This isn't about your happiness, girl. It never has been." He moves towards the door. "I'll go tell the Don we're finishing this business now."

As his footsteps recede, I clutch Mother's hand urgently. "Listen, you need to help me. You must get word to Hadria. Tell her I?—"

Loud noises echoing down the hallway outside stop me short. Nero's voice rings out. "Where's my bride, Papa? I've come to claim what's mine."

I feel sick to the stomach. My first reaction is to bolt back to the bathroom and lock myself in. But I have to be strong.

Mama leans in, whispering, "Your father told Nero as soon as he heard."

Don Imperioli won't be happy with my father, that much is certain. And now I've lost all that time I hoped to bargain for, time for Hadria to come for me.

Unless...

The murmur of raised voices drifts up from below. Time is running out. Gripping my mother's wrist tightly, I force her to meet my gaze. "The wedding must be delayed. Insist on the full ceremony, in a church. Tell the Don it's only proper. You need to convince him."

Her brows knit in confusion. "But how can I?—"

"The Don doesn't trust either of his children's intentions. And he never wanted me to marry his son in the first place—play on that."

"I'll do what I can."

I feel a rush of gratitude, even as doubt wars within me. Can I truly rely on Mama, of all people, to outmaneuver them? She's always been so meek, bowing before my father's wishes.

Taking my hands, her eyes glisten with remorseful tears. "I should have protected you from all of this. Can you ever forgive me?"

"The past is done," I say impatiently. Doesn't she realize we don't have time for this? But I gentle my tone as I take in the expression on her face. Perhaps regret will make her bold. I squeeze her hands, drop my voice. "I need you to be strong, Mama. Like never before."

For perhaps the first time in my life, I see her eyes turn resolute, and she gives a nod. "Come on," she says, leading me by the hand out of the bedroom—out of another prison cell.

We travel the hallway and descend the grand staircase, and I try to memorize the layout of the house as we go, just in case. Don Imperioli stands between my father and Nero, who are exchanging venomous words in an undertone. Nero's face is twisted in a scowl. But at my approach they look up, and Nero's demeanor shifts, eyes traveling over me possessively and making my skin crawl.

"There's my beautiful bride. I've waited long enough to make you mine." His entitled words curdle my stomach.

Stepping forward, chin raised, I meet his brazen stare—and say nothing.

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