Page 13 of Tammaro DeLuca

“Your father is being blackmailed.” Jeremy responded.

“What?” I looked at the papers in front of me and they were all about properties in Italy.

“He’s right, princess. Right now, there’s only one solution. Before you protest and start looking for other solutions, understand that we’ve been trying for almost a week. Now, I’m out of time and I need you to do this for me today.”

“Anything.” I knew that the reason that my father looked so nervous was that he was guilty of whatever they were hanging over his head. I also knew he wouldn’t tell me that part. He was too damn prideful to allow me to know his weakness. He would rather give this person–this blackmailer whatever they wanted than to fess up to whatever he’s done.

“Sign all the documents that Jeremy is going to give you. Don’t ask questions for once, just do it.”

“I can’t do that. Until you explain what’s happening, I’m not signing anything.”

“It’s not that simple.” He sighed. “I’ve done nothing illegal. What you’re signing is for your protection so that you’re not caught in the crossfire.”

I reached for whatever Jeremy was giving me to sign. When I opened it and saw the words Marriage Decree, I knew this was about to be a shit show.

“Nothing illegal, huh? Because you want me to sign this without knowing who the guy is? You also want me to marry some stranger to protect your ass!” I shouted.

“No! It’s not for me. It’s for your mother!” He exclaimed.

I drew back as if he’d smacked me in the face. “Mom? What does she have to do with all this?”

“Nothing and everything.” He massaged his temples, right beneath the palest of the gray hair that was on his head.

“I have a plan.” Jeremy chimed in. “I need to have you sign that first, or legally you’ll have information that you'll have to report.”

“I can report it, anyway. When I sign, this document isn’t valid until he does and then the courts approve it.”

“Look again.” Jeremy pointed to the judge's approved seal.

“How is this possible?” I looked at the document.

“Sign it.” He pushed it my way. “Don’t ask for me to tell you anything until after you’ve signed it.”

I looked at my father, still wondering what he’d done.

He was busy staring out the window. It wasn’t pride that I was looking at on his face. It was shame.

“I want answers.” I said to them both.

“Sign the damn papers, Yolanda.” Jeremy swore. “Time is ticking, and it’s not on our side.”

I flipped through them all and signed the dotted lines. The only one I stopped to read was the last page that discussed a prenuptial. He wouldn’t get anything from me if we divorced. When … when we divorced. I’d also agreed to stay married to him for five years. At the end of the term, if I wanted to go free, I could. No penalties to my father or my family. The agreement for all parties to remain neutral remained in effect.

I snickered. I was making a deal with the devil, and I wasn’t talking about whoever the stranger was. Whatever scandal my father was wrapped up in was good, and I thought it was better that I didn’t know what was happening.

“I won’t move in with him. We can be married in name, but I refuse to play more into this game between the two of you.” I spit in disgust. “And you’re bringing my mother and daughter into it? Understand that the only reason that I signed was for Mama’s safety. I can see the fear rolling off you two in waves. Whoever he is, I’m not afraid of him or whatever he can do.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. You should be afraid of him and the rest of his family.” Jeremy tossed the folder in front of me and retrieved all the marriage documents. He walked out of the room and I heard the elevator ping.

“Where’s he going?” I asked.

“To finish that.” He poured himself a drink. Brandy, I believe, is what was in the crystal bottle.

“Finish what?”

“We need to get the other set of signatures and get it in the right hands before five o’clock.”

“On a Saturday?” I asked. “Dad, what kind of stuff do you have us caught up in?” I prodded.

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