Page 118 of Forced Vows

"It's not false. My middle name is Aisling." And if they'd done a rudimentary background check on me, instead of accepting the transcripts from my high school and test scores with that name on them, they'd know that.

But that's what I counted on when I enrolled. After what happened in middle school, my dad had falsified records and bribed school administrators to enroll me in high school under the name Róise Aisling.

Uncle Brogan wouldn't have done it for me for college though, so I was glad I already had the supporting documentation for my application three years ago. I even used my school I.D. for the picture identification required for the file.

Only, just like middle school, my real identity has come to light, and I don't have my dad here to help smooth it away.

Miceli De Luca is already causing big, unpleasant changes in my life and we're not even married yet.

Chapter 38: MICELI

Monday

Sev texts and tells me to meet him in his office at home before dinner.

I'm in one of the visitor chairs, sipping on a scotch when he comes in. Late, his hair tousled, and not wearing a tie, he looks like he just rolled out of bed and threw a suit on.

He probably did.

The man is addicted to his wife.

"You might want to comb your hair before dinner, or mamma will comment."

Sev pivots toward the attached bathroom. "Pour me one of those. I'll be right back."

He comes out looking more put together, hair combed, tie in place. "There's a lot going on right now, but Catalina needs my time too."

"Sure," I agree without any conviction.

Sev shakes his head. "Talk to me again after you marry that feisty Irish rose."

Róise is back to ignoring my calls and texts.

"I don't think there's any risk of her needing my time after we're married." She'd rather pretend I don't exist at all.

"That's going to have to happen this summer instead of next."

My brows furrow. "Why?"

As underboss with every intention of training my future nephew to take over my role someday, when I marry doesn't matter.

Maybe he wants to use the wedding as a chance to shore up support with the other dons.

"Because when I become godfather, I'm stepping down as Don of the Genovese."

His words kick the air out of my lungs and I stare at him in shock for long seconds of silence. "But…"

"The godfather being the don of a family divides his time and loyalty. Don Caruso's waste of space nephew wouldn't be a capo if another Lucchese ran that Family."

"Much less in line to be the next don," I agree with disgust.

Sev's expression shows the same feeling. "He's putting bloodlines ahead of what's best for the mafia."

"Are you saying you'll do different?" I know that's how we were raised, but Sev is not our father.

"I won't have to," Sev says with firm conviction. "You being the next don is good for the Genovese and the Cosa Nostra."

"I'm the underboss. I was raised to wage war, not lead."

---