Page 126 of Forced Vows

Nevertheless, until I know what they are and if improvements need to be made, Allessio is going to have to increase his team. There will be no time my fiancée is not guarded by my people, whether she is at home, or not.

"We will be getting married in September."

"That will make mamo happy. More than a year is plenty of time to plan a wedding. Even a traditional Irish one." The words are agreeable, but Róise's face is wearing the same troubled expression as when I arrived.

Her assessment shows a naivete toward wedding planning I have no intention of dispelling. She's still struggling with our upcoming marriage.

But mamma took two years to plan Giulia's wedding and lamented only having three months for Severu's more than once.

Even so, Maeve doesn't have the year her granddaughter believes she does. "Four months, but my mother will help with the planning."

"No. That's not right! The contract says June 30th of next year. I thought you were generously giving me an extra couple of months not trying to take away the little time of freedom I have left."

"It says no later than June 30th, but there is no language stating the wedding can't happen earlier."

Her glower would make a godfather proud. "Except your bride refusing to show up."

"This is necessary, Róise. We would not be pushing the date forward if it were not."

"But the engagement is enough." Her gaze fills with appeal, like she can't imagine anything worse than moving our wedding forward. "Once it's announced, everyone will know our alliance is familial."

"Engagements are broken all the time," I dismiss.

"And marriages end in divorce."

"Not as often in our world and no one outside the five of us know about that clause in our contract."

Not that she'll be exercising it. Dons do not divorce.

Not that I would ever have let my Aphrodite go as an underboss either.

But as a don? It is unthinkable.

She's lying to herself if she doesn't acknowledge that.

Chapter 41: RÓISE

Tuesday

"Just to be clear, Dean Howell, you are saying it's okay for me to attend classes tomorrow?" I ask after his stammering apology over the phone.

"Yes! Yes. Definitely."

Okay, that's definite.

"What changed your mind?" I ask suspiciously.

"I didn't change my mind." Gaslighting, it's not just for politicians anymore. "I wanted to ensure your safety on campus."

Yeah, so not what he said yesterday. "And now you're sure I'm safe?"

"Yes, of course."

"What exactly is going to ensure it?" I push, not ready to let it go.

"Well...um...your security detail..."

"Has been with me for weeks."

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