Page 23 of Forced Vows

I ignore him, staring Miceli De Luca down.

"I'm not trying to buy my children." His anger is rising to match mine.

And I like it.

I want to get under his skin. Make him mad. Make him feel even a tiny drop of the helplessness I do.

"That document says you are." I nod toward the offending papers. "If you mean what you say, then change it. Take out the settlement entirely. I don't care, but if we divorce, we share custody."

"I'm not removing the clause about adultery."

"Fine…" I pause.

He looks triumphant.

"But it has to be reciprocal. If you take a lover outside our marriage, I get full custody."

"Agreed."

The instant capitulation stuns me.

"De Luca men don't cheat," the don explains.

I cross my arms and glare at the most powerful Cosa Nostra leader in New York. "Neither do Shaughnessy women."

"Good to know."

"You cannot move out of New York," Big Sal says firmly. "It would be too hard on the children."

In other words, even if I do divorce Miceli De Luca, going to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career is out. There's plenty of live theaters here in New York, though.

It's not my dream, but it's something to hope for. In the future.

Give Miceli a child, divorce him and my life is my own again.

It's a better future than I thought I could have walking into this office.

"If you file for divorce before our youngest child is six, the custody arrangements remain as stated."

"What? Why?"

"Because we owe our children a home and you can't make a home when you have one foot out the door."

He keeps saying children. Plural.

"What if you file for divorce before then?"

"I won't be filing for divorce. I keep my promises."

Implying I don't? "Even those made under duress?" I taunt.

"I will keep every promise I make to you."

I have to look away from his intent gaze. "I still want the agreement to be reciprocating."

"Agreed."

He really believes he won't divorce me. Will I divorce him? I don't know, but I do know that I need this out.

---