Page 129 of Forced Vows

Alarmed, I ask, "What did you do?"

"Yeah, what did you do, Aleks ?" Traci asks with relish.

Aleks shrugs. "He'll think twice about messing with one of us. That's all I'm saying."

"He's in my Stage Management and Direction class. Which he sucks at." Goodwin looks around the table, like she can't find something and I put the extra bottle of water I bought in front of her.

She smiles. "Thanks. Anyway, Boaz left in the middle of class, moaning and clutching his stomach. I thought he ate something bad for breakfast."

"Oh, you put an emetic in his protein smoothie, didn't you?" Traci grins.

Boaz works out at the same time as Aleks on Tuesday and Thursdays. He's always trying to beat Aleks's reps, but yeah, good luck with that. Aleks is a beast.

"He made Rosy miss a day of classes. Only fair he missed one too."

I've got great friends. Knowing they'll do their senior year without me makes me want to cry.

"You guys, promise we'll always be friends , no matter where we end up," I say impulsively.

"Promise, " Traci says.

Aleks nods once . "'Course ."

"You bet." Carrie says.

Goodwin salutes me with her bottle of water. "Always."

Can underboss's wives have friends in the theater?

This one will, I promise myself.

Chapter 42: RÓISE

I don't bother to knock on Uncle Brogan's office door this time. I'm a little surprised when the knob turns easily in my hand.

That should mean he's not in a meeting at least. Well, not a meeting in person anyway. He's on the phone when I come in.

Looking up Uncle Brogan glares when he sees me. The look I give him back is not friendly.

I'm so done with being treated like what I want doesn't matter. He made a promise to me and he's going to keep it.

I am not quitting school to marry Miceli. I don't care if I use my degree, or not. I am getting it. This is my last connection with my parents, with the life they wanted for me.

They put the money in that account for my education, ensuring I got full, legal access when I turned eighteen. Uncle Brogan is not a trustee on the account. No one related to the mob is.

Along with the money, mom and dad left a letter telling me to get the education I wanted and to pursue my dreams. Whatever they were. A letter they wrote together before my mom died when I was ten.

Marrying a mafia underboss isn't my dream, but getting my degree is.

That marriage might put my other dreams out of reach, but not this one. Not unless I let it. And I won't.

Uncle Brogan puts his phone down on his desk. "In busy Róise. If you need to talk to me, I'll see you at dinner."

"This won't take long."

He makes an impatient gesture with his hand. "Go on, then."

"I'm not getting married in September."

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