Page 26 of Forced Vows

To doubt them would be a huge insult considering he vowed on his honor, or you know…the equivalent to a mafia man.

Even so, I should definitely not trust my future Cosa Nostra husband more than I do my own uncle. But I do.

"Róise," Uncle Brogan says warningly.

I look into Miceli's eyes and warn him with my own that I will do whatever I have to get back at him if he's lying to me. And then I nod. "Okay, I'll sign it."

Miceli places the sheet of paper in question in front of me.

I read each word, heat prickling along my arms and legs and up the back of my neck as the words sink in.

This is really going to happen. I am going to marry Miceli De Luca, a member of the syndicate that killed my parents. And I'm going to give him a child for the sake of peace between our crime families.

We, the undersigned, Miceli Mars De Luca…

"Your middle name is Mars?" I ask in a strangled voice.

"Our parents named him after the Roman god of war because as the second son, it is his role to wage war on behalf of our family," the don answers.

When he called himself Ares in Portland, he was giving me a sliver of truth about himself. My heart kathunks in my chest. What does that mean?

Do I even want to know?

and Róise Aisling Shaughnessy, agree on this Xth day of April in the year of 20— to join in holy matrimony to bring together the De Luca and Shaughnessy families of New York in a blood alliance, described herein.

We agree to the following terms.

This legal marriage will take place no later than the 30th of Jun in the year of 20—.

Róise will remain on birth control that does not compromise her long term reproductive capabilities, at her discretion, for the first two years after the marriage takes place.

The marriage will have issue of at least one living child.

Róise Shaughnessy will be loyal and faithful to the Genovese Family as well as the De Luca family, causing them no harm and keeping their secrets.

Miceli De Luca will be loyal and faithful to the Shaughnessy mob insofar as such loyalty does not compromise his vow to the Cosa Nostra, causing no harm and guarding their secrets.

Miceli De Luca

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