Page 51 of Twisted Fate

I feel a little sorry for Sabina while at the same time I am so grateful that he is turning his glower on someone other than me.

“That’s right. I’m incredibly happy and I just wanted to share this amazing news with you all.”

Clearly, this isn’t amazing news for all present. And while I’ve only just met Sabina and don’t pretend to know her, she doesn’t actually sound incredibly happy. I glance at Nicole. She’s frowning and chewing her lower lip.

Leo narrows his eyes. “He asked you without consulting me? Without speaking to the head of the family first?”

“He spoke with Papa at Christmas. He was just waiting for the right time to ask me.” Sabina stares her brothers down, clearly unfazed by their less than enthusiastic reaction to her news.

Damian and Leo exchange a look. Leo offers the barest hint of a nod to his brother.

“Not going to happen,” Damian says. “You’ll marry this guy over my dead fucking body.”

“What?” Sabina’s voice turns sharp, those glacial blue eyes sliding from Damian to Leo.

“I don’t know this guy. He could be anyone,” Damian says.

“He’s not anyone. He’s the man I am going to marry.”

I wonder at her choice of words. ‘The man I am going to marry,’ not ‘the man I love.’ Maybe I’m being nitpicky, but it seems like there is a world of difference between the two.

Leo scoffs. “Some random college student? Who is he? Who’s his family?”

“What difference does his family make?” Sabina asks.

“You know it makes a fucking difference, Sabina,” Damian says. “A big fucking difference.”

Fire enters Sabina’s ice-blue eyes. “Fuck you, Damiano. And that goes double for you, Leonardo.”

I feel sorry for her. I’ve only ever had to contend with one brother, who has always been mostly a fuck-up, too busy trying to manage his own shit to be particularly interested in mine. I can’t imagine having to contend with two controlling assholes like Leo and Damian. I wonder if the other two brothers are just as bad.

Sabina glares first at one brother, then the other. “The thing is, I’m not asking you for your permission. Papa already gave his. I’m letting you know. I’m sharing my good news with my family because I want you to be with me on my wedding day. I want you to accept Roberto into the family.”

“I already have someone I’ve chosen for you,” Leo says, his voice low and lethal. “Someone who’ll be a far more useful match.”

“You’ve chosen for me?” Sabina asks, her voice equally low and lethal.

Leo cocks his head. “Damian and I have already discussed it at length. Cass and Dante are in agreement. It’s done.”

“This is the twenty-first century. You’re seriously talking about an arranged marriage?” Sabina makes a dismissive wave.

“It’s the perfect match,” Leo says. “Right, Damian?”

“The perfect one,” Damian agrees. “And it’s your duty as the daughter of the late Salvatore Russo to agree to this.”

“And who is this paragon, this perfect match?” Sabina asks, almost sounding bored, as if the answer doesn’t really matter to her.

“Nikolai Ivanov,” Damian says.

Sabina’s eyes widen.

“Oh, hell no,” she sputters. “Not in a million fucking years would I ever have anything to do with that loathsome piece of shit.”

“You’ll marry him next month,” Leo says firmly. “You’ll be a beautiful, and obedient bride to him.”

“Very obedient,” Damian agrees.

“Obedient? I’ll throw myself off a building first. I’ll jump overboard. I’ll...” Sabina blinks. Her eyes narrow. “Wait. You’re fucking with me. You’re fucking with me, aren’t you?”

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