Page 12 of His Cursed Heart

“Be careful, uccellino. You’ll be my wife in just three weeks.” He moves closer until between us are mere inches. He opens his jacket and takes a matte black box out of it.

And I know perfectly what’s in there.

“Was that a threat, Keaton? Do I need to show you how much I’ve changed?” I raise my left hand trying to let people think that we’re having a nice chat.

He smirks and opens the box, showing probably the most beautiful ring I have ever seen in my entire life. A pear-shaped ring with a stunning black diamond that is wrapped in tiny pearls, and underneath is formed a half circle with the same black diamonds.

It is breathtaking.

After he puts the ring on my finger, I catch his hand in mine and bring his face near mine, whispering slowly.

“And if you’re calling me uccellino one more time, I’ll bathe in your blood until it stains my skin.” Keaton straightens his posture and he pulls his hand from mine only to wrap it around my waist. The gesture takes me off guard and I feel how my skin is burning.

“If I can have everyone’s attention, please.” He says loud in the hall. People are looking at us with wide eyes and at the hand that is wrapped around me like a snake.

He takes my left hand in his big one and shows everyone the diamond that is too heavy for my finger.

“This marks the new role of the Italian princess. In three weeks, Althea Seraphina Luciano will become my wife and above all, your queen. If I catch one of you disrespecting her, I'm going to rip off your skin and show it all over Chicago."

“What do you think you’re doing?” I hiss.

“ I’m claiming you, Little Fox.”

“Those things will kill you someday.” I laugh when I hear my mom’s disappointed voice. I let the smoke out of my mouth and turn to her.

My mother is a beautiful woman. The long brown hair makes her look younger than she is, the green eyes, that I inhered, are looking at her loved ones with so much love that it’s impossible not to like her, and a body that can make women jealous.

“Those ‘shits’ calm me down in situations like this, Mom.” I put out the cigarette on the edge of a sculpture in the shape of a snake, not caring if Hannibal sees.

Why the fuck he has a snake statue in a random bedroom, I have no idea.

I open my arms when I see the sad tears in my mother's eyes. I can have ten bullets in me and that won't make me give in, but seeing my mother upset is my weakness.

“What’s wrong, ma?” I try to calm her as I am hugging her.

“Are you happy?”

“What?”

“Are you happy, Everette?” I almost flinch when I hear my other name. Not many people call me that. Only Mom and Keres, that one time. “Are you truly happy with marrying Althea? You know I always wanted you and your sister to marry the ones you want.” Her voice is almost a whisper. “I know you never loved Keres, but you wanted her for a reason, and she really didn’t deserved death.”

“Mom, what are you talking about? It’s my duty as the future Boss to have a wife.”

“Don’t you dare lie to me. I can call off this wedding right now if you want. God, I’ll kill your father for putting you in an arranged marriage.”

Now she is angry. Amazing.

“Everything will be fine.” I don’t know if I’m trying to convince mom or me.

She puts her hands on my face, letting out a sign. She caresses my cheeks in a way only a mother can, and she straightens her back and walks out the room.

“Stop hiding like a coward, son. You need to face her.” Fuck, if someone would’ve called me like that, I would’ve killed them before finishing the sentence.

But I am indeed hiding from her. The last time I saw her was three years ago when she looked in her sister’s eyes and said that she hates her for leaving her alone in Italy. I honestly don’t know how I’ll react when I’ll see her again.

Disappointed because she let her sister down in the worst way possible?

Angry because she made Keres cry daily?

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