Page 4 of Now and Forever

“Soon. The date isn’t set. Jorge wants to speak to you during the party tonight, in private. He expects to hear you verbalize your acceptance and appreciation of his offer.”

Offer.

This wasn’t an offer. An offer was followed by an honest response. Patron didn’t want my honest response.

As a sour taste filled my mouth, Papá went on, “Your mother and I wanted you to be prepared for Patron’s visit.” He stood taller, squared his shoulders, and changed his tone to the one I’d heard him use with his soldiers. “Catalina, this is your opportunity to make us proud. You will accept as the polite and respectable woman you are.”

Proud. I thought they were proud of my hard work completing my degree.

The art galleries.

My knees weakened as I felt the goals I’d worked to accomplish slipping away.

“Catalina?”

“What else do you know about Dario?” I asked.

Dario Luciano.

“He comes from a strong and wealthy family. He’s first in line for capo of Kansas City.”

“Is he kind?” I didn’t know if the stories I’d heard about Mafia men—made men—were true. From experience, I knew my father and uncle were known for their cruelty, yet they had been good and fair to me, my siblings, and my cousins. Beneath their exteriors there were hearts. And then there were people like Patron. If he had a heart, it was black as coal.

Papá sighed. “I won’t lie to you, Cat. According to Jorge, Dario became a made man at thirteen.”

My nose scrunched. “What did he have to do to be a made man?”

“Kill. It’s what is done to show strength. “

“Dario killed someone when he was thirteen?”

“Slit his throat. The man was a rat, a traitor. Vincent demanded Dario do the deed in front of other made men, to show his son’s strength. Dario has had the nicknameThe Bladesince he was a teenager.”

The Blade.

“You want me to marry a murderer, one I’ve never met?”

Papá shook his head. “This isn’t up for debate. Jorge made the deal. I spoke with Vincent and accepted the offer. I expect you to have a better attitude when you speak with Patron.”

“Is there any way out of this?”

“Don’t speak of a way out. Tonight, we’ll learn more from Patron. His wife, Josefina, and their sons, Aléjandro and Reinaldo, will also be here tonight.”

My teeth gritted together. I’d known Aléjandro and Reinaldo for most of my life. The oldest, five years older than I, made my skin crawl. While Emiliano had to get along with Aléjandro, I didn’t. In my opinion, the man was an arrogant ass who used his daddy’s name to prove his power. Oh yes, he’d probably also murdered.

I didn’t need to look too far in this organization to find blood. It was on everyone’s hands. I just never imagined it being on my husband’s.

Pápa looked me up and down. “You’re beautiful, Cat. Go and change for your party. Dario wants a woman, not a child. Your mother has a new dress for you, one that a woman would wear.”

“Will Dario be here?”

“No, but you will show Jorge you’ve become a woman.”

The thought made my stomach turn. “You’re dressing me up like a whore from one of your clubs to impress Patron?”

Papá’s jaw clenched, and his palm contacted my cheek. “That’s enough.”

I lifted my fingertips to my cheek, more shocked than physically hurt.

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