Page 7 of Now and Forever

He smirked. “Not what I was talking about. Besides, it’s not like that piece of paper will do you any good.”

Anger simmered in my chest as I made my faux smile grow. “At least I have it.” Aléjandro, like my brother Em, began his continued education at a young age and never in school after graduating high school.

He lowered his voice. “I’ve met Dario a few times.” Aléjandro lifted his eyebrows. “Your degree will be the furthest thing from his mind.”

Pressing my lips together, I forced myself to stay silent.

He shrugged. “I get that you might be nervous. I’d be happy to test out the merchandise for your future husband. He’s older, and I could teach you things he’d like.”

The taste of copper flowed over my tongue as I bit my lip. Before I could respond, my brother Em arrived at my other side.

“Jano,” Em said, puffing his chest and pulling his shoulders back. “Welcome to our home.”

“Em,” Aléjandro said with a nod. “I was just talking to Cat about her future husband.”

Em replied, “I didn’t know you and Dario Luciano were that intimately knowledgeable of one another.”

I choked on the sip of champagne I had in my mouth.

“I’m sure my father would appreciate your sense of humor,” Aléjandro said, leaning into my brother.

“I’m not sure. How does Patron feel about his son scaring the woman who is about to help the cartel with her sacrifice?” Em reached for my elbow. “They want you upstairs.”

I nodded my goodbye to Aléjandro. As Em and I entered the living room, I whispered. “I know I hate him. I thought the two of you got along.”

“We do.”

I scoffed. “That conversation didn’t seem like it.”

“My sister comes before friendships.” Em led me to a side hallway leading back to the kitchen, away from guests. “How are you?”

“That’s definitely the question of the day.”

“You should know, your wedding has been in the planning stages for about six months.”

My stomach dropped. “And no one told me?”

My brother’s eyebrows knitted together. “Mama wanted you to enjoy university. She pushed for them to wait until you were finished before you were told. Patron and that famiglia scum wouldn’t budge. Dario wants you.”

Exhaling, I closed my eyes and opened them. “Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“Mama forbade it.”

We both knew that never stopped Em.

He forced a smile. “It wouldn’t have done any good. The decision was Papá’s. Mama did the best she could, and fuck, Cat, the only person I can disagree with is Papá but only when we’re alone. I wanted you to know—before you went upstairs—that this wasn’t some whim. There’s no stopping this.”

I inhaled. “Have you met Dario?”

Em shook his head. “No, but that will change in two weeks. I heard Patron tell Papá the Lucianos will be here two Saturdays from now. Dario wants to meet you and present you with your engagement ring.”

“Two weeks,” I repeated disbelievingly, realizing that would be close to Christmas.

“I wish I had more power. I’d stop this.”

I reached for my brother’s hand. “Don’t tell me that. Papá would say you’re being weak.”

“I’m not weak.” His nostrils flared. “I’m your brother, and if I had my way, you’d be free of this world, not baptized in the blood spilled by the fucking famiglia.”

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