Page 64 of The Marriage Contract

“Youknew?” Salvatore says. For a moment, he doesn’t seem like a Mafia Don. He looks like what he is—a betrayed and heartbroken old man. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I knew you’d make them stop,” she sighs. “I knew you wouldn’t understand. I wanted to give them some time. We’re only here now because Dario insisted we tell you the truth.”

“Some time for what?” Salvatore says.

“To experience what we experienced—to fall in love.”

“Love,” Salvatore repeats. “They’ve known each other for a week, maybe two?”

“You told me you fell in love the moment you saw me—a beggar on the side of the road. The daughter of a prostitute, andyouknew, Salvie.”

Salvatore grits his teeth, his fingers still steepled. He’s completely repressed the vulnerable look he just showed when Maria told him the truth. “Things are different for them than for us,” Salvatore replies. “The Family was smaller back then. We were still making a name for ourselves. I had the freedom to choose someone from a lower social background. Dario needs to represent what the Family hasbecome.”

“You don’t understand, Father,” Dario says. “I’m not asking for your permission. I’m telling you that Elena is the love of my life. I’ll take the consequences if you refuse to accept us.”

Salvatore leans forward, glaring at his son. “Do you know what you’re saying?” he growls. “Do you have anynotionof the pain this could cause?”

“I know, Father,” Dario says sharply, “but she’s my woman. I’m standing by her.”

“Easy,” I whisper, even as his words send warmth flowing through me. “Let’s keep this civil.”

Dario glances at me, the fury draining from his face. “Thank you,” he says softly. “I don’t think this is about the Family. We already own the city. Our control will be even more secure when your land grab is complete. Hell, I wiped out the Romanos, and our connections have kept all our men from facing any consequences.”

“You say that as though it was easy.”

“Not easy, but it’s a testament to what we are, towhowe are.”

“What’s your point?” Salvatore snaps.

“I think this is about you,” Dario says, struggling to keep his voice level.

I squeeze his hand, reminding him to stay calm. He seems grateful that I’m here and able to mediate the situation.

“Explain,” Salvatore snaps.

“You’ve always been ashamed of the Family’s origins. You hear stories of other Families who go back to the Prohibition era, who can boast of doing business with Capone and his cronies, and you wish we were the same. You wish we had that long lineage, but you know you can’t go back in time and make it so. Instead, you try to force me to pretend to be something I have no interest in being.”

“What’s that, son?”

“A stuck-up ass,” he snaps. “A man who’d judge a perfect woman like Elena because she doesn’t know which fork to use for which course. You expect me to judge someone based on them being born poor whenyouwere born poor yourself. Father, I love you. I’m sorry it’s come to this, but you’re being a hypocrite.”

Salvatore looks at me. “You see how my only son speaks to me, girl?”

“She has a name,” Maria says, placing her hand on her husband’s arm.

“Oh, yes, Elena Esposito. Or is that false, too? Are you even Italian?”

“My surname is Rossi. We used a fake name as part of the?—”

“You can say it,” he grunts. “Thescam. Thetrick. The shamelessploy. Please don’t feel as if you need to remember your manners now. The time for that is long past.”

“I never intended to hurt you, sir,” I say. “My aunt was—is—very sick. When I had the chance to earn enough money to get her the care she deserved, there was no way I could pass it up. YourFamilyis clearly the most important thing to you. My family is the most important thing to me.”

“You’re willing to sacrifice your life for my son, are you?” he demands. “You’re ready to become a stay-at-home wife?”

“She doesn’t need to do that,” Dario says fiercely. “She can pursue her dream of being an actor.”

Salvatore rolls his eyes at Maria. “Am I hearing this correctly?”

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