Page 13 of The Forbidden Husband

“I graduated high school a month ago and have nothing important happening in my life. You have so much. I’m sure nobody would care either way.”

“No.”

“Aria, you have done so much.”

“No,” I repeated, sitting up straighter. “You’re enrolled at NYU in the fall. You have so many friends who care about you. You have the chance to start a life one day. I will never accept that offer. I want to do this. I want to be the one to tie our families together.”

“I know you don’t.”

“Aria, you don’t—”

Our attention shifted to the door as it was opened briskly. Our father stopped at the entrance and crossed both arms over his chest.

“Give me the room with Aria,” he demanded.

I saw the heat in Livia’s gaze, but she didn’t argue as she stood and gave me one last pleading look. I only shook my head once as they slid past him and left me alone.

“Are you ready?”

I nodded slowly.

“You know what you’re going to do, correct?”

Another nod.

He reached forward and handed me a phone. It was a basic flip phone with no frills or additional features, and I turned it over in my hands.

“What is this?” I asked.

“It’s how you’ll contact me with information you find. Your sisters will be safe if I receive something relevant every week. If I don’t…”

He didn’t need to finish. I knew what he meant.

“Okay,” I replied. “Is there anything specific you need me to find?”

“He keeps everything about his business under wraps. I know essentially the same information as the media. I need to know his numbers and where most of his men are at any given time. I’m going to take the ground out from under him.”

I nodded, considering a world where my father was untouchable—the undisputed capo dei capi of the Italian mafia.

That was not a world I wanted to see.

Chapter Five

Enzo Rissi

The catholic priest stood at my back as I watched down the aisle for my bride-to-be.

Her sisters had been waiting in the front row, talking in hushed tones for the last half hour.

My aunt and uncle sat on their side of the aisle, smiling up at me with pride lighting their expressions. I was doing this for them; it was the least I could do after everything Uncle Giovanni had given me despite being the illegitimate heir.

With my half-brother being the only legitimate son and working for Alonzo as his consigliere, I was the last option.

The music shifted to the song everyone recognized, and the priest demanded everyone stand. I clasped both hands together in front of me, inspecting the nail on my thumb for a moment.

This was strictly semantics. The marriage meant nothing to either of us.

A flash of white drew my attention forward, and every thought fled from my mind at the sight of her.

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