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“Three days?”I shriek.This is too much, too fast; I can’t believe my brother is bargaining away my future to these animals—again.

Alessio slams his fist on his desk.“Enough, Sophia.You'll do what is best for this family.”

I narrow my eyes at him.I don't give a damn about this family.They look at me and see the bastard child of Tony Angelini, not a sister who didn't ask for this life.

“How could you?”I finally ask, my voice trembling as I struggle to keep ahold of my emotions.

“I didn't have a choice,” he snaps.

Tears slip freely down my cheeks.“I know what they say about The Butcher, Alessio.He's a monster.”Everyone knows The Butcher is a sadist who slices up anyone who gets in his way or dares to defy him.Rumor has it that he killed ten men in the subway with his bare hands for merely looking at him wrong.

“Please, Alessio.Don't do this,” I beg.

Alessio lunges forward and wraps his hand around my throat.Frantically I claw at his wrist, in an attempt to get free, but he's too strong.“Don't mess this up, Sophia.You won't like the consequences.”

Tears continue to stream down my cheeks as my body shakes in fear.“I won't,” I manage to choke out before he shoves me back into my chair.

I rub at my throat and heave out a desolate sob.

What has he done?

Chapter3

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Coasting behind Haze into the parking lot of Alessio's building, and even though I’ve already witnessed it firsthand, I still manage to roll my eyes at the lack of security.No self-preservation.Haze is just as unimpressed as we cut our motors and look up at the flashy building.

“The fucking Italians are just as bad as the Bratva.”I shake my head.They draw too much attention to themselves with all their flashy shit.

“Ridiculous,” Haze agrees.Smart men make moves under the radar without an audience.

I climb off my bike and motion toward the door.“Let's get this over with.”

Haze dismounts his Harley and follows behind me into the building where we find Gio standing sentry in front of the bank of elevators.

“This way.”We step onto the elevator behind him and ride to the top.With ading, the doors slide open, and we step out and find Alessio, his brother, Nico, their psycho fucking sister, Monica, and one of Alessio's capos throwing back drinks in their sitting room.

“Where's the girl?”I ask loudly.

Monica and Alessio jolt, clearly caught off guard at my presence, but Nico doesn't miss a beat when he stands and comes over to shake my hand.

It's a shame he's not the brother in charge.He's the only one in this whole fucking family with an ounce of respect.

“She's in the kitchen.I'll get her,” Nico starts.

“I’ll grab her,” Gio insists, taking off with a purposeful stride.

Monica rises from the sofa in a too-tight mini dress with her tits hanging out.Her reputation as a party girl is clear to see just from her slutty appearance.“Care for a drink?”she purrs, swinging her hips in our direction.

“No,” Haze grunts, cutting the bitch off.

Movement draws my attention and I turn to see Gio dragging my woman into the room with a hand wrapped much too tightly around her arm.I lift a brow and he drops his hand.Smart fucking man.

“Touch her like that again and I'll cut off your fucking hands,” I growl.

Sophia lifts her head, her face etched with confusion, and my knees threaten to buckle.Fuck me, she's gorgeous.Why the fuck would Alessio agree to a marriage with fucking Ivan?

“Come here, baby.”I wave my hand for her to come to me.I'm not sure where the endearment came from, but I’m pleased when she obediently comes to stand in front of me.I gently pinch her chin between my fingers and lift her face.

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