Page 66 of Brutal Legacy

“Why would you do that?” I asked.

“To see if you had changed your mind about her being your business.”

I wet my lips, the whiskey drying my mouth. I swirled the cut ice at the bottom of the fine crystal. “She can marry Jimmy. It’s the safest thing for all of us. He might be a thieving, fucking idiot, but he’s…”whole. I couldn’t bring myself to finish that sentence.

Luckily, I didn’t have to, because a knock at the door interrupted our conversation.

“Bene. Well, it’s time to tell the happy bride about her future.Entra!” he called toward the door.

It swung open, and then, there she was. It had only been a few hours since I’d last seen her, but it felt like a lifetime all over again. Her eyes jumped to me, dark and expressive. I couldn’t quite read the expression that passed over her features. She looked at Renato and frowned.

“Georgia, it’s been a long time.” Renato stood to greet her. He pressed a kiss to either side of her cheeks. “How have you been?” No one could ever accuse Renato De Sanctis of not knowing how to act like a gentleman.

Georgia scoffed. “I was doing better, before you sent your trained little killer robot to drag me across the country.”

“I heard you encountered problems on your trip,” Renato said smoothly, rounding his desk to sit, leaving Georgia to sit beside me.

I pulled her chair out for her, which she pointedly ignored.

She locked Renato in her gaze. “What’s going on? Last I saw you it was the feast of St. Anthony in Castel Amaro, and now… you’re sending armed men after me. Killers.” She threw me an accusatory glare. “My father and I have never been involved in your profession.”

Renato shook his head. “That’s where you’re wrong, I’m afraid. Your father was always involved. Neck-deep in the filthy pig shit of Mafia life. He just hid it from you well. I’m surprised how well. I suppose since you moved away when you got older, it was easier.”

Georgia opened her mouth to argue, but Renato had had enough of listening.

“Your father’s guilt is not in question. Neither are your future plans, I’m afraid. It’s been decided. Your father wants you protected.”

“You mean Salvatore wants me as leverage, right?”

Renato just shrugged. “It doesn’t make much of a difference either way. The outcome is still the same.”

“Which is?” Georgia asked. She was still standing, ignoring the chair. Her hands were curled into tight fists.

“You will marry a De Sanctis man and become part of the family.” Renato waited a beat. “Congratulations.”

Georgia paled. Her head started to shake back and forth, her whole body denying what he had said.

“I can’t do that. I won’t do that.”

“You can, and you will,” Ren said calmly.

“No! You know me, you wouldn’t hurt me,” she muttered, her eyes beseeching his.

“It’s because I know you that I’m not hurting you. The Ravellis — the other family your father is threatening — would probably just send pieces of you in the mail until he got the message.”

Georgia stared at me. That look was like a punch.

“You knew about this? Of course you did.”

She appeared so betrayed at that moment, I knew I’d never forget her expression. It seared itself into my soul.

“Who?” she finally asked. Her hands were still little balls of fury, and she was vibrating with tension but forcing herself to find out as much as she could.

Her eyes flew to me again.

“Is it him?” She took a step toward me. “Is it you?” Her eyes held something precious and rare.

“No, I’m afraid not. My second-in-command isn’t inclined to marry. The man you will marry is in the hall.” Renato inclined his head to one of his guards.

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