Page 131 of Vicious Vows

I may not have pulled off the hit, but I was just as responsible. Gian got what he deserved. The woman who was about to take my last name might not agree, especially when she found out the assassin was my father.

THIRTY

Lissia

The expressionon Marchello’s face when he took that phone call looked disturbing. If my father had taken out another of the Accetti shipments, Marchello would have to retaliate, and I would have to stay out of it.

I couldn’t get in the middle. As much as I hated it, I had to control my impulses and stay out of this war. I had to let Marchello figure it out.

Hmm… when did I become so mature?

I wish I didn’t have to be an adult. It was much easier being a clueless brat.

After a steamy, relaxing shower, I slipped on a pair of comfy pajamas, crawled into bed, and waited for Marchello. He better have one hell of a reason for keeping me waiting twenty minutes after we got engaged.

Despite the time difference, I called my mother. I was too excited not to share this news, but she didn’t answer. She was either passed out from too many martinis or she’d found a hot Greek god to spend the night with.

I hoped she’d had too many martinis and then passed out in the arms of a Greek god.

I gazed at the incredible rock on my finger. Lissia Accetti. Mrs. Accetti… Mrs. Marchello Accetti. Mr. and Mrs. Marchello Accetti.

Holy shit. I’m getting married!

What would my father think?

Why do I care?

Because no matter what, he was still the man who raised me. The first man I ever loved.

What had changed him? Had he always been so self-absorbed and power-driven? The answer to that question was yes. I was just too spoiled and too busy throwing tantrums and spending money to see it.

It wasn’t until Marchello called me out on my behavior and made me take a long, hard look at myself that I realized I had plenty of growing up to do. I didn’t always like the woman I had become, but I could move forward. I could be a better person.

Impulse took over when I grabbed my phone and called my father. This was supposed to be the happiest night of my life. Marchello and I should be celebrating with our families. Instead, his father was off to parts unknown and my father was responsible for bringing a man into our lives who now wanted to sex traffic me.

How the hell did we get here?

The call went to voicemail. “No!”

Was he ignoring me? Had he really cut me off? Did he mean it when he said he wouldn’t forgive me?

“Daddy, it’s me,” I said. “I know you don’t want to talk to me right now, but I have a few things to say, and I hope you’ll not only listen, but you’ll hear me. Because I think that’s all I’ve ever really wanted from you.”

Oh wow. More adulting.

“Things got out of control when you demanded I marry Danny. I acted out when I went to Marchello. I never expected all of this to get this crazy, but here we are. I don’t want to rehash everything. We both know what has happened, and I don’t know if we’re ever going to come back from this.”

I wasn’t sure I wanted him in my life. Not after he tried to kill Marchello. It might take a really long time to heal those wounds.

“I do know that I don’t want to be in the middle of this war. I don’t want there to be a war. Marchello says there can be no peace as long as he and I are together, but I don’t believe that. The optimist in me wants to put all of this behind us.”

I glanced at my spectacular ring, letting the meaning of what it represented sink in. It was a new future. A chance to move forward.

“He asked me to marry him tonight, and I said yes. I don’t know if you’ll ever be able to accept that, but I need you to try. If you can’t ever forgive me for the betrayal you think I committed, that breaks my heart.”

I wiped the tears from my eyes. This conversation was too much.

“If you can’t be happy for me, I’ll accept that, but if you want to do something for me, back off and leave the Accettis alone. Because if you come for them, you come for me. I love him.”

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