Page 12 of Bartered Innocence

“Good. It should come from someone you trust. This marriage is really important to both of our families.” Luca’s smile is fake, and I can see the tense lines straining and the hidden truth in his eyes.

Rian hums. “I’m sure my future wife doesn’t appreciate being talked to like a child. She doesn’t strike me as someone lacking intelligence.”

I glare at him, hating the flutters in my chest when I meet his fiery gaze. Luca pulls back, settling in his chair with a sigh. “And here I thought we could have a civil conversation.”

“Luca,” I say, smiling at him. “Could I possibly have a moment to talk to my futurehusbandalone?”

Luca’s brows knit together and I know refusal is on the tip of his tongue before he stands, nodding for everyone to follow him. He exits the room leaving the door open, a reminder we aren’t truly alone.

After dismissing the man standing behind him and it’s just the two of us, Rian mutters, “You never smiled at me that sweet.”

Clasping my fingers together, I look back at the irritating man. I’m not enjoying whatever game he’s trying to play and uncertainty pulses in my chest. “What are you doing?”

“What?”

I sigh, waving a hand between us. “Marriage? Is this some kind of joke? Are you using me to get back at Luca? He doesn’t care about me like that and we know I’m not what you’re looking for.”

He smirks. “Don’t assume you know what I’m looking for. After all, I really liked?—”

Shushing him, I lean forward. “What are you doing here?”

Rian’s eyes twinkle and he leans toward me as well. His scent wraps around me, a fresh and sharp reminder of the damp air after a thunderstorm. Heat courses through my body, and I tighten my muscles so I won’t rub my thighs together. “Because why would I want a virgin wife when I can have you.”

I jerk away, not prepared for his answer. “B-because that’s tradition. That’s the honor bestowed upon you as a sign of respect.” My teeth grind out the second sentence, hating every part of the belief.

He runs his tattooed fingertips along his chin before he settles back into his chair. The air surrounding us chills; any amusement is gone from his hard-edged face. I remember the man before me is not the charming one I met at the bar. His head cocks to the side, his expression darkening as he looks at me. “Tell me, Isabelle. If it wasn’t me that night… You seemed determined.”

My heart gallops in my chest, fear stealing my breath. Rian’s attentive gaze studies my face, looking for an answer to a question he didn’t have to ask.

My tongue feels heavy in my mouth. “My family doesn’t have power. We live a simple and humble life. Most men who choose to arrange their marriages have ambition for more.”

“Sounds like the ideal candidate for a man who already has it all.” The steel conviction in his voice kills any hope of talking him out of this. He doesn’t seem to care about any wealth or legacy that I could ever bring to the table.

While Ricky has risen in the ranks next to Luca, my family’s standing is so low that no one really expected me to be a virgin at twenty-one. A simple notice to Luca could have removed my eligibility. I just couldn’t risk bluffing when a check by the Famiglia physician may have revealed our lie, which is why I worked to resolve it quickly. We wouldn’t be in this position if my brother had informed him like I thought he would.

I exhale loudly, unsure how not to offend him with my next words. “I don’t want to get married.”

“To me?” he asks. My gaze tracks his thumb slowly spinning the ring on his middle finger. It isn’t necessarily him, though I’m not thrilled to potentially be tied to someone with so much power in our criminal world.

The silence between us is tense before he hums out an acknowledgement.

“You’re going to accept this marriage with grace, Isabelle. Or I’ll explain to Luca exactly how I know you’reimpure.”

My heart skips a beat, and I want to tell him I planned on telling Luca anyway, but he continues before I can say anything.

“Then I’ll tell anyone who listens how the Famiglia insults me by offering a soiled bride. And before you decide that won’t have consequences, think about your parents’ restaurant. Most of their patrons are the families under Luca’s protection, are they not? I don’t think they’ll continue to support someone who has such a dishonorable daughter. Then what will they think about Luca keeping your brother so close in his ranks? Who says he isn’t a liar like you?”

Bile rises in my throat, my skin prickles, and I have the urge to scratch it so deep I’ll bleed. My eyes water with hot tears. “It was my choice. My family?—”

“—is responsible for you. And that they let you run wild, allow you to spread your legs like a whore won’t be overlooked,” he interrupts sternly. The blue in his eyes has turned into an icy resolve.

I wipe at the tears streaming down my cheeks. “This is blackmail. It would ruin my family. You would ruin me if I don’t marry you?”

“Would you truly be ruined?”

Gritting my teeth, I barely contain my anger. “Yes.”

His eyebrows raise. “Then you shouldn’t have run. I do enjoy the chase.”

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