Page 13 of Bartered Innocence

When I don’t answer, a smirk curls on his lips and he pulls at his jacket. “What’s your choice, Isabelle? Ruined or not, you’ll be my wife.”

* * *

My brother and I stare at each other with bleak expressions as our father chats with Luca and Rian. I don't think he expected me to agree, but I’m no more capable of refusing a direct order from Luca than he is. I hate that I feel disappointed for both of us.

We’re stuck with our choices now, and the selfish part of me realizes that he holds some responsibility for this. That if he hadn’t become friends with Luca, I doubt we would have been on his radar. I wouldn’t have ended up in that fucking bar that fateful night.

His eyebrows furrow as if he can feel my blame and he glances away, shifting on his feet and looking over at the man standing next to Rian. The man was already watching us, and I turn away from them both, knowing they’re about to do that weird manly stare off men do. It reminds me of peacocks, and it’s nowhere near as scary as they think it is.

Fingers brush my cheek, and I flinch before tilting my head to face Rian. He watches me for a second before he nods toward the door. “We set the wedding for a month from now.”

My attention snaps to my father and Luca. He’d come home just as Rian was about to leave, probably too anxious not to be involved.

“That soon? So we’re not doing an engagement party?” I ask.

Rian sighs, tugging at the cuffs of his shirt before shoving his hands in the pockets of his pants. “No. We’re not.”

I can feel his irritation that I addressed the question to them and not him, so I glance back at him. “It’s tradition.”

“I’m aware. And I’ve already agreed to the bloody sheets, so I wish to do away with the frivolous fucking parties.”

Luca moves closer to us. “We’ll announce it to the Famiglia this evening. Peace is our priority and why we wish for you to marry as quickly as possible.”

My father stands next to me, squeezing my shoulder in comfort. “Everything will work out, Isabelle. We’re so honored.”

Honored, right. This is all for the good of the Famiglia, and my parents are none the wiser that it’s about a whole lot more than that.

My brother scoffs before coughing, trying to cover his displeasure, and it pulls a small smile from me.

Rian watches me, amused, before standing straighter. His eyes track over Luca and then to my brother and back to me. “I have things to take care of before the wedding. I won’t have much time to spend with you.”

“Perhaps just a dinner beforehand. My wife would love to meet you,” my father says.

“Rian’s too busy, Papa. It’s okay. Mama can meet him at the wedding,” I suggest, giving Rian a saccharine smile.

He takes the bait before he stands taller. “No, we’re about to become family after all. I can make time. I’ll reach out.” He grabs the hand I’d put on my father’s arm and kisses the back of it before I can even let out a gasp. “See you soon,Belle.”

I pull out of his hold, grinding my teeth at the reminder of the night I’d given him my nickname. Leaving my father and Luca to discuss any remaining details, I head up to my room and I don’t know how much time passes until my mama is knocking softly on my door.

She opens the door and comes to sit next to me on my bed. “So my baby is engaged?”

I swallow the emotion building in my throat. “Yeah, I guess so.”

Lying down so we’re facing each other, her gaze wanders over my face. “You know if you don’t want to do this, you don’t have to. Your father and brother are caught up in the pride of the Famiglia, but they don’t know what it’s like to be a woman.”

“And Luca does? He won’t allow us to back out.”

My mother shrugs. “He also doesn’t know what it's like to deal with a mother on a path to protect her children.”

I sigh. “It’s okay, Mama. He doesn’t seem like a bad man, and it will bring honor to us and the Famiglia.”

“I only care about you and your happiness.”

Giving her a bitter smile, I turn onto my back. “Little late for that, and it’s okay. I’ll try to make the most of it.”

“You may find love.”

I grimace. “Love, Mama? I wouldn’t go that far.”

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