Page 6 of A Touch of Fate

Mom covered her face and began to cry bitterly. Dad came in and wrapped an arm around her to console her while I made myself smaller in my wheelchair, wishing I could disappear like some people seemed to prefer.

The engagement was canceled.

Another part of my old life was gone. What would happen now? Girls in our world needed to marry if they wanted to be accepted. I wanted to be part of our world and have a future in it like every other girl did, but would they allow me that?

Danilo came in and touched my shoulder. “This isn’t your fault,” he murmured. I tilted my head, wondering why that was the first thing out of his mouth.

He grimaced, looking exhausted. “You know what I mean.”

I swallowed and nodded even though I wasn’t sure. I was confused and scared and sad. I was too many things at once. “I do.”

I understood the meaning behind Danilo’s words, but maybe not in the way he wanted me to. I understood that people in our backward world thought something was wrong with me now. They valued certain beauty standards that I would never be able to fulfill.

“We’ll figure something out,” Danilo promised, squeezing my hand. Mom sobbed in the background as Dad tried consoling her.

My brother held power. I saw it in the way people looked at him. He’d certainly be able to make people act a certain way around me, but he wouldn’t be able to change their thoughts.

Mom hadn’t calmed down for a week, and Dad’s rage lingered even longer. Danilo was too controlled to show me what he felt. And me?

I had almost let the cancellation shove me back into the dark hole I’d been stuck in for the first few weeks after the accident. Even my therapist couldn’t pull me out. I’d felt worthless, out of place, and lost. I’d thought the wheelchair really meant the end of all my hopes. I’d thought I would be shackled to it and saw it as a burden when, in reality, it gave me freedom.

I had focused all my energy on physical training again, up to the point of utter exhaustion. I had to increase my painkillers to be able to work as hard as I needed to. I wanted to force my body to comply with my demands.

After several months of intensive training, my legs could hold me up for a few seconds if I held on to something. Countless hours of rehabilitation had given me a tiny piece of my old freedom back, but over time, I also realized that no matter what I did or how hard I trained, I wouldn’t walk without support like I used to. I would never comply with the beauty standards of our world again. The effects of the accident would always be visible in my gait, and I’d likely have to always use a wheelchair. I’d reached the end of what rehabilitation could do. My spinal cord wouldn’t miraculously heal itself. Some damage would always remain. It was the harsh truth Mom had wanted to hide from me, the harsh reality that was no longer a dark prediction, yet my daily life was harder to stomach for everyone around methan for myself. Acceptance didn’t come easily. It was more painful than the physical therapy, but its effects were far more rewarding.

Twenty years old

I’d known Danilo’s face meant trouble the second I saw it. He couldn’t accept that my twin Serafina didn’t want to marry him. He still wanted her or someone he regarded as equally worthy. I didn’t like the bartering that was soon going to happen. Marriage wasn’t a romantic bond in our world. It was a business commodity.

Danilo gave me a brief nod as he entered the house. We were about the same age, but we’d never spent much time around each other, not just because he lived in another city.

Dad, our Capo Dante, and Danilo gathered in the office of our home. Everyone looked tired and annoyed. The past few months had been tough on all of us. Too many things hadn’t gone to plan. My chest tightened when I thought of my own failures—one had led to my sister being kidnapped and the other hadcost three friends their lives. Losses were constant shadows in a Made Man’s life, but this past year had been more than I’d bargained for.

Danilo released a long-suffering sigh as if his whole fucking world had been shattered. He hadn’t even known my sister well. For him, she’d been a trophy. For all I cared, he could just find another trophy wife and stop his bitching.

“My father insists I’ll marry someone from your family. A bond between our families is necessary, especially at this time.”

Dad sighed, looking tired and defeated. I wished he’d put more of his burden on my shoulders, but I also knew why he didn’t. I had to prove myself again, and I would.

“Serafina won’t marry. She needs time to heal,” I growled. If he thought we’d force her to marry him after what she went through, he was delusional. I’d kick his posh ass if he didn’t stop insisting.

Dante slanted a warning look at me, obviously sensing my agitation. I swallowed my fury to let him handle this. Maybe he had a better suggestion. Why not give his daughter Anna to Danilo?

“There are other options,” he drawled.

Danilo looked ready to explode. “What options? I won’t accept the daughter of any other Underboss. My city is important. I won’t settle for less than was promised!”

Dante scowled, blue eyes flashing with anger. “Watch your tone, Danilo. I realize this situation is difficult, but I expect respect nonetheless.”

My pulse raced with pure fury, and it wasn’t easy to hold back. Too much anger had gathered in me in the past few months. “You can’t have Fina!”

“You can’t have Anna either,” Dante said.

“You need my support in this war. You need a strong family at your back.”

“Is that a threat?”

“That’s a fact, Dante. You’re a good Capo, but I insist I get what my family deserves. I won’t settle for less.”

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