Page 5 of Arranged Obsession
“I know how you feel about what we do, but it’s the family business. I don’t want to get into this argument again.”
“Great, so don’t flood the streets with more fentanyl. You know how many people die every year from that stuff?”
“Bianca,” he says, rubbing his forehead. “Fuck, you’re such a pain in my ass.”
“And you’re a poisoner.”
“Weare poisoners. Don’t fucking forget that.”
I grind my jaw. I never, ever do. Not a single day goes by where I don’t look at the women at Grace House and wonder how my family’s business made their lives infinitely worse.
“What do you need? Why are you telling me about this New York expansion?”
“Because you know how these things work. It’s not enough to sign contracts and make promises. The Whelans do business the old way.” His expression is bleak. He looks at me like he’s about to shove me into an oven. Which is basically how I feel.
I know what theold waymeans. It’s why Adriano married his current wife. Theold wayis why Luca married Fiorella Serrano.
Now I’m staring down the barrel of theold way, and it’s about to blow my fucking head off.
“You can’t be serious,” I say, feeling very small and very powerless.
“Finn Whelan’s their youngest son. He’s twenty-nine, so only three years older than you. From what I hear, he’s a good man, cares about his family, works very hard, hasn’t done anythingfucking stupid. You’ll be safe with him. I have assurances from his father, Padraig.”
I leap up from my chair like something just stabbed me in the ass. “Fuckyour assurances. Are you insane, Adriano? You want me to marry that guy?”
“Would you sit back down?” He bangs a fist on his desk. “I know this is hard, okay? I went through it and hated it too. But this is what it means to be a Marino. We don’t get to fall in love?—”
“You did,” I snap at him, still standing. “Or did you forget about that?”
“Yes, after the fact, I did fall for Lucy. I got lucky, and you might too, if you give Finn a chance.”
“There’s no way. There’s absolutely no way I’m doing that.” I think of Grace House and everyone there. “I won’t be able to volunteer anymore. I’ll lose everything.”
“We’ll take care of that halfway house?—”
“It’s a women’s shelter.”
“Right, and we’ll take care of it. You know that. The organization’s been donating money to them for a while now.”
My hands curl into fists. My knuckles turn white with frustration. I shouldn’t be this surprised and angry, but I can’t help myself. I’d always thought Adriano would spare me this, that he’d realize my mission was good and worth doing, and that he’d let me keep going.
Now he wants to sell me off like a prize breeding cow.
“I won’t do it.” I shake my head once. “I don’t care what’ll happen.”
“Don’t be like this, Bianca. I’m sure you’ll find a dozen worthy causes to get involved with in New York. God knows the city’s got plenty of them.”
“You want me to move in with them too?”
“That’s the whole deal. We’re starting a business, and we need a clean face to manage it. Alegitimatebusiness?—”
“That’ll be a fucking front for your drugs.” I shiver with pure disgust. “There is no way I’ll ever do that. You know how I feel.”
“I know you think you’re self-righteous and pure.”
“No, definitely the opposite,” I whisper, trembling with horror. It’s one thing to marry me off, but to use me as a front for their fentanyl dealing? That’s a step too far. “Please, don’t do this.”
“As our family’s representative in New York, you’ll have power. You’ll have access to money and connections. Imagine all the good you can do with that? Right now, you’re mopping shit and filling out forms. But you can dream so much bigger if you just do your duty.”
