Page 9 of Claimed By Him

I scoffed.If that ain’t the truth…

“But I refuse to let you live a reckless life out in the city, all on your own. You need protection.”

“What do you even mean by ‘reckless life’?” I asked, shrugging. “Is it so unimaginable that I could look after myself?”

Antonio looked at me as if the answer was obvious. “I mean that you like to party, Fiona. You like to go to crowded places and become inebriated. You like to be out on the streets late into the night. You like to ditch your bodyguard and run wild. It’s a reckless, dangerous lifestyle.”

“Been chatting to Gio much?” I asked sarcastically, rolling my eyes. I knew he was Gio’s boss, but sometimes I wished Gio didn’t have to reporteverythingI did.

“Look, Fiona. Don’t make this difficult.” Antonio turned from caring brother to stern don. He walked back around the desk and sat down. “I told you after Pops died that I would let you decide who you wanted to marry, within a list of suitable candidates. But it is a requirement before you can leave this house.”

“Why?” I stood up, suddenly needing to move so my anger and anxiety didn’t consume me. I paced the room. “Why can’t I just leave the country?”

“What?” he spat out.

“I have my own dreams, Antonio! I want to visit Europe. Go to Milan fashion week! Hell, I want to start my own designer brand!”

“Your head is in the clouds, Fiona.”

“No, it’s not!” I shouted. “It’s where every other twenty-year-old’s head is! Dreaming of the life I can live! I have my own inheritance, I have a brain, I can do this!”

“No, you can’t!” he roared, standing up. “You’re not like every other twenty-year-old! You’re a fucking Moretti for Christ’s sake. Europe isn’t far enough! We’re the Italian mafia! We have enemies in Italy. We have enemies in Spain. We have enemies in Russia. Big, dangerous enemies! People that will see you thriving there and decide to use it against, not only you, but all of us back here!”

“What, so now everyone’s lives depend on me?”

“If you make it possible, then yes! We are a family of power! We have to stick together to protect each other. If one of us breaks away, it creates a weak spot for the rest of us. Don’t you see that?”

“No, actually, I don’t!” I shouted. I knew that I was past the whole teenage drama stage of my life, but I was feeling claustrophobic. “And I don’t see how marrying some asshole is going to fix any of it!”

Antonio rubbed his temples with his fingers and spoke smoothly. “As we’ve discussed before, marrying someone from the options I’ve given you will ensure your and our safety, as well as keep us together as a family. Those men come from families or organizations that support us. They all have the money to look after you and give you a happy life. They all know and understand the mafia world. If you aren’t in my house, under my protection, then you’ll have to be tied to someone who can provide the same for you.”

“So, I’m just a pawn? Or better yet, a porcelain doll to be passed carefully from one man to another?”

Antonio’s eyes lifted, burning into mine. He didn’t answer me. I dropped down onto the seat again.

“You really think I’ll be happy, married to some man who ignores me because he’s too busy dealing with his business and his mistresses?”

Sighing, Antonio shook his head. “Not everyone is like our father. And I think you’ll be happy once you have your own house to run and children to raise. You can start a brand here; there’s nothing stopping you from opening a shop on Fifth Avenue.”

“I need to see the world!”

“Your husband can take you.”

“I need to experience life—”

“I don’t see how getting married isn’t a life experience.” He cut me off, using an excuse he knew was bullshit, just to get me to shut up. “Look, Fiona. Here’s the list.” He tossed a piece of paper across the desk. “I’ve updated it and added some new names for your consideration since you haven’t chosen any from the old list. For fuck’s sake, just choose one.”

I remained seated and perfectly still while Antonio stormed out. Refusing to look at the piece of paper, I glued my eyes to the floor. I heard softer footsteps coming back in.

“Fiona?”

It was Mia; she’d obviously heard everything.

“Yes?” I replied through my clenched teeth.

“Could you sit with me?”

I turned around and saw her taking a seat on the big leather couch in the library section of the office. Being six months pregnant, she sighed with a sort of relief when she was settled. I got up and joined her. She took my hand.

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