Page 2 of Fragile Union

* * *

HOLLY

THREE WEEKS LATER

He hates me.That’s all I can think of when he looks at me. The tightening of his eyes, the clenching of his jaw, and the way he dismisses me whenever I’m in the room while others are there. My fiancé hates me, and yet there’s only weeks until the wedding. I don’t want to do this but I have no choice. I have to marry Romero.

I’ve always known I’d be married off; I’d be used as a pawn to secure or strengthen an alliance. It’s been drilled into me from a very young age. I’m not like the other women in my family. I’m different and I’ve always felt less than worthy to have the Gallagher name. Makenna is strong, dominant, she’s fierce, protective, and loyal. She’s the boss. She’s also my aunt, our family is a bit fucked up due to my granda having my da when he was young and then marrying the woman he was promised to. Granda moved to the states when he married the bitch, they had four children and left my da out of their lives.

I grew up without having him in my life, but I didn’t miss him. I had my da and my great-granda; I didn’t need Seamus. But since I’ve met him, I’ve realized just how great he is and I did miss having him in my life. He treats me just as the other men in my life, like I’m weak and need to be coddled.

Then there’s Jade, she’s my cousin, well sort of. Jade’s younger than me, but there’s been talk about her becoming an Underboss when the Irish Mafia takes over the Midwest. Jade was kidnapped when she was seven and my aunt lost her mind with worry. Jade’s da, Liam, took the very same stance our Uncle Killian did when Makenna had her throat slit. Liam wanted Jade to be able to protect herself, and she can. She’s similar to Makenna and everyone loves her.

“Holly,” Romero says. I glance up from my laptop and see him standing beside me, his hand resting on the table and his cell beside it. He’s staring at me in a way he hasn’t before. His eyes heated and his lips thinned. “I’m taking you on a date tonight, be ready at eight.”

I blink, what? “Okay,” I reply softly, not sure what else I should say. I don’t want to go on a date with him; he’s made it more than clear I’m not what he wants. “Where are we going?” I ask and his eyes narrow, “just so I know what to wear.”

“A dress, we’re going to dinner. It’s fancy.” He grins at me as his phone pings with an incoming text. I’m unable to keep my gaze from straying to the screen of his phone where the text is currently showing.

Georgina: I’m waiting for you, hurry up. I’m horny.

My heart slams against my chest.

“Tonight, at eight,” he says and spins on his heel and leaves me staring at the table where his cell was laying.

My heart breaks into a million pieces. I knew he hated me and I knew he didn’t want this. But I never thought he’d be with someone else. The tears slowly start to fall and I wipe them away and remember what my ma used to say.

“Men don’t define you. They do not own you. You are strong, and you are amazing. Remember that Holly, and never let a man make you feel anything but perfect. Anyone who does isn’t worth your effort baby, never give a man more than he can give you.”

I’m not sure what happened to my ma, but she used to be a good mam, now, well, now I hate her. But she was right. If Romero wants to screw some other woman. Then let him, I for one will remain a virgin until the day I die. I will not sleep with a man who doesn’t respect me enough to be faithful.

Once the tears are finally dried, I get back to work, trying to keep my mind off what Romero’s doing with a woman named Georgina.

Welp, at least I know this marriage isn’t going to be anything like Dante and Makenna’s.

One

ROMERO

TWO MONTHS LATER

“You know that Kenna wants to rip your balls off,” Dante tells me with a smile. He’s a twisted son-of-a-bitch, he loves when Makenna brings out her crazy side. The more bloodshed the better for the two of them.

I glance around the room, wondering where the hell Alessio is with the damn bottle of whiskey. I need a damn drink. He disappeared almost twenty minutes ago in search of a bottle. I thought he’d have been back by now.

“Why, what have I done?” I ask, wondering if she’s just extra temperamental now she’s pregnant.

“Something about a woman that’s here,” he says. “Holly is pissed.”

I frown, “Why is she pissed? What’s happened?”

He shakes his head. “You really can’t be that fucking stupid,” he clips out. “Why the fuck is Georgina here? I mean, do you have a death wish? Fuck, does she have one?”

Now that’s a question I want answers to. I want to know why that bitch is here. She wasn’t invited. I made it perfectly clear months ago she was to steer clear from me and my soon-to-be-wife.

“How did Holly find out about her? I thought you ended things with her before Holly came to live with us?”

My gut clenches as I remember the pain that slashed through Holly’s face when she saw the text Georgina sent me.

---