Page 3 of Cherished Union

Ireach for the tumbler that’s on my father’s desk. The amber liquid is more than needed right now. Then again, these days, it’s all that helps me sleep—what little I have of it. I bring the glass to my lips and take a sip, loving the burn as it makes its way down my throat.

“We both know that this is your Granda’s way of strengthening our ties,” my da says with gritted teeth.

“Yeah, but Jade?” I hiss, pissed that my sister has been put in this position. “Surely you can’t fucking agree with this, Da.”

He runs his hand through his hair. He’s agitated, his brown eyes filled with rage. “No, I don’t agree with it, son. That’s why I’m fucking pissed. But your Granda has spoken. I’ve spoken to him calmly, I’ve yelled at the old fucker, and I’ve even fucking pleaded with him. The bastard is set in his way and will not change his mind.”

Anger wells in the pit of my stomach. “So why the fuck am I marrying their daughter if Jade has to marry Rocco?” That’s something that makes no sense to me. My sister has just been released from prison after spending five years locked away and suffering at the hands of those raping, abusing bastards.

I can never repay my sister for what she has done for me, nor will I ever not feel the guilt of what happened to her deeply. I’m the reason she was locked up. I’m the reason that for five years, she was raped.

“I’m proud of you, Hay. You’ve come a long way in the three years that you have been boss. You have succeeded, just as I knew you would. But you still face some opposition. That will go away the moment you and Adelina Gallo marry.”

I grit my teeth. The thought of marrying that woman makes me furious. I’ve met the Gallo’s on numerous occasions and the prissy princess thinks she’s above everyone else. That just because she’s the daughter of Ado Gallo, she’s untouchable. She’s beautiful, there is no doubt about that, but the woman needs to remove the stick that’s lodged up her ass.

“We’re expanding, Hay. The connections we have made over the years are helping us grow. You already have the support of not only our family, but also our soldiers and captains. You have shown that you are willing to fight with them, and that you can be one of them.”

I glance away from him and turn my gaze to the window that overlooks the backyard. “They also know that Jade went to prison for me.”

He sighs heavily. This is a conversation we’ve had on numerous occasions. No matter what my da says, the guilt will always remain. I’m a motherfucking bastard for allowing my younger sister to take the blame for me killing a man.

“Your sister would have done the same for any member of this family. You are not special.”

I raise a brow and smirk. “You keep reminding yourself of that, Da. You and I both know I’m everyone’s favorite.”

His lips twitch. “You’re an ass, Hay, that’s what you are.”

My relationship with my father is filled with respect and love. The man knows me better than anyone—including Jade. I’m just like my father, from looks down to temperament.

“You're betrothed to Adelina, just as Jade is to Rocco. These weddings will be taking place. Jade’s will happen in less than a week. I’m sorry, Hayden, but our hands are tied right now.”

I down the rest of my drink. “I know, and it’s fucked up, ain’t it,” I tell him as I put the empty glass on his desk. “The man knows what happened to his granddaughter and thinks it’s okay to marry her off.”

Da gets to his feet and begins to pace. “Jade’s finally accepted what’s happening. Why can’t you?”

I stare at the man, taken aback by his question. “Oh, let me see… Ma went over your head and arranged a marriage for her daughter like she’s some prize. My sister gets fucking raped, and the entire family is okay with her being married off.” I get to my feet and stare at the man in disgust. “Not once has any fucking member of this family thought about Jade. The trauma she’s been through. That’s not something that will disappear, but instead of letting her heal, you arrange a marriage to a man that she doesn’t know. When the fuck did we stop giving a fuck about this family and start giving a fuck about alliances? I’m sick of this shit.”

I don’t stick around and wait for his response; I’m too worked up for this bullshit. Everyone has failed my sister, but none more than I.

“Hayden—" my ma calls out, no doubt having heard what was just said in Da’s office.

I don’t stop. I can’t listen to anything they have to say right now. I walk out of the house and come to a stop when I see Annemarie waiting at my car, her arms crossed and a fucking sympathetic look on her face.

“Not now,” I grind out. The woman’s trying her hardest to get into everyone’s good graces, but unfortunately for her, it’s going to take a whole lot more than sucking up for it to happen.

“Oh, now is the right time,” she replies, her brow raised. “You need to stop,” she tells me, and I come to a halt. This woman has fucking balls telling me what to do. “Have you actually spoken to Jade about all of this?”

I glare at her. I don’t need my brother’s wife telling me about my own damn sister.

“He knows everything, Hayden,” she whispers softly. “Jade broke down the other day, and Rocco was there. He helped her through it. The man we see isn’t the man your sister sees. Just as the man the world sees, isn’t the real you. This world doesn’t allow the men to show their soft side, Hayden. You know that more than anyone. The facade you, Liam, Hayes, and even Rocco have, is just that. When you go home and you're alone, you’re not the same sadistic man you show the world. Remember that,” she implores. “Jade’s glowing. She’s finally in a place where she can move on. Maybe it’s time you did too.”

Her words ease the worry that has been in my gut since the moment I found out she was to marry the Italian asshole.

“You think you know me,” I hiss at her. While I appreciate everything she’s just said, it doesn’t make up for the years she’s been a bitch. “You don’t. There is no soft side to me. You’d best remember that, Annemarie, because sister-in-law or not, you start your shit again, and I’ll take you out.”

She holds her head high and nods. “I’m sorry,” she tells me with tears in her eyes. “For all of it. I fucked up, but I’m trying to make amends.”

“Yeah, how are you going to make amends to your husband? Hmm? Because of you, he’s been passed over time and time again for a position in this family.”

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