Page 60 of Merciless Desires

“No.”

“What?”

“I’m not ready for that,” I said. “You know I don’t want this, I need more time to grasp the situation.” I needed more time to escape.

“This is your duty.” He patted my knee. “I thought you and Aldo were enjoying one another’s company.”

“It’s going to take more than a week.” I shook my head. “I want Gio.” I tried to stifle the tears that fell from my cheeks. I roughly wiped them away. Why can’t I control my emotions? “Please, don’t make me do this.”

“I had hoped it would be Gio, but the alliance I can make with the Calabrese family is stronger. In time, you’ll understand that. You’ll grow to accept your new husband.”

“What will happen if I don’t go through with this?” I wanted to help my father and maintain my family’s security but not by being forced to marry someone I didn’t know.

“The Calabrese family will probably side with the people that are trying to take my territory. I’ll be left vulnerable. I’ll lose everything I’ve worked so hard for.”

“What about me? What about what I’m losing?”

“You’ll forget about Gio. Just give it time. I’ve never asked you for much.”

“You may not have asked, but I’ve sacrificed my whole life for your business. I gave up my childhood, my education, and now Gio.”

“You have a good life.” His phone alerted him to a call. “I have to take this. Be ready for dinner.”

“Romero,” my father answered the call as he left the suite.

My own phone sang with the ringtone I had reserved for Gio. I quickly answered it.

“Hey, my girl, how are you holding up?”

“Um, well, I’m about to get engaged.”

“What? No.”

“We’re going back to Italy tomorrow. What am I supposed to do? It wasn’t supposed to get this far.”

“Romero is asking your father for a meeting as we speak.”

“What am I supposed to do about Aldo and leaving for Italy?” I asked.

“Don’t do anything drastic.”

“That’s easy for you to say.”

“Listen to me,” he said. “Aldo is the one who ordered that attempt on us.”

“What? Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Why would he do that?”

“He wanted me away from you,” Gio said.

“I have been in the company of a killer all week?”

“You’re always in the company of killers.”

“That’s not funny, and you know what I mean.” I hopped off the sofa. “I want to smack him.”

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