Page 11 of Mafia and Protector

“Of course you can!” thundered my father.

I was bewildered by my father’s vehemence. “But I can’t marry Rafael now…anyway, I’m no longer a virgin for him.”

“When Emanuel took you, did you bleed?” Father grilled me.

I felt my cheeks flush a deeper shade of red. I couldn’t believe we were having this conversation.

“Answer me, goddamnit!”

“Yes, I bled.” My voice was a hoarse whisper.

My father nodded. “Then Emanuel knows you were a virgin and sufficiently pure for his son. At least he’ll be satisfied that you weren’t a slut before you spread your legs for him and will be satisfied that you are pure for his son. There is no reason to cancel the wedding. You will marry Rafael Santino if it’s the last thing you do.”

And I knew my father was speaking the truth—he would have no qualms in killing me if I disobeyed him. I would just be another murder to add to his long list of evil deeds. The only choices left open to me now were to marry Rafael or to die.

After that, my father dismissed me, and I crept back up to my bedroom. It was beyond comprehensible that after what Emanuel had done to me, my parents were still making me marry into the Santino family. I wished I could talk about it to my brother, Jacob, but I was too ashamed.

That only left my older sister, Juliana; but I didn’t know how to get in contact with her.

***

As the days and wedding preparations went on, I felt as if I were in a trance.

I tried to keep my mind empty. If I didn’t think, then maybe the pain would be less.

This morning was particularly difficult because it was Juliana’s twentieth birthday. Juliana had always been there for me to lean on. This was the first birthday we wouldn’t spend together, where we wouldn’t even be able to talk to each other, and the thought depressed me immensely.

I was laying in bed when my cell phone rang. I didn’t recognize the number and I didn’t want to talk to anyone, so I ignored it, but it kept ringing insistently. With a sigh, I picked it up. “Hello?”

For a few seconds, there was only silence on the line.

“Jess? It’s me. Please don’t tell anyone I’m calling! Can you talk?”

Oh my God, it was Juliana. “I can talk.” My heart leapt into my mouth. “Is that really you, Juliana? God, how are you?”

I heard her voice break with tears. “I’m fine, but I’ve been so worried about you. Are you okay?”

“I’ve missed you, Juliana.”

“Oh Jess, it’s so good to hear your voice. I’ve really missed you too.”

“Are you okay, Juliana?”

Juliana went quiet, and I realized that she probably wasn’t alone and couldn’t talk freely. “I’m okay. I want to hear about you and what you’ve been up to. How are Jake and Mother?”

“Mother and Father have been keeping me busy. I’m getting married in a few weeks’ time.”

“What? What do you mean? To whom?”

“They’re marrying me to Rafael Santino. We’ll be married next month.”

“But it’s only been a few weeks since I’ve been gone.” I could hear the shock in Juliana’s voice.

“I’m eighteen now and therefore Father says I’m old enough to be married off. The Società has been in an uproar since your kidnapping. Emanuel Santino and Father thought a union between our families would send a signal of strength.”

“What’s Rafael like?”

I gave a hollow laugh. “Well, he’s a Santino. They’re all ruthless. I doubt he’ll show me any mercy.”

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