Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
“There are no heirs,” I say through my gritted teeth. “I have no women in my family to offer.”
“Neither do I,” Vitali says with a sigh. “But there needs to be something done to show that we are closer than just business associates.”
The room falls silent, and I already know what’s coming. It makes my stomach so nauseous that bile shoots up the back of my throat.
This can’t be fucking happening.
“Elizabeth is your daughter, yes?” Vitali looks to Henry, and I fight the urge to vault over the desk and pound his face in for even saying her name.
“She is,” Henry says in a flat tone. “She has no relation to the mob other than through me. We’re not Mafia blood.”
“But she’s close to the Rossi family.”
“She’s not,” I growl, clenching my fists. “She’s not up for discussion.”
“Yes, she is,” Henry says, shocking me right to the core.
I whip my head around to him, more confused than ever. “What the hell are you doing?” I demand through gritted teeth.
“I’m doing what it takes,” Henry says in a low tone, shooting me daggers. “If the Greco and Romano families are joined, it’s the end of us all—me included. It’s my daughter. I have the right to entertain his offer.”
“I don’t want to cause a rift between the two of you,” Vitali muses, looking at us with pure amusement in his dark eyes. “I am not exactly a fan of marrying Henry’s daughter, but the arrangement would show strong ties between us.”
I shut my eyes, all the sirens going off in my head. I know this is how things work. I know that I nearly was arranged into a marriage to a woman from the Greco family until my father stepped in. He never wanted me to marry for anything other than love. That was the benefit of having a man like him as a father.
But this… Liz…
My Liz.
“It would provide my family with an heir as well,” Vitali continues, his voice now like nails on a chalkboard to me. “We know you don’t have an heir, either.”
My eyes flutter open, meeting Vitali’s gaze, which is gleeful, and I hate that. “I do not.”
“However, word has it that Gerard is looking more and more like a son to you. Isn’t that correct?”
I can’t fucking deny it. “Yes.”
He nods. “Then the moment a woman comes up in my family of age, we will arrange for her to be married to Gerard. It will seal the deal unless you’d be interested.”
“No.”
“Okay then. What do you men say?” His voice is bright, and I want to choke the life right out of him.
“We need to think about it,” I say before Henry can fucking agree. He and I are going to have a chat before anyone makes any more deals. I’ll take a fucking war before I hand Liz over to someone else. It’s not happening. I’ll deal with the consequences.
Henry side-eyes me, a look of confusion crossing his face, but he knows to keep a united front. “We’ll have an answer for you soon. In the meantime, call off your dogs. We’re going to work together, meaning we gotta start treating each other like family.”
Vitali nods. “Consider it done. If you need extra protection, let me know. I know the other families won’t try to push us out or strike us down until the marriage is sealed in two months. Still, if you need me, I’m here.”
We stand and reach across the table, shaking hands with the bastard. I try to keep my composure, but my head feels light as I head out of the room, my jaw tense. I feel fucking murderous.
Not a word is uttered between us until we reach the elevator and press the parking garage level. Then we explode.
“Why the hell didn’t you agree?” Henry nearly shouts. “We need to protect what we have. I figured you, of all people, would have been the fucking first person to agree with that.”
I grit my teeth. “I don’t agree with arranged marriages. You know that.”
“Why? Because your fucking daddy didn’t make you?” Henry’s voice is cruel, and I know it’s just the worry and fear coming out of him. Nevertheless, it pisses me the fuck off.
I spin around and slam him into the elevator wall. “Don’t fucking disrespect me, Henry. You know I am the reason you are even here, and I can cut you off whenever I want.”
His eyes burn with anger. “You need me just as much as I need you. You know that, and right now, you need Liz. We need Liz.”
“I can’t believe you’d be so fucking heartless to marry her off to him,” I spit, dropping his collar as the elevator chimes and the doors slide open. “It’s a fucking disgrace. You always said you wouldn’t, but you knew, right? You knew he was going to throw this out there. That’s why you asked me about my heir, right?”