This isn’t happening.
“I’ll find a way to pay,” the words burst from me, but no one cares to listen.
Frustration floods my chest, and my hands tighten into fists.
“I can do with a young wife after the old one died on me,” Mr. Greco says.
Dear God.
I start to shake my head, but Mr. Greco backhands me right off the chair. I fall with a hard thud, my vision going black and a copper taste fills my mouth.
“You really want to marry the woman?” Mr. Parisi asks.
“Yes. I think it will be poetic justice seeing as her family traded in sex slavery.”
What? No!
Shocked out of my ever-loving mind, I stare at all the men as Mr. Greco’s words sink in like burning coals.
“We didn’t,” I argue as I climb to my feet.
“Shut up, bitch,” Mr. Greco roars. “Why do you think we cut ties with your family? They were selling pussy on every street corner.”
The things I’ve found out today… Jesus, there’s so much about my family I didn’t know. The debt. Sex trafficking. How my father really died.
God, was everything my grandfather and uncle told me a lie?
“Christ,” Mr. Amato curses. “I’ve had enough of this.”
“I’ll pay her debt on one condition,” Mr. Greco continues with his vile plan. “The wedding has to happen before I go on my trip to Sicily.”
“You’re leaving in four days,” Mr. Parisi replies.
As the men discuss my fate, intense fear fills every inch of my body until I’m a trembling mess.
There’s a moment’s silence, then Mr. Parisi says, “It goes to a vote.” He looks at the other men. “Who’s in favor of the marriage?”
One by one, hands go up. Only Mr. Messina disagrees.
“It’s settled then,” Mr. Parisi says, his eyes coming to rest on me. “Mr. Greco just saved your life. You’re to be married in four days.” He turns his attention to the man who’s so much older than me, while Mr. Greco looks at me as if he’s going to rip me to shreds. “We expect the funds to be transferred before the vows are said.”
Horrified by what just happened, I give Mr. Parisi a pleading look. “I can get the money. I just need time.”
Mr. Greco lets out a dark chuckle, then grabs hold of my arm and yanks me against his body. Revulsion hits me so hard, bile churns in my stomach.
“Unlike your grandfather, we don’t go back on a deal once it’s made.” He chuckles again, the sound making me feel sick.
“Please, don’t,” I beg while trying to yank free. “I can get the money to pay you.”
“What’s done is done,” Mr. Parisi mutters, waving a hand to the door.
“Nooo,” I cry.
I yank against Mr. Greco’s hold, but he pulls his arm back, and even though I try to block the blow, his fist connects so hard with my jaw, lights explode behind my eyes before I sink into a pit of darkness.
Chapter 24
Rosalie