1
ANTONIO
“You really don’t care?” Gilly asks as he checks his tux in the mirror. “I thought you were kidding when you said you weren’t interested in getting to know your bride. But now it’s been months since the announcement, you’re about to get married, and you seriously never even met her?”
“No.” I straighten my tie and make sure everything is on point. This is a spectacle more than anything else, and I’m here to put on a good show.
“Do you even know her name?”
“Angelica.” I roll my eyes. She’s a mafia daughter, trained from the time she was a child to be obedient to whoever her family marries her off to. There’s nothing else to know. I don’t want to get married, especially not to some random piece of arm candy, but that’s the way these things work. If I want to get the keys to the Larone kingdom, I have to marry one of Constantine Larone’s daughters.
“I can’t believe you didn’t even bother to meet her. You’re an animal.” He shakes his head. “Fucking brutal.”
“It doesn’t matter. Nothing is going to stop this wedding.”
“You sure you want to take such a big risk just to get in with Constantine? What if she looks like shoe leather?”
“Then I’ll be married to shoe leather.” I shrug. “Her only job is to be a good wife. I don’t expect anything more than that.”
“Yeah, but kids?”
I make apfftnoise. “No way.”
He sighs. “I can’t believe I’m letting you go through with this.”
“As if you could stop me.”
He smirks. “You want to step outside and test that theory?”
“You want me to kick your ass on my wedding day in front of hundreds of guests?” I grin. “I think that can be arranged.”
“Let’s go.” He reaches for the door, but it opens abruptly, and Constantine Larone strides in. His suit is almost as impeccable as mine, not a strand of his salt and pepper hair out of place.
He gives me an appraising look. “Going somewhere?”
“Just to marry your daughter.” I cut Gilly a look that says ‘Shut up or I’ll murder you.’ But I don’t need to bother. He knows the dangerous world we live in and how close we’ve been to ruin for so long.
This marriage will cement our family’s place in the most powerful families in the city. We’ll get a cut of a lot more action, and I’ll have a ladder straight to the top.
“She’s ready. It’s time.” He inspects me with a critical eye. “I expect you to treat her well, as well as any woman deserves. If you discipline her, don’t leave marks that will mar her face. She’s breedable, as the doctor attests, and I expect heirs sooner rather than later. Otherwise, you’re free to do with her as you like.”
The slimy bastard offers me his hand.
I shake it. It’s what’s expected of me. He knows under normal circumstances I’d never have a prayer of joining his family. But I’ve made a name for myself in the underworld, and I’m moving up faster than anyone else in the syndicate. On top of that, word is that Angelica is the messiest of his daughters. She’s got issues, the kind Constantine has taken great pains to hide.
Not that it matters. I don’t care what’s wrong with her; she’s mine for the taking. I only need her for her name.
“Let’s go. She’ll be coming down the aisle soon.” He pauses. “Well, her mother will beshovingher down the aisle is probably more accurate. In any case, she’ll be your problem now. Not mine.” With that, he strides away into the cathedral.
“Ray of sunshine, that guy.” Gilly smooths his lapels and checks the piece he has tucked under his arm, then turns to me. “You ready, boss?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be for marriage.” I don’t want this albatross around my neck, but it’s the only way to get where I need to go. I’ve had to make plenty of sacrifices to get this far. What’s one more?
I lead the way from the groom’s chambers and walk into the packed cathedral. An old man plays the organ as I walk the red and gold carpet leading to the front where the priest stands, a pompous hat on his head.
“Looks like a chef for Jesus himself,” Gilly cracks.
I give him a look over my shoulder, and he stows the jokes.