The minutes tick by agonizingly slow before I hear voices outside the room. It’s my father bidding his guests a good evening. It must be family business if it’s this late. I set my glass down and stand, my hands on my hips.
When Gustavo walks in, I glare at him.
“You’ve heard,” he says calmly. “And you’re unhappy.”
“Who arranges a marriage in this day and age?”
“Frankie is a good son. He will take care of you, provide for you, and most importantly, protect you,” my father says, pouring himself a drink. He loosens the buttons on his suit jacket and sits behind the heavy oak table that dominates the far corner of the library.
I lean on the table, on the opposite side, so I’m facing him. “Let me explain something. I am not marrying Francesco Sorvino. Not over my dead body will I marry into that family. You have no right selling me like I’m something you own.”
“Don Alessandro has agreed, and his decision is final. There is no fighting this, Amelia. Just take it in your stride, and you might even come to love him in time.” my father gives a weary sigh.
I glare at my father and stand straight. “You understand that you can’t make me do this. I will not do this. This is not something you can force to happen. I will never, ever go through with an arranged marriage, no matter who you choose to be, my husband. That is my choice, father, not yours.”
Gustavo’s demeanor changes, and his shoulders straighten. “You will learn to respect my decision, Amelia. I am warning you to let this go. I am tired of fighting you on every decision when you have done nothing but prove that you cannot make good decisions for yourself.”
“I have free will. If I want to marry a homeless man, I will,” I spit at him. “I won’t do it.”
“Then say goodbye to the family,” he yells at me angrily. “Because let me tell you, Amelia, you will not see one person from this family again unless you marry the Sorvino boy.”
Only he could call Frankie a boy. My heart freezes in my chest. I might not get along with my father, but I love my family. My cousins and aunts, and uncles. I love them to pieces. They’re such good, loving people.
“You can’t do this,” I plead. “You can’t force me to do something that will make me miserable. You don’t know him, Father. You don’t know what he’s capable of.”
Gustavo waves a hand at me. “I know what he is capable of, and that’s protecting you. Also, he was brought up right. He won’t hit you around and abuse you like some of these other men you’ve dated have done. He won’t put you in the hospital. My decision is final, Amelia, marry Francesco Sorvino or leave our family for good. God knows we’re tired of our hearts breaking watching you destroy your life.”
I fall silent. This wasn’t the fight I was expecting. Never in my life has my father ever threatened to cut me off from my family before. They are all I have. I have some friends here and there, but they’re party friends. Family is so important. I was brought up learning that family is everything. Now, if I want to keep my family, I have to trade my soul.
“I can’t believe you,” I say, softly but angrily.
“Make your decision but make it now,” my father warns me. “Because I am tired of waiting around for a phone call that one of your boyfriends has killed you.”
“You say you care about me, you say you’re doing this out of worry for me, but they’re mobsters. They’re just as dangerous.”
“They are from the old stock. They have morals and values. They know our ways, and they know how important family is. It’s time for you to settle down. You’re not changing my mind. You’re just confirming to me that I’m making the right decision. You’re a loose cannon, and you need to live in reality now. What do you choose?”
I’m seething. For a moment, I consider telling him to hell with him and the family, but I know in my heart that’s not what I want. I love my family so much, and I don’t want to be cast out into the world alone with no one.
“Fine,” I snap, “I agree to your terms. I will marry Francesco.”
My heart plummets in my chest. I’m feeling a mixture of anger, hate, and sadness for what my life is about to become. I will have no say in my future or what I do with Frankie as my husband. He will be more controlling than Gustavo Fernando has ever been.
Chapter 6 - Frankie
No reception.
That was my one condition about the wedding, and it was one that Amelia thankfully agreed to. I stand in front of the priest as he asks me to recite my vows. I repeat the words he says as I didn’t bother writing my own. Neither has Amelia.
When he says I can kiss my bride, I lift Amelia’s veil and peck her cheek to the applause of the families attending the affair. It is a family-only affair, aside, of course, from guards. I don’t want anyone getting hurt today, especially with so many of us gathered in one spot. It makes us an easy target for our enemies.
I offer Amelia my arm. She hasn’t smiled once. She looks at me coldly before formally placing her arm on top of mine, and I escort her down the aisle and out of the church.
Paper confetti rains down on us as we walk out of the church and toward the limousine that is waiting for us at the end of the small crowd.
I open the door for Amelia and help her inside. Her dress is simple, a figure-hugging ivory gown with sequins and white beads sewn into the hems in plain lines that make the dress sparkle prettily. The veil is simple as well, attached to a basic clip that slides into her up-styled hair. A few loose curls frame her face, and she only wears light makeup. I prefer her without makeup. She has a natural beauty that shouldn’t be hidden.
We drive back to Alessandro’s new house to a ‘not reception,’ which means it’s just our immediate families having dinner together.