This is absurd. I know it’s crazy. The whole point of marrying me off is to make an alliance with another mafia family. Letting me pick my future husband from among our business won’t strengthen anything at all.
But I’m so desperate, I’m willing to try anything at this point.
“You know I can’t,” he says quietly, shaking his head.
“Please, Papa.” I take a step closer. I feel a stone in my throat the size of a softball and I think I might throw up. “I’m asking for a favor. One final favor, and after this I’ll never ask anything from you again. I know you’ve been soft on me, and I’m begging you to give me this one final chance.”
He closes his eyes. “Karah. It doesn’t work like that.”
“Please, Papa.”
He sighs and rubs his face. For one long, silent moment, I picture my life somewhere far away, tethered to a strange man I barely know, rotting in a family that doesn’t love me and views me as little more than expedient currency. It’s a nightmare, one I’ve always known might be my fate, and now that it’s here, all I can think about is escape.
“One week,” he finally says and releases a long breath. “If you can find someone suitable in a week, I’ll change my plans with the Novalov family. It may cost me dearly, but I love you, Karah.”
“Papa, thank you.” I rush to him as tears stream down my cheeks. I hug him tight, my massive bear-like Papa. He hugs me back tightly.
“I am too soft on you, girl,” he says quietly. “I’ve been too weak with you, but that’ll change from now on. Do you understand me?”
“I understand.”
He pulls me away and looks into my eyes. “You’ll grow up after this. No matter what happens, whether you marry the Russian or find someone suitable, you will grow up.”
“Yes, Papa. I promise.”
“Then you have a week. I hope you have someone in mind.”
I only smile and extract myself from his big mitt-sized hands. “You know me, boy crazy.”
He laughs and sits back down in his chair, already absorbed in his work.
I leave his study and stand in the relative cool of the hallway, tucked back into the shadows of the doorway. The house is still and quiet, only the sound of the staff in the kitchen preparing dinner echoes up from the kitchens.
I don’t fully understand why Papa gave in so easily—why he’s giving me this opportunity or why he’s always been so gentle with me. The others all notice and complain about it, especially Casso. Nico even teases me ruthlessly every time Papa bends his rules ever so slightly to make my life just a little bit easier. Everyone knows Papa has a soft spot for me, and I’ve never questioned it before, at least until today.
Now I have to wonder—why would he do this?
Why risk angering a potential ally and a rival family?
It doesn’t matter. I can either accept that he has his reasons or I can obsess over what they might be, but either way I’d better find a husband and do it fast.
One week.
I have no clue who I’m going to marry, but I have one week to figure it out—or I’ll be sold to some stranger and shipped away from my home forever.