CHAPTER 2

It's been four years since I left for India.

Life was beautiful here. Peaceful too.

But most importantly, I was safe here.

"Good morning to you too, mom." I yawned as my mother continued to yell over the phone.

It was barely seven in the morning. Why was she so mad I hadn't picked up on the first ring?

"You have to come back to New York, Pari." She eventually finished nagging.

"What?" I scoffed.

They were the ones who sent me to India after pictures of me drinking at the club that night were posted all over the Internet and the newspaper too.

One thing I would never come to understand is how the press got pictures of me going into the club and drinking and not pictures of me leaving with the stranger.

Not that I was complaining though.

If those pictures ever got out, my life would be over.

I couldn't risk anyone finding out.

Everyday, I prayed that no one ever found out who killed the stranger.

"You sent me here and all of a sudden, you want me to return to New York?"

"It's been four years already, Pari. Everyone would have forgotten about the pictures. That's how the press works." She sighed tiredly.

"But what if I like it here?"

If only she knew the actual reason I didn't want to return to New York.

"It's important that you come back to New York, Pari. Your father has something he wishes for you to do for him."

I wanted to scoff and tell her I knew she was only saying that to get me to come back to New York but she sounded scared.

Instead of sounding authoritative, my mother sounded scared.

"What's wrong?" My hands began to shake.

It couldn't be what I thought it was, right?

What if someone had found out what I had done and then had decided to use it against my parents.

I could not let them suffer for my mistake.

She was silent for a minute.

When she spoke again, her voice cracked, "You have to come back before the end of the week, Pari. I'm afraid that's all I'm allowed to say."

That's all she's allowed to say?

Just what exactly had happened?

Two days after the phonecall, I was back in New York.

A car was already waiting for me at the airport to take me home.

"Mother?" I ran into the house, leaving my bags in the booth.

I didn't have to search for long before I found her.

"Mother?" I held her shoulder, inspecting her sad face.

"What's wrong?" I almost broke down watching her tear up.

"Come with me." Without an explanation, she took my hand and led me to my father's home office.

"What's going on?" I looked between my pacing father and my mother.

"Isabella." My father turned to me and took my hand.

He looked like he had aged ten years more than his actual age.

What the hell was happening to my parents?

He shut his eyes and bowed his head, preparing to tell me whatever was going on.

"In everything, I want you to know that your mother and I truly love you. More than you could ever imagine."

"Say something already, I beg you." I pleaded.

"You're getting married." He dropped the bombshell.

We remained silent until I laughed.

"What?"

"You made me leave India just so you could prank me?"

I snatched my hand from him and covered my face.

"Pari, it's not a prank." My mother took a step closer to me.

"It's a joke! You're both messing around with me. What? Is this payback for the pictures from four years ago?"

Marriage?

Really?

What sort of joke was this?

"You are getting married, Isabella. We wouldn't waste our time just to pull off some prank." My father deadpanned.

Truth be told, they were both to busy to play pranks, especially one like this.

"What do you mean? I never mentioned getting engaged."

They both went silent again.

"Your engagement party is this evening." He began walking out of his office.

"Your mother will fill you in on everything you need to know." While he spoke, he avoided looking at me.

"Dad?" I rushed to him.

"Please, Isabella," he stopped at the door and turned to look at me.

"Do not argue, do not disagree and do not even think of running away. Please. It would be for your good if you do as I have said."

He hesitated for a while like he had more to say but only shook his head and walked away.

"I'll get you prepared for the evening and tell you everything you need to know." My mother took my hand and gently lead me to my bedroom.

By the time she was done doing my makeup and my hair, she had filled me in on everything I never imagined my family was.

My face had gone pale along with the rest of my body.

I was so cold, I couldn't even feel the dress on my skin.

"Pari." My mother called me when I wouldn't say anything.

"You defend criminals?" I stuttered.

"It's not like that, I promise you." She tried to reach for me but I slapped her hand away.

"Did you get married to dad the same way?" Her answer wasn't going to change the situation but I wanted to hear it.

"No." She looked away shamefully.

"So why do I not get my freedom like you did?"

Slowly, I stood up and turned to her.

"You would rather sell your only child away to a criminal to save yourself than stand up for her?"

I didn't stop another breath before yelling, "You would defend criminals in Court but wouldn't even protect your own child!"

By now, the tears I was trying to hold back was already streaming down my face.

"All my life, I've done my best to uphold the good image I thought my parents had. You chased me to India because pictures of me drinking at a club threatened your perfect reputation. Yet, all these years, you've been defending criminals?"

"You said it yourself, mother, this man is a terrifying criminal. He enjoys killing people. How could you possibly be okay with letting me get married to him? What if he kills me?"

I didn't care if my make-up was ruined, I let the tears run free.

"I am not okay with you getting married to that devil, okay?!" She yelled back, crying too.

"I've defended him in Court before, Pari. I know the things he's done. I would never willingly let my daughter be his victim but we do not have a choice."

"For whatever reason he has, he wants marriage with my child as payment for the money he lent us. Defending you against him is pointless, Pari."

She looked away, wrapping her hands around herself, "He'll kill us all if we refuse. What's the point of fighting a lost battle?"

"You're just giving excuses." I bite out angrily.

"He's not going to let anything happen to you." The confidence in her voice was despicably strong.

"That's comforting." Sarcasm dripped from each word.

"Alliance is more cherished than human life in the their world. To gain alliance, you must prove to your partners that under your care, they are well protected. If you can not protect your own family, they'll believe you cannot protect them. Enzo Morretti might be a monster but he's definitely going to protect you. Pari, you're better protected under his care than under ours."

Before I could respond, my dad barged in, "They're here." His announcement made my knees go weak.

Tonight, I was going to meet and be engaged to Enzo Morretti- the devil in human form.

All thanks to my wonderful parents.

"Do not create a scene, Isabella." My father held my shoulder.

"Why? Scared we'll all end up with bullets in our heads?" My joke did nothing to lighten my mood.

"Please. Eventually, you'll understand better." He added, squeezing my shoulder.

"We should head out now." He nodded at my mother who came to stand beside me.

We all headed out to our backyard where the engagement party was holding.

We hadn't arrived yet but I could already hear the happy chatter of my soon-to-be in-laws.

"I'm deeply sorry, Pari. I wish I could stop this." My mother apologized again.

"I'll never forgive you for this. Both of you."