Marriage For Convenience

CELESTINAThe Grecos were going to feel cheated. A sacrificial virgin was to be given to the monsters in Las Vegas for a promise of peace. I was never given the chance to be a virgin. That choice had been taken from me. Painfully ripped from me.Fear, acute and raw, clawed at my chest as my husband led me into our room for the night andclosed the door to the grinning faces of his brothers. Salvatore released me, and I quickly created distance between us, moving toward the bed.Six years had passed, but the memories still woke me at night. I was scared of being close to aman, to any man, especially this man—my husband.Standing a few steps in front of the bed, my eyes swept over the white sheets—sheets myfamily expected to the see stained with my blood in the morning.Blood that wouldn’t be there.I crept closer to the bed. There had been blood the first time, the second time, and even thethird time. Lots of blood, pain, terror, and begging. There had been no presentation of the sh

CELESTINAI stood off to the side as usual, far enough away from the dance floor so no one would feel obligated to ask me to a dance. My eyes followed Alejandra as she danced with her husband, Damion. Her eyes caught mine briefly, and she smiled. She had already moved out when I had to move in with Aunt Josephine and Uncle Altair six years ago, but she and I had become close friends nevertheless, closer than anyone else, especially my older brothers. They were allowed to stay in Atlanta after our father was killed by my cousin Phoenix. I shivered at the memory.Alejandra was one of the few who looked at me with kindness and not a superior sneer. I resistedthe urge to rub my arms; it seemed like I was always cold. Even the music failed to set me at ease. I couldn’t wait to be back home and feel the keys of my piano under my fingertips.My spine stiffened when Phoenix headed toward me. His wife, Caroline, probably took pity on meand told him to ask me to a dance. I really wished he wo

CELESTINADespite the warmer temperatures that March brought, I was glad for my thick wool sweater. I’d never grown used to the colder climate of Baltimore. The weather in Atlanta had been so much warmer. My fingers were stiff as I settled them on the piano keys and began to play. Melancholic low notes of music filled the room, a reflection of my current emotions. I had started fiddling with the composition a couple of days ago, but it was still far from good.When my aunt stepped into the living room, perfectly styled—as always—in a beige cashmeredress, her dark hair piled on top of her head, I lifted my hands off the keys and the sound died off in a soft exhale.Uncle Altair entered behind her. He was a tall man, heavy around the middle, with a mustachethat twitched when he talked. They exchanged a look and something heavy settled in my stomach.“We need to have a word with you,” Altair said.I got up from the bench and followed them toward the seating area. They sat on the couch,

SALVATORE. I returned late that night to our mansion. Cosimo was awake as usual. He never slept more than a few hours. He got up from the sofa the moment I stepped into our game room. Saverio and Augusto were busy playing a video game, some kind of race. Augusto was in lead; just like in real life, he knew how to drive a car.“And?” There was a hint of eagerness in Cosimo’s voice. I wasn’t sure if he hoped Phoenix haddisagreed after today’s meeting so we could attack the Famiglia or if he really wanted peace. Cosimo only ever thrived in chaos and violence.“He suggested one of his cousins, Celestina Romano.”“If her last name is Romano, her father must be one of Phoenix’s traitorous uncles.”“You are right. Her father was killed for betraying Phoenix.”“So he gives us the daughter of a traitor?” Cosimo asked in a low voice.“We don’t care about these kinds of things.”Cosimo threw one of his knives at one of the armchairs, and it wedged itself into the leather. There were more holes

SALVATOREWe pulled up in front of the massive stone and stucco Romano villa in Baltimore, where the engagement party would take place. With only two days before the actual wedding, there was no logical reason to get officially engaged at all, but logical decisions weren’t the Famiglia’s forte. Saverio, Augusto, and Simone remained in Las Vegas to make sure things went smoothly over there. They would only fly over for the actual wedding. It wasn’t as if any of us cared for the festivities. It wouldn’t be a huge affair like Caroline and Phoenix’s wedding had been many years ago. Our Underbosses and Captains would stay in their territory. Cosimo wouldn’t risk anything after the Outfit attack.“If they’ve invited that fucker Puma, I will paint their walls bright red with his fucking blood and that of any Famiglia fucker who gets in my way,” Cosimo growled. “He won’t be invited, Cosimo. Phoenix won’t risk it. He knows you and Puma will tear into each t other.” “What about you? You’d fuc