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Chapter 10
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Marriage For Convenience 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
Marriage For Convenience Chapter 1
BEFORE – SALVATORE“You do remember what I told Phoenix last time I saw him? I doubt he’ll have any kind of interest in working with us after that,” Simone muttered, pacing the room. “He will kill me the moment I set foot in his territory, trust me. Fuck, I would kill me if I were him.”Cosimo shook his head. “He is angry, but he will see reason.”I nodded. “He wanted to protect his property, his wife, but he’s still a businessman, and wehave good arguments for cooperation. Drugs are still his main business, and our contact in his lab tells us they can’t produce enough for the increasing demand. Phoenix needs to import drugs, but he can’t because we hold the west and Manuele holds the middle. His smugglers lose too much of the shit before it reaches the East Coast. If he works with us, we can guarantee safe transport through our territory and in return he promises us to stay out of our fight with Manuele Villondo. We don’t even want his help.”“We don’t need it,” Cosimo insisted, dar
Marriage For Convenience Chapter 2
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
Marriage For Convenience Chapter 3
SALVATORE“I assume you will hold back during our meeting and not offend Romano,” I said as Simone and I boarded the plane.“I’m not a genius like you, but I’m no imbecile either. Don’t worry, I know when to shut up.”I nodded as I sank down into one of the comfortable leather seats. Simone usually had a goodhandle on his emotions, unlike my brother. “That Phoenix even agreed to meet us at all is a good sign.”Simone sat in the seat across from me. “It might be, yes, or Phoenix wants to put a bullet in ourheads.”“No,” I said. “He won’t risk war with the D’Angelo. Cosimo would attack, and he wouldn’t do itwith subtle tactics like Manuele Villondo. He’d go to New York and go on a killing spree they haven’t seen in the Famiglia before.”Simone smirked. “Yeah, he’d do that. But I hear Phoenix has gone on a few impressive killingsprees in the last few years to get the Famiglia under control and shut up the Bratva. He and Cosimo are pretty similar when it comes down to it.”“To some ex
Marriage For Convenience Chapter 4
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,
Marriage For Convenience Chapter 5
CELESTINA Today.A knock sounded, tearing me out of the painful memories. I took a deep breath and willed my voice to be strong. “Come in.”Aunt Josephine opened the door, but she didn’t enter. Worry tightened her mouth. “Celestina, that was very rude,” she said. She regarded me then averted her gaze, and again it was filled with a hint of guilt. “You should be honored to be given to someone of importance. With your background, it’s a blessing. Your wedding will be a spectacle. It’ll bring honor to your name.” “And yours,” I said quietly.She stiffened, and I instantly regretted my words. I had no right to criticize her or my uncle. “We braved a lot of unpleasantness because we took you in. You can hardly hold it against us that we are happy to have found such a honorable match for you.” “Has it been decided?” I asked quietly.She frowned. “As good as. The Grecos insist on Phoenix’s relative for the marriage, naturally,so Altair suggested you. Phoenix would like a word with you befo
Marriage For Convenience Chapter 6
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
Marriage For Convenience Chapter 7
CELESTINAAunt Josephine looked incredibly pleased as she entered the library where I had been hiding all day from her and my uncle. “Phoenix had a meeting with Salvatore Greco today.”I put down the book I was reading, trying to keep my face emotionless. “And?”“Phoenix showed Salvatore a photo of you, and he agreed to marry you.”She watched me expectantly as if she thought I’d do a happy dance because Salvatore hadapproved of my looks. I swallowed hard. “That’s good news.” It was all I could manage, and it lacked enthusiasm.My aunt pursed her lips. “Celestina, really, I don’t think you grasp what this means.”Oh, I knew exactly what it meant, and that was the problem. “It takes some getting used to, theidea of marrying him, Aunt Josephine. Don’t worry, by the time I’ll have to marry him, I’ll be able to convey my excitement properly.”It was a blatant lie. If I managed not to flinch at every touch, that would be a huge success.“Well, you don’t have much time. Cosimo Greco insis
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