The Lottery of Fate
Every Christmas Eve, the heir of the Marco mafia family—Adrian Marco, must follow the family tradition:
Draw a name to decide whether he’s allowed to marry me.
Because I, Irene Cast, am not mafia-born.
Unless he draws the slip with my name on it, he can’t take me as his wife.
For four years, Adrian has drawn four times.
And not once did he draw my name.
I always thought he fought with his family because of me—
that he was willing to risk losing his position as the Don, just to choose me.
Every time he failed, he held me so tightly and whispered,
“It’s okay. There’s always next year.”
And I loved him so much it hurt.
Hurt enough that I was willing to wait, year after year.
This year, I told m