“I was asking Gianna.” He sets his eyes on me. “Are you ok with this?
Francesca sighs. “I already told you –,”
“I am asking my sister.”
That finally quiets Francesca. When it comes to Enzo, she has no choice but to defer to him when we all know she wishes she was the most powerful one in the room.
“I’m ok with it,” I whisper.
Enzo’s eyes tighten. “You are?”
“It’s my duty. If this match helps secure you power and helps you win this war you’re in with Marco Amato, then yes. I’ll do whatever I have to do.” And if it means I get to live away from Francesca, even the better.
The urge to throw up hits me but I push it down. I already threw up yesterday. I try not to do it every day since it’s terrible for my health. And the less I do it, the less anyone notices.
“Then it’s decided,” Francesca announces. “Gianna will marry Nico. This is a great day.”
Despite my aunt’s smile, I can’t say that I agree with her.
Nico arrives at five o’clock on the dot for dinner. I can’t help but notice how he saunters into the house like he owns it. Like he already owns me.
“Gianna,” he says in his warm voice. Nico is a handsome man. I will give him that. Things could be worse, I remind myself. “I’m so glad you agreed to a marriage with me. You won’t regret it.”
“She better not,” Enzo says, standing next to me. “Nico, you told me that you wanted to speak with Gianna. You may speak to her now.”
“I was hoping for a moment alone with her.”
Enzo looks between me and Nico, giving me the choice to agree to it or not.
“All right,” I whisper.
“What was that?” Nico asks. “You’ll need to start speaking up more, Gianna, after we’re married. It’s so hard to hear you sometimes.”
“I said yes. I’ll speak with you.”
Enzo nods his approval. “I’ll be in the dining room. You two can talk.” He gives Nico one last warning look to not try anything with me before he walks away.
Then it’s just me and Nico alone. It’s the first time I’ve ever been alone with a man who wasn’t my brother or uncle. But since my uncle has long since passed away, it’s just Enzo now. I was never allowed to date as a teenager. I guess I could have tried to date after I turned eighteen but Francesca would never have allowed it so I never tried. Her hold over me is too strong sometimes.
“So, Gianna, we’re to be married. I wanted you to understand what that means.”
“Yes?” I wring my hands together until it hurts.
“I would advise you to stop doing that,” he says, his eyes going to my hands. Instantly, I drop my hands at my sides.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s just a little rude in my opinion. I want my wife to not look like a scared little bird all the time. And that’s another thing. You’re so quiet I can barely hear you when you speak.You’ll need to learn to speak up after we’re married. I don’t want to have to ask you to repeat yourself for the entirety of our marriage.”
“I’m sorry,” I repeat, blinking the tears back from falling down my face.
“You are mine now, Gianna. And that means I will protect you. But if you ever step out on me with another man, you will not like the outcome.”
A shiver runs down my spine and I’m too scared to ask him what he means by that. Mafia men can be possessive. I know that. But surely Enzo wouldn’t marry me to someone who would hurt me. Right? Unless he doesn’t know about this side of Nico…
“You will listen to me. Obey me at all times. If I ask for a kiss, you will kiss me. Is that understood?”
“Do I not get a say?”