Dad heaves a sigh, and for the first time dread crawls onto his features. Whatever he’s about to say, he knows I won’t like it and he’s not looking forward to telling me.
“Because you’re the final puzzle piece in all of this,” he says. “You’rethe deal.”
“You mean I’m brokering it? Dad, you know I prefer not to do negotiations with crime lords. Businessmen on Wall Street? Pressers with the media? Fine. But me and capos and pakhans and?—”
“Princess,” he interrupts yet again. “The negotiation is over. You arepartof the deal.”
I go still as if I’ve heard wrong.
…because I had to have. I haven’t heard what he’s said correctly. What does he mean I’m part of the deal?
“It’s been agreed that you’ll marry Ronan Callahan, second son of Seamus Callahan. It’ll officially join our families and ensure we both have a vested interest in this venture succeeding.”
I would’ve preferred it if he told me someone was facing time in prison.
If he told me we were facing bankruptcy or some kind of FBI investigation.
I would’ve preferred almost anything else to…this.
The words don’t make sense. The scenario he’s describing doesn’t either. What does he mean I’m…?
I can’t even finish the sentence. I stand up so fast Duchess yelps and jumps off the sofa, retreating to her dog bed in the corner.
“I’mnotmarrying any Callahan—or anyone. You can’t arrange for me to be married. It’s 2025, not 1825! I’m no one’s property.”
Dad remains calm, his legs still crossed, his expression unmoved. “This is what needs to happen for the family. The Callahans have already agreed.”
“I refuse!”
“You have no option.”
“I saidno!”
“Princess, you know how these situations work. Don’t make this difficult. It’s either this,” he says, his tone hardening, “or exile.”
My jaw drops. I stare at him, searching his face for any sign that he’s joking. But there’s nothing. He’s dead serious.
This is real. This is actually happening.
He stands, stepping toward me with a gentler, fatherly expression, like he’s trying to defuse a bomb.
“Your mother and I were arranged. I was an American businessman. Her father was a powerful politician in Ghana. We came to an agreement.” He pauses, a flicker of fondness passing in his gaze. “And we love each other deeply. You know we do, princess. We’ve been married for thirty years. These arrangements can work out, Simone. You just have to be open minded.”
I take a step back out of his reach, shaking my head. “It’s easy for you to say when you’re not the one being married off to some Irish gangster. Daddy, you know their reputation!”
“The Callahans are as decent as it gets in the underworld,” he says firmly. “They have values. Rules. A code, of sorts. Ronan will treat you right, princess. He’s sworn he will, and in the event he does hurt you, they’re aware it voids the agreement. I put those stipulations in foryourbenefit.”
“I don’t care!” My voice cracks, emotion flooding me. “I’m not doing this.”
“It’s already agreed. The engagement dinner is Friday. Doris can help you pick out a dress.”
Chantal’s mixer at the art gallery is Friday.
…to think, just an hour ago I was enjoying myself shopping for dresses for it.
Now it seems I need a dress for an entirely different event.
Dad sits back down, picks up the remote, and turns up the volume on ESPN. Duchess trots back to his side, settling in like nothing happened.