“Yes. I have some news for you. The time has come for you to prove that you’re an asset to this family. I’ve found a husband for you,” he says in a cold and detached voice. He’s so unaffected, while my whole world begins to crumble around me.
“Wh-what?” I choke out. “You can’t be serious! I’ve only now turned eighteen!”
“Yes. Eighteen, which is exactly the right age for marriage in our world. I should’ve married you off when you were sixteen. Be glad that I didn’t,” he says, and I scoff.
“The only reason you didn’t was because of Luca, and we both know it. He probably would have killed you if you had suggested such a thing!” I snap at him.
“Well, he’s not here now, is he?” he sneers.
“So that gives you the right to act like an even bigger asshole?” I choke out.
“Yes! Since your brother isn’t here anymore, you’ll have to do what’s required of you to ensure this family remains successful. Besides, you were raised your whole life preparing for this. It’s what’s always been expected of you as mychild,” he says, spitting the word “child” out. “Don’t act delusional, like you had no idea that sooner or later you’d have to marry someone of my choosing to strengthen our alliance with another family.”
“Is that all you fucking care about?” I scream at him. I’ve never yelled or screamed at my father until this past week. I’ve always tried to be the dutiful daughter, silent and unnoticeable, but right now I’m reeling from the news he so callously sprang on me. “Do you think Luca would want this for me? He would fucking hate you!”
His face turns an angry shade of red, and in one quick stride, he walks over to where I’m sitting and backhands me across the face.Well, I knew that was coming. The slap stings and tears well in my eyes, but yet again, I try to hold them in, refusing to let them fall in front of him. He grabs me by the neck and pulls me off the stool so that I’m on my feet, squeezing as he brings his face directly in front of mine before speaking again.
“Don’t you ever mention my fucking son again! If he wasn’t so distracted with you, then he wouldn’t have disappeared in the first place! You’re such a fucking disgrace!” he hisses in my face.
“Why shouldn’t I mention him again? He was my brother! And a far better parental figure to me than you ever were! I’m your fucking child too! Your daughter! Or did you forget that? Why do you hate me for something I had no fucking control over? You should have gotten rid of me the day I killed my mother if you loathe me that much!” I scream.
“I should have, and it’s my biggest regret that I didn’t!” he sneers, his face twisted in disgust as he shoves me away from him, my back crashing into the vanity. My chest aches at his words, but I hide the pain. I’ve always known this is how hefeels about me. A moment later, I right myself, standing up and looking at him.
“Who?”
“Who, what?” he snarls.
“Who are you marrying me off to?” I snap.
“Salvatore Rossi,” he says with finality in his voice. My face must show how horrified I am because he smirks. My whole world is ending. Of all the people in the world, he had to choose that fucking creepy old bastard? Granted, I think I would despise anyone he chose for me.
“That old fucking perverted bastard?” I scream, which earns me another slap to the face. An involuntary shiver races throughout my body just thinking about it. I’ve heard the stories about what Salvatore does to the prostitutes who work for him in his strip clubs. He beats, tortures, and rapes them. I can’t imagine what he’d do to me just for the fun of it because he’s sick and twisted just like my father.Oh God! I think I’m going to be sick!
“Don’t be fucking disrespectful! He’s the head of the Rossi family, and you will address him with the respect he deserves!” he snaps. “Don’t forget you have an obligation to follow orders and do what is best for this family. The wedding will take place in six months. Use the rest of the day to think about what your new role is going to be and get used to it, because you will be meeting with your future husband tomorrow.”
He turns and storms out of my room, slamming the door behind him.Guess we’re not having breakfast together anymore,I think to myself before the absurdity of my thoughts causes a deranged sort of laugh to escape me.
As soon as he’s gone, Giana rushes back into the room.The asshole didn’t even wish me a happy birthday, but then again, I shouldn’t be surprised.
Follow his orders and do what is best for the family? When has the family ever done what was best for me? Everything Father does is to ensure it’s what’s best for him and no one else. Life was okay when Luca was around, but ever since he’s been gone, nothing has been right.
“Are you alright? What happened?” she questions, guiding me toward my bed and making me sit as she takes a seat next to me. She pulls me in for a hug, trying to calm me down. I don’t know how to process the emotions the bomb my father dropped on me caused.
If I thought life here, being locked away in this mansion, was the worst thing that could ever happen to me, I was wrong. Being married to Salvatore Rossi would top the list. It would be the death of me.
“I-I-I…” I start, not able to get my words out through the sobs that rack my body. “I’m getting married in six months!”
“What?”
“He's forcing me to get married to a monster!”
“Who did he arrange a match to?”
“Salvatore Rossi…” I tell her, trailing off as a sense of dread pools in the pit of my stomach at the thought of being anywhere near Salvatore. I haven’t seen him since the night of the party, which has been a blessing. The guy really fucking scares me. I hate this arrangement for several reasons. The top ones being that he’s fucking older than my father, and he may or may not be involved in trafficking women.What a sick, twisted, and perverted old bastard!
I can only imagine what he’d do to me once we’re married. My entire body quivers as I think about the misery I’m in for. I quickly stand to my feet again.
“I-I need to go see Luca’s grave!” I say on a gasp. My limbs tremble, and I can’t breathe, like I’m about to have a panicattack. His grave is empty. I don’t know why I want to go and see it, but I do. Maybe it will calm me down. Who the fuck knows?