Odin is a freedom and a prison at the same time. I know why my sisters want to marry him. He’s not Mafia. His life is not confined by our traditions. He’s an outsider. An outcast.
And yet, right now, for the first time in Serra history, he is the one with all the power. This is why he gets his choice.
In Serra tradition, Viola should be the one marrying him. She’s the oldest daughter, which makes her the prized possession.
Chiara gives him a small smile, and even a little wave.
I stare at the floor. I’ve finally seen him, and that was all I would get.
“Would you like—”
“Her.”
I expect he’s pointed at Chiara. There is silence, but Chiara is not dancing for joy. She’s not letting out her little victory squeal.
So, I have no choice but to lift my head, and when I do, everyone is looking at me.
I feel like a spare part. I have no idea what I’m doing, so I look between them all. “What’s going on?” I asked.
****
Odin
I don’t like the Serra Mafia, however, it is a lot of fun to play with them. I like to play with my toys, and they have been playing my tune for a couple of years now.
They don’t like not being in control. With me, they have no control, and they were running out of options. The moment they asked for a truce, and even offered one of their daughters as payment, I was intrigued.
Of course, they did offer many other families with daughters, but I requested Roberto Marini specifically.
There was only one woman I wanted, and I spotted her the moment I walked into the room. They didn’t have a clue that I held all the cards here. I knew everything about the whole Serra Mafia, including the woman who stood to my left. She had a book tightly clasped in her hand, just as I knew she would. Her long, brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, and her spectacles pushed up her nose. To some, she was nothing more than the ugly Marini sister. Not to me.
From the moment I saw her picture, and the information I had on her, I knew she was different, and that kind of difference made me curious about her. I wanted her. She was going to be mine, and none of them could refuse me.
The middle child, Chiara, who was trouble and didn’t have any qualms about getting men and women killed with her flirting, was not happy.
“I’m sure you’ve made a mistake,” Chiara said.
Alba looked shocked. Her eyes were wide.
Roberto let out a cough. “I’m sure this is funny for you—”
“Do I look like I’m laughing? I can have any woman I want as my wife. She is that woman. Leave us.” They were used to having complete control, but none of them were prepared for me.
Roberto looked toward his wife, and the guards had hands on their guns. I would gladly kill them all in a heartbeat.
“Of course, of course. We will allow you and Alba to talk,” Alice said, urging everyone out of the room.
I had no doubt this room was not private, and they were all probably listening from somewhere else in the house.
Alba still held her book. She hadn’t moved from her spot, and she kept lifting her gaze to meet mine, then dropping it back down. She didn’t move but stood perfectly still. The forgotten daughter. The disdain this woman received was not justified. Others considered her ugly, I did not. She might be a little plain,but her eyes held a wealth of warmth. Her body was made for a man to fuck and love. There was a kindness to her that no man in her current circle deserved.
The life I offered was a prison and freedom. She would be my wife, the mother of my children, and her loyalty would belong to me. That was her prison. She could do whatever she wanted with her life. There were no restrictions to how I wanted her to act. She would be free.
This was the only woman in this household to ever be spoken about with high regard. According to my sources and eyewitnesses, this woman was kind. I found it hard to believe that any Marini could be nice, and yet without a single doubt, the only feedback I got from this woman was good. She was the only one.
I moved closer, and the only sign of her panic was the tightening of her body. It was subtle, but I knew what I was looking for.
Years of mastering the art of intimidation meant I knew when it was working. I didn’t get where I was today by backing down.