Page 5 of The Mafia’s Girlfriend

“Sis.” Krista winced, standing to come hug me. “It won’t be the end of your life.”

“You know what I mean.”

In a manner of speaking, my control over my life would be over. Here, as my father’s daughter, I had to relent to him having the say in my future. He’d paired me up with Antonio to gain the most benefit from the alliance, and in that, I was leverage. I was valuable.

As soon as Antonio was my husband, he’d own me. And there would be no point in him treating me well or keeping me happy. I’d be his pawn, his sex toy, his pussy to breed. That was simply the way of life in the world of organized crime families.

“You’ll still have me.”

I reared up to shoot her a skeptical look.

“Well, I hope.” She smiled, infusing optimism into her expression too quickly for me to be convinced she believed that. Antonio was a possessive freak. I bet I’d be locked inside for good.

“Just because you’ve been trying to sleep with Justin,” I said, referencing a Marchese soldier she’d had her eye on, “doesn’t mean I’d be able to choose my friends or be able to keep them close.”

The day I married, I’d be whisked to the Marchese mansion, and that would be that.

“Okay. What the hell can I say?” She deflated, dropping her arms and switching to a get real smirk. “You have to marry him. There’s no way out of it.”

I nodded, still rubbing my stomach.

“So they’re moving the wedding date from the winter to the end of the summer. That doesn’t change the fact that it’s gonna happen one way or another.”

Again, I bobbed my head, hating that she was right.

“Then why dread it now.”

“I can’t accept it.”

She gripped my upper arms. “You have to.”

“Fine. I have to.” I twisted away to pace again. “But accepting that I’ll never live is not something I can sacrifice.”

“What do you mean?”

I pulled a bit of the inside of cheek between my teeth and ground it between them, not biting down but putting pressure as I put my thoughts together.

“I have until the end of the summer.” I swallowed hard at that death sentence. “I don’t have to see him until then.” I pointed at the house I avoided, sticking to the ornamental gardens way out here. “I don’t have to play nice and act like a willing fiancée.”

She furrowed her brow. “Since you didn’t have to deal with the engagement party, I’d say you’re not technically a fiancée yet.”

I nodded, glad that I didn’t have to wear a ring yet.

“What are you thinking, then?”

“I’m thinking we—”

“What the hell are you doing hiding out here?” my father yelled. “Can’t you act like you’re willing to participate?”

Krista flinched, sitting back down in the shadows. I tipped my chin up higher.

“You know my thoughts on being a pawn.” I crossed my arms.

He stalked closer, fuming and sweating under the muggy sunshine. His hands lifted to violently swat at the bees, and I prayed they’d sting him. He had no allergies. It wouldn’t kill him. Seeing him suffer even a teeny bit would appease me though.

“Have I ever given you an indication that I give a shit what your thoughts are?” He scoffed, shaking his head. “You’re marrying Antonio.”

I kept my lips pressed together as I toyed with the inside of my lip again. I seethed. I steadied my breaths, exhaling through my nose. I would not give him the satisfaction of seeing me lose it. He wouldn’t care how mad or scared I was.