When She Loves (The Fallen, #4)(3)
Let him hear it, Gem.
“And by the way, I’m pregnant,” she says.
Our parents’ reaction is priceless. I wish I could take a picture of their shell-shocked expressions so that I’d have something to look at on the days I’m feeling down.
“Like I said, Gemma is no longer qualified to be my wife,” Rafaele drawls, cutting through the stunned silence with his cold voice. “The stipulations in our contract were very clear. I’ve already delivered what I promised. I got you out of prison, and I got your charges dropped. This isn’t how I do business, Garzolo.”
“What do you want me to do?” Papà rasps. He’s really panicking now. “I had no idea—”
“You owe me a wife.” Rafaele’s gaze falls on me. “So I’m taking your other daughter.”
Our eyes clash together. His are so cold that most people are repelled by their icy scrutiny, but right now, there’s something else swirling inside all that ice.
Something vaguely possessive.
My blood chills in my veins as my surroundings fade. I don’t break eye contact even though it feels like a noose is slowly being tightened around my neck.
In our world, marriage is never an equal partnership. It’s a prison.
And I’m not the kind of person who does well in captivity.
Just ask my parents. I’ve disobeyed them my whole life. The more they tried to control me, the more I rebelled. I was going to find a way out of this life. I would leave New York, build a career, and become independent.
That dream is all over now, isn’t it?
I tear my gaze away from my future husband and look at my sister.
Gem.
That’s right. This isn’t about me.
I’m doing this for her. Because I love her, and I want her to be happy with Ras and her baby. My dreams have always been just that—dreams. But her happy ending is real and ready for the taking.
“Everyone knows that girl is a slut.”
The voice of Rafaele’s uncle pierces through the pounding in my ears.
I flinch even though it’s not the first time someone’s called me that.
One of my recent attempts to piss my parents off included lying about going all the way with an outsider. They bought it, given Papà was the one who walked in on us in bed. The truth is all we did was some heavy petting, but I encouraged the rumor to spread. If it helped me avoid marriage, I didn’t care what anyone thought of me.
But right now, the word bothers me. If it’s what stops Gemma from getting away from here, I’ll never forgive myself.
Rafaele turns to his uncle. “I’m aware there are rumors floating around about my future wife. Good thing they’re completely unfounded. From now on, anyone who speaks a word of them will lose their tongue. Have I made myself clear, Uncle?”
My future wife. My mouth goes dry. Jeez, he’s adjusting quickly to the change.
And already doing damage control. He needs to clean up my reputation, so I guess he may as well start now.
Rafaele’s uncle pales. “I didn’t know. I apologize.”
Nero grins and claps his hands. “The matter is settled then.”
“Go, Gemma,” I urge her, giving her hand one final squeeze. “It’s done.”
She gives me a nervous smile, hope shining in her eyes.
Rafaele nods at Gemma to signal that she’s free to leave. Papà starts shouting in protest, but Rafaele’s men block him from interfering as Gemma slips out the door.
The dinner appears to be over. Rafaele walks around the table to where I’m sitting and grabs me by the arm. “Let’s go,” he says in a low voice. His hold on me is firm but not painful. I let him lift me to my feet and lead me out of the restaurant.
An SUV is waiting outside. He opens the door, shoves me inside, and slides in after me. His scent washes over me, spicy and masculine.
Nero takes the driver’s seat and starts the car, his eyes briefly meeting mine in the rearview mirror.
My head spins. I press my temple against the cool window and try to come to terms with what just happened.
“Your sister said your father beat her. Did he do the same to you?” Rafaele asks, a strange lilt to his voice.
I glance sideways at him. “No,” I say. “Only Gemma.”
He rolls his shoulders, not looking at me. “I’m taking you to my home. You will stay there until our wedding, because your father is clearly incompetent when it comes to overseeing his daughters. There won’t be any further change of plans. You will walk down that aisle in three days and become my wife. Do you understand?”
He’s right. My father is incompetent in many ways.
But Rafaele isn’t.
Something tells me there won’t be any sneaking out of his house.
When I don’t say anything for a second too long, he takes my chin in his hand. His touch burns against my skin, but his blue eyes are pure ice. “Do you understand?”
Dismay drips into my blood.
By marrying this man, I’m signing my life away.
I swallow and give him the smallest of nods. “I understand.”
CHAPTER 2
2 DAYS LATER