Marriage For Convenience

VAT

all, but logical decisions weren't the Famiglia's forte. Saverio, Augusto, and Simone remained in Las Vegas to make sure things went smoothly over there. They would only fly over for the actual wedding. It wasn't as if any of us

r walls bright red with his fucking blood and that of a

nix won't risk it. He knows you an

and watch that fucker prancing around wh

I'd slice him

urling up. "Someone kept an eye on the window, it seems," he muttered as we walked up to my future wife's aunt and uncle. The engagement wouldn't be a grand feast, only held to

k and black dress pants with black wingtip shoes. Cosimo was dressed in a sim

o shr

aised eyebrows after I kissed her hand.

drawled in his best Oxford English as he kissed her hand. That was pretty much the only t

tep back from Cosimo, tuggi

ing. If he tried this with Cosimo, the black shirt would prove its worth. "We are honored to give you Ce

ing glance before he

I followed him inside. It was a large old house wi

but you and Celestina should enter together," Altair said then turned t

imo to follow, but he made no move to do so. "I t

e on. I chose the library for your first meeting.

yebrow. "She

s also very beautiful and demure. The

as filled with dark wooden bookcases. A book lay opened on the small table besid

d to run off," Cosi

kly, but I caught the hint of wo

y of Las Vegas. It pleased me that she made a

is," Altair

own, and my eyes move

olor of light rose, almost white, but it made her look even more fragile. Clearly it was to emphasize her innocence, but I would have preferred bolder colors. Her dark eyes settled on my face-not my eyes, th

ng my reaction, which was

loser. "Come on, Celestina. Greet yo

and walked toward us. Her movements were elegant and purposefu

ed beside

sure to meet you," she said in a soft voice. Her eyes dart

ed wider. Celestina flinched slightly, almost imperceptibl

red his throat

to give her the ring and get to know each o

litting between Cosimo and me and

come to Las Vegas with us, but you are worried about her being alone for a couple o

rounded, caving in,

ardening. "This is for p

and I wanted this annoying power play to end quickly. "You shouldn't forget it either. Celestina is

on her finger, and then my

shoulders slumped, but she caught h

?" her uncle asked. "Do you

ked me if I agree. As Mr. Greco pointed out, I will be under my fut

sly he was not used to any objection from her. He gave a

r call me Mr. Greco again. That was my father, and I would h

wouldn't brush hers. Cosimo threw the door shut, and Celestina j

e and put her palm in mine, not meeting my eyes. I wrapped my fingers around her wris

. I kept my thumb on her pulse point as I regarded her. She finally raised her gaze to mine, and her pulse

gree to marry me

y chin. "I did agree when Phoenix asked me, bu

ree when Phoeni

t really a choice; it was disguised as one

ifted her hand, and she tensed again as if she'd forgotten about my touch. Her pulse raced against my fingertips. I showed her the ri

all nod. "Otherwise there

issue. A simple gold band with a big diamond in the middle. I never understood the reason for engagement rings. S

eet mine. "Death isn't th

ard about my brothers and me, and what was going on

he fear on her face. A woman with long brown hair, a lighter shade than Celestina's, poked her head in, eyes roving

tudied. Alejandra Mancini, wife to Damion Mancini, Underboss of Philadelphi

ty expression. "It's not proper for you to be alone with her yet. I don't k

y aware of your traditions, as peculiar as the

n scared before, my mentioning of

d I are supposed to make an appearance together, Mrs. Man

a firm smile. "He's right, Alejandra. W

and lifted her chin. My thumb foun

thud.

atic r

thud.

but she didn't

itement. Cosimo stood beside Phoenix, his brother Warren, and Romero. The women of the family were gathered on the other side of the room, probably because of my brother. Co

as was expected. After that, I released Celest

asked with a grin as I stopped beside him. Phoenix tossed us a hard look.

easant to look at, and her dark eyes and hair contrasted in a pleasing way with her pale skin. Her body fulfilled all the requirements to attract

pread of delicacies on the dining table. "You will definitely enjoy fuc

the past, the king had the

rimae

" Cosimo chuckled, his eyes scanning the crowd for suit

eeded peace as much as we did, but his patience certainly had its limits. "You a

Cosimo said with a hint

ew things I don't want to share wit

le, twisted, and brutal, but he was my brother and he would never lay hand on someone who was

I will have to give

derstanding human emotions had little to do with it. "You realize that most men won't find the idea of you fucking their wome

s. "You realize you a

ssion that you and I ha

Who needs emotions and morals when they can fuck and maim and kil

ay when I met her gaze. She was trying to hide her emotions, but I could