Rosalie Fierri [Book #5]

Chapter 6

"You have got to be kidding me! Why didn't you tell me on the phone when we first spoke about me coming here?"

I was absolutely livid. It's not Marcellius' fault that my father practically sold me to his rival, but at the same time this is something I would have liked to have known before traveling all this way.

"Is there nothing you can do?"

"I tried convincing Enzo to make the contract void, but he's hellbent on going through with his late father's wishes."

"This is total bullshit!" I shouted, accidentally waking up Alessio. Apologizing to Cesare, who was currently glaring at me, he took my crying nephew out into the hall.

"I understand you're upset, but I need you to calm down."

"Calm down? Calm down!?" I raised my voice, the suggestion hilarious to me considering the situation.

I had a right to react this way being as my entire life has just been swept out from under me in a matter of minutes.

"Roe, please."

I burst into tears, overwhelmed with emotions. "I don't want to marry him," I said, sniffling.

"We know sorellina(little sister)," Niccolo said softly. "But if we thought there was a way out without provoking an all out war, then we would have done so already."

"So that's it?"

They both looked down sadly, wishing this could somehow make things better. But they couldn't. They've made that pretty clear. I have no choice, but to marry Lorenzo Sinisi. Unless...

"I'll just kill him."

Marcellius glared at me. "Don't you think we've thought of that already? We can't kill him."

"And why not? I would be happy to take that asshole out myself."

"The idea is to prevent war, not start it."

I sighed heavily, wanting to pull out my hair. I should've stayed in Sicily. But even if I hadn't made the journey here to see my family, I'm sure he would have came after me anyway.

"When does this whole arrangement take place?" I asked, slowly accepting defeat until I can find a way out myself. My brothers are of no help.

"One week from today."

What?

That's not nearly enough time for me to process all this shit. When were they planning on telling me? The day of my wedding day?

"I have an idea, but I need you to play along." He made note of the irritated look on my face and added, "just for a little while. And then I promise, will we bring you back home to us."

"For how long?"

"I can't say at the moment. With the plan I have in mind, everything has to be timed perfectly or we won't succeed."

"So I have to play housewife to some jackass stranger for God knows how long until you come rescue me?"

He grinned. "Rescue? Marriage is not some sort of prison, Roe." He eyed the black wedding band on his finger then looked back up at me. "Just... please behave."

I nodded, said goodnight, and went to bed.

****

The following morning when I woke up, I was happy for a moment. But then the memory of last night's conversation with my brother came flooding back.

I was hoping that it was all a dream, but it wasn't. I was really engaged, and I was really going to be married a week from now.

I thought about escaping, going on the run. But that can only last so long before I no longer have the fight in me to keep going.

Besides, I've gotten quite comfortable with my family. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Which is the only reason why I'm not running. I've put all my trust into my brothers, because I believe they will find a way to break this contract.

Until then, I have to be on my best behavior, which isn't guaranteed since I can't stand Lorenzo. He's an absolute pain in my ass.

"Where is everybody?" I asked Mia as I walked into the kitchen and yawned.

"The kids are at school, Marcel and Nic are at a meeting, Valeria is visiting Luciano, Evelyn's visiting her goddaughter, Cesare is on dad duty with the twins, and Mama Fierri is somewhere around here."

I sat down at the table and grabbed a piece of buttered toast. It seems like this family is always busy doing something.

I took a bite out of my toast, trying my best not to think about the arrangement. But of course, nothing worked and it became all I could think about.

"Are you okay?"

Mia must have noticed the sad look in my eyes. I set down the toast I had been nibbling on and sighed. "Not really," I answered truthfully. "I really don't want to get married, especially to him."

"Marcel is working hard to get the contract annulled, if that makes you feel any better."

I gave her a small smile. "It does."

Knowing that my brothers were fighting for me felt so foreign and strange, but in a good way. No one has ever really fought for me besides my mother.

At some point, I considered Max to be my family. But I always knew that deep down he could never fill the empty space in my heart. Not like my real family could.

And although it's only been a few days, being around them feels like we've been a family forever. I still wish I had the memories that my brothers had with all of us as kids, but I'm content nonetheless.

"Hey, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure," Mia said with a smile.

"Why did you guys marry and start a family with my brothers knowing what they did for a living?"

Most men in the Mafia don't have time for kids, let alone a relationship. Which is why I was so surprised to hear that all four of my brothers were in relationships and had little Fierri's running around the house.

"The simple answer is love." Her smile reached from ear to ear, a sparkle in her eyes as her face lit up. "We fell in love with them. And even when we knew that they probably wouldn't be able to give us the life we wanted, we still took that chance. I can guarantee you that none of us regret the life we chose. We love our husbands more than life itself."

The way Mia was talking about how happy she was to have married my brother made me realize how much I wanted that for myself.

I didn't even know that was a thing I wanted being as I've hated the idea of settling down my entire life. But maybe that's what I needed.

I just wish it had been my choice of who and when. I mean, if I was going to get married then why couldn't it have been with someone I love? Mia folded her hands over mine. "Just because this is an arranged marriage doesn't mean you can't find happiness, Roe. You too can find love."

With Lorenzo?

I doubt it.