Bound by Blood and Law

Chapter 1: The Proposal

Amara barely registered the drive back to her apartment. Her mind was consumed with her father's words, the cold finality of his decision echoing in her ears. The idea of marrying Matteo De Luca was something out of a nightmare—a binding tie to a world she had spent her entire life trying to escape.

When she reached her apartment, she went through the motions of her nightly routine in a daze. The spacious, minimalist space that usually brought her comfort felt stifling tonight, the walls closing in on her as she tried to process the news. She poured herself a glass of wine, hoping it would help calm the storm inside her, but it did little to ease the turmoil.

Married to Matteo De Luca. The thought sent a chill down her spine. She had never met the man, but his reputation was infamous. Cold, calculating, dangerous—he was everything she had fought to avoid becoming. The stories she had heard about him were enough to make even the bravest shudder. Yet here she was, about to be bound to him by a marriage she didn't want.

Her phone buzzed on the kitchen counter, breaking her train of thought. She picked it up, half-expecting it to be her father again, ready to reinforce his demands. But it was a message from her sister, Serena.

Can you talk?

Amara hesitated. Serena had always embraced the family's criminal ties, reveling in the power and influence it brought. The two sisters had taken very different paths—Amara had chosen law, seeking justice, while Serena had chosen to dive deeper into the shadows. Still, there was a bond between them that had withstood even the starkest differences.

Amara sighed and typed back a quick response. Sure. Call me.

The phone rang almost immediately. Serena's voice was chipper, contrasting sharply with Amara's mood. "Hey, sis. You okay? You sound... off."

Amara forced a laugh. "Is that your way of saying I sound like crap?"

"Pretty much." Serena's tone softened. "What's going on?"

For a moment, Amara considered brushing off her sister's concern, but the weight of her father's decision was too heavy to carry alone. "Dad's marrying me off to Matteo De Luca."

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line before Serena spoke again, her voice tinged with surprise and something that sounded almost like sympathy. "Matteo De Luca? Wow. That's... intense."

"Yeah, no kidding."

"I mean, I knew Dad was worried about the Lombardos, but I didn't think he'd go that far."

Amara leaned against the counter, her grip on the phone tightening. "I'm not some pawn in his game. This isn't what I want, Serena."

"I know, I know." Serena's voice was uncharacteristically gentle. "But you know how Dad is. Once he makes up his mind, there's no changing it."

"That doesn't mean I have to like it." Amara's tone was sharp, the frustration she'd been holding back finally breaking through.

"No, it doesn't." Serena paused, as if weighing her next words carefully. "But maybe it won't be as bad as you think. Matteo's... well, he's a lot of things, but he's not stupid. He'll know how to treat you right."

Amara scoffed. "Treat me right? Serena, he's a mafia boss. I doubt he's interested in treating me like anything other than a trophy wife."

"Maybe." Serena's voice was thoughtful. "But you're not exactly the kind of woman who lets herself be treated like a trophy."

"That doesn't mean I want to marry him."

"I know. But if you have to, you might as well make the best of it." Serena's tone shifted, becoming more serious. "Just... be careful, okay? Matteo's not like the guys you've dealt with before."

Amara frowned, her sister's words sending a shiver down her spine. "What do you mean?"

"I just mean he's... different. You'll see when you meet him."

"Great," Amara muttered, the sarcasm in her voice clear. "Just what I needed to hear."

"Look, if you need anything—anything at all—just call me. I mean it."

"I will. Thanks, Serena."

They ended the call, and Amara set her phone down with a sigh. She drained the rest of her wine and set the glass in the sink, her mind swirling with a thousand thoughts. Serena's warning had only made her more anxious about the meeting with Matteo tomorrow.

With nothing else to distract her, Amara headed to bed, though she knew sleep would be elusive. As she lay in the darkness, her mind kept replaying her father's words, Serena's warnings, and the image of the man she was to marry. Cold, calculating, dangerous.

But as the hours ticked by and the city outside her window finally began to quiet, another thought crept into her mind. Matteo De Luca was a man who inspired fear in everyone around him, a man who controlled one of the most powerful crime families in the country. But he hadn't met her yet.

And Amara Carter was not a woman who bowed easily to anyone.