How could that monster be my father?
“Remember whose blood saved you,” Marco calls out, leaving no doubt which of the men really sired me.
And once I knew, he never let me forget. No matter how much I wished I could. That was the day my childhood died, and I was forced to grow up. The day I died inside and not from the cancer that had been killing me.
It was the day I stopped pretending I was a real princess and realized what I really was all along.
A pawn.
Chapter
One
Friday Night
Next week at this time,I’ll be on some magnificent island on a honeymoon with a man I do not love and forced to bed. This is not the night before my wedding I dreamed about.
I sit on the shower floor, letting the water rain down on me so that I can’t feel the tears.
I know my family duties. I understand the responsibilities I have to help the alliances formed through these types of arranged marriages, but what I don’t understand is why me?
I’m not even really Alfonso Torelli’s heir.
He doesn’t have one, which makes my situation even worse. I’m the one person he chose to give his name to. Which means I’m the golden goose and everyone wants my fucking eggs.
Literally.
I’m expected to pump out babies the second I open my legs, and of course, it has to be for the right man or else I’m used goods. Any child I have branded a bastard, and I become a useless woman like any other non-mafia one.
I sigh and stand. I’ve been in this shower for so long that I look like a raisin, and the water is starting to get so cold that it hurts.
I wrap myself in a robe and sit to blow out my hair. Not that it matters. Tomorrow morning, an army of hairdressers and stylists will arrive to remake me into the perfect mafia bride.
My phone rings, and I smile as I see a photo of my cousin Valentine light up the screen. She’s my best friend and closer than any sister I could have had.
“Where are you?” I hiss as I put her on speaker.
“Bitch, I had to stop for supplies. I’m coming up now. Come open your door.” I can hear the echo as she approaches my bedroom door.
Her hands must be full cause no doors in Alfonso Torelli’s house lock from the inside. You have no privacy or secrets here unless he wants you to.
I rush over and open the door and gasp.
“What is all this?” I grab as many bags as I can.
“Your bachelorette party!” She bows on a noise maker she has pinched between her lips like a cigarette.
“I thought that was for happy brides.” I close the door once she’s inside.
She lets everything fall to the floor with a dramatic shake of her arms, then lets out a sigh before promptly falling backwards onto my couch.
“Fine. It’s your death to virginity party.” I cringe.
“Ew, no. Bachelorette party, it is.” She lifts her arm and presses the button on her smartwatch.
“Cancel the cherry vagina cup cakes.” I shake my head at her and glance at all the bags.
“Val, who are all these party favors for? It’s just us.” I pull out a blow-up doll with a cock ring, throw game.
