Page 155 of Righteous Enforcer
That’s when he offered his daughter as proof of his commitment to stay loyal to the Dante family.
I said no.
My brothers said it was the best way to ensure peace as we rebuild after the Bratva fiasco.
I drain my glass, setting it on a passing tray. Isabella is moving toward the terrace alone.
"Excuse me," I tell Adriano and Eva.
As I cross the room, I catch whispers of speculation about whether this is truly a love match, whether Isabella knows what she's getting into with me.
They have no idea that neither of us had a choice.
Her even less so than me, something that weighs heavily on me.
I’m not going to be able to give her a fairy tale, but I’ll do my best to make sure she’s not miserable.
This is part of what being Don means.
Sacrificing personal desires for family survival.
My siblings found love.
I'll settle for power, and hopefully, peace.
I follow Isabella onto the terrace.
She stands with her back to me, hands braced against the railing.
Her profile is illuminated by moonlight in a way that makes her seem like she’s not from this world.
"Your family seems happy," she says without turning. "I wasn't expecting that."
"Appearances can be deceiving."
She glances over her shoulder. "Not always. Your brother Adriano looks at Eva like she hung the moon. It's refreshing."
I move beside her, maintaining a proper distance. "They earned their happiness the hard way."
"By surviving you, you mean?" Her bluntness startles me. "I’m told you threatened to kill your sister-in-law.”
I can't help the small smile that forms. "She wasn’t my sister-in-law at the time.” I study her. “You've been gathering intelligence."
"Wouldn't you?" She turns fully toward me now. "I'm marrying the most dangerous man in New York in three weeks. I'd be a fool not to learn what I can."
Her honesty disarms me. Most people, my brothers excluded, walk on eggshells around me. Not Isabella Vitale.
"Walk with me," she says suddenly, taking my arm and pulling me away from the open doors. "Somewhere my brother can't see us."
I allow myself to be led toward the garden path even as I know it’s a bad idea. Propriety dictates that she and I are never alone until our wedding night. "Should I be concerned you're luring me into an ambush?"
"If I wanted you dead, Alessandro, I wouldn't waste a perfectly good Valentino gown doing it."
I glance at her, not sure what to make of her.
We reach a stone bench partially hidden by a flowering trellis. She sits, arranging her flowing skirt.
"Your father and brother know we're out here alone?" I ask.
