Page 4 of Married to the Ruthless Mafia Heir

"I've decided. You'll marry Dante and become the lady of the Moretti family."

His voice sounded like it came from hell itself.

I stood there for a full minute, unable to believe my ears.

Salvador—the former Don of this mafia family—wanted me, a manor maid, to marry his son, the current Don, Dante?

I opened my mouth. Nothing came out.

Salvador ignored my reaction. His tone left no room for argument.

"You've been attentive this past year. I've been watching you. You're patient. Detail-oriented. You don't complain. Everyone else couldn't handle my temper. Only you stayed." He paused. "You're not just capable—you're not the type to sell out for money. You take your pay and nothing else. You don't exploit this job for extra gain. I can tell."

He looked at me with an emotion I couldn't read.

"The Moretti family needs a lady. If I chose someone from inside the family, or from another family who could help Dante consolidate power, they'd have ulterior motives. They'd cause him problems. I need someone who doesn't belong to any faction. That's you, Elena."

He continued slowly, "I'll have Alfredo choose a date soon. You and Dante will get married quickly."

No. No.

I stepped back instinctively.

Minutes ago, I'd been in Dante's room ironing his suit. He'd said "thanks." Said I had it "not easy." I'd even worked up the nerve to say something nice about Salvador. But I'd done all that as a maid. In my mind, it was just work.

Now Salvador wanted me to marry Dante?

This was insane. There were no feelings between us. No understanding. I'd only met Dante today. We'd exchanged maybe ten words. That wasn't enough for marriage.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Morreti..."

In over a year, I'd never defied Salvador's orders. But now, I forced the words out.

"I can't agree to this."

I'm a coward by nature. With Salvador, I always kept my head down and obeyed.

But now I lifted my head and met those cold, aged eyes.

"Dante and I have no emotional foundation. I don't want to hand over my life to someone I don't know at all."

"So... I won't marry him."

I'd said it. Finally.

Salvador paused.

I thought he'd get angry. Instead, he laughed.

Why?

Like he'd heard the funniest joke in the world.

"Little girl, you don't realize what an honor it is to become the lady of the Moretti family."

"You'll have everything." He paused. "And if you don't marry Dante, you could work at Moretti Manor your whole life and never have any of it."

He was right. The manor paid well, but even after ten years, I couldn't afford that Italian suit I'd just ironed. Working for myself, I'd never have what Salvador promised.