Page 5 of Married to the Ruthless Mafia Heir

But I wouldn't trade everything I was for power and wealth.

I shook my head firmly. "I'm sorry, Mr. Morreti."

Salvador's face darkened. He laughed coldly and stared at me like I was a disobedient animal. After a long moment, he folded his hands and looked up, expression grim.

"Elena, I believe you'll come back begging me."

Chapter Two

Dante

It had been too long since I'd been back to the manor. Nothing good ever came from these visits.

Alfredo said Salvador had something important to announce. Part of me hoped—stupidly—it might actually be good news. Maybe then our shattered excuse for a father-son relationship could salvage a few pieces.

Curious, I pushed open the door to Salvador's room. The light was dim. Whoever lived here wasn't in a good place.

"Dante."

Salvador sat in his wheelchair, his aged voice carrying that familiar authority.

I strode in and stopped in front of him. "Father."

He'd gotten old. I looked down at him from my full height. Hard to believe this withered man in a wheelchair was once the legendary Don who could decide someone's fate with a single word.

He'd built the Moretti family into an empire. But I'd never agreed with his methods. Brutal. Bloodthirsty. Control-obsessed. Anyone who didn't fall in line disappeared—partners, subordinates, even... family.

"Dante." Salvador's face darkened, displeasure flickering across it. "It's been a long time since we've seen each other."

"I apologize, Father." My voice came out steadier than I expected. "Too much going on. No time to visit."

"That doesn't matter anymore." He waved it off. "Everything you've done has been for the family. I approve of your methods, so I don't interfere with how you run things."

He couldn't hold back a coughing fit. Alfredo handed him tea. He drank and took forever to recover.

"But your marriage affects the Moretti family's future. I've already made the decision for you."

More bad news.

My gut sank.

Salvador looked up at me, his gaze like an aging but still-sharp hawk. "I assume you've already met Elena."

"This past year, I've gotten to know Elena. And her family." Salvador continued. "She's capable. Obedient. Most importantly, she doesn't belong to any faction—no background, no backing. She won't conspire with other families to threaten the Moretti family's future. She's not some pawn planted by those old bastards. So she's perfect to become the new lady of the Moretti family."

He paused. "I've decided. She'll be your wife."

Absurd.

His tone was so casual, like he was saying "we're having steak for dinner."

"You don't need to worry about the wedding. Keep doing what you're doing. Alfredo will arrange the date. Just show up on time."

I stood there, listening to him decide my life in that tone—just like when I was sixteen and he decided which college I'dattend, just like when I was twenty-two and he decided which operation I'd run.

No. This was worse than all of those.

I'd never heard a better joke in my life.