Page 2 of Vicious Secrets
“Independent, twenty-eight, and an emergency room nurse.”
None of those things are interconnected, and they don’t answer my question. Suddenly, I regret asking him to repeat himself. The longer this conversation goes on, the worse it gets.
“Fine. I agree to marry Oscar’s bargaining chip.”
“Excellent. I’ll let him know.”
We sit in silence for a moment, staring blankly at each other.
“Anything else?” I ask, sensing something is on the tip of his tongue.
“The bride test is a week from Saturday.”
What the… I never had a choice in this, did I?
Despite my commitment to the traditions and rules of the Fedeltà, I’ve avoided marriage for a reason. My gut tells me the poor nurse about to be dragged into our lifestyle also didn’t get a choice...
An idea pops into my head. If I can strike a deal with her, reassure her I won’t fuck with her life or hurt her, maybe I can get the best of both worlds. The illusion of a strong marriage to improve my reputation and little change to my daily life. In this situation, rule-breaking is my only shot at maintaining sanity.
“Understood,” I say as I stand and smooth my hands over my suit coat. “Is that all?”
Father purses his lips, clearly unamused with my lack of decorum. “Yes. You’re excused.”
With a curt nod, I exit the stuffy office and head out for another night of doing his job.
Robyn
“Mom,youhavetostop wailing, or someone will think I’m murdering you,” I sigh, blotting Mom’s face with a tissue.
She clutches the porcelain sink like it’s the only thing keeping her feet on the ground. Her chest heaves against the bodice of her dress. I swear I hear the seams crackle with each inhale.
“I’m s-so s-sorry,” she stutters.
“I’m fine. You’re fine. Oscar’s fine. Everything will be fine.”
My words do nothing to soothe the anguish twisting her face, but they stop the strangled noises from her throat. Mom’s mascara-blotched eyes search my face.
“Why are you so calm, Robyn?”
“The emergency room numbs my soul?” I spit out a guess. Maybe the healthcare industry’s bureaucracy has turned me into the zombie I am today. But Mom’s emotional dependence on me doesn’t help.
“I’m destroying your life!” she hisses.
I sigh for the thousandth time that night. “No, you’re not. The rival mob guys threatening us are. And so is Oscar. Kind of.”
Mom gawks at me.
“What? He’s the mafia man, not you. And if the Fedeltà Boss wants me to marry his son, it is what it is.” I shrug.
On the outside, I’m a calm, collected, and supportive daughter who’s accepted her fate.
On the inside, I’m a dumpster fire of panic, pain, and morbid curiosity. My life is at risk from an enemy unknown to me, as are my mom and stepdad’s. And marrying a guy I’ve never met will protect us.
“I didn’t want this for you!” Mom gasps as the waterworks start back up.
Cool, well, maybe you should have thought about that before marrying into the mafia five years ago.
Doesn’t she understand I’m doing this for her? To protect her and Oscar?
