Page 3 of The Forbidden Husband

“Good,” I said softly.

“It’s very good. Are you going to ask me how we are going to solve our little issue?”

I wasn’t planning on it.

“How?”

“Come and sit down,” he demanded, gesturing to the seat across from his desk.

I didn’t plan on doing that either.

But just as he asked, I approached the desk and slid into one of his leather seats. I didn’t like where this was going. He neverasked that I sit down. He usually gave me passing orders and then demanded I stay out of sight.

My skin crawled as his gaze lingered on me, dropping to my dress and wrinkling his nose in distaste, just as I had expected.

“Because of my sister’s tragic loss, we need to tie our families together once again. The Rissi mob family is continuing to be a pain in my ass, and a marriage is the only response.”

I knew where this was going, and it sickened me.

“You want me to marry a Rissi?” I asked. “What about your consigliere? He’s a Rissi. It’s a good-faith gesture that he’s loyal to you.”

“Vito isn’t a Rissi anymore. He’s as much a Bianchi as you and I. He always favored my sister, and his loyalties show it.”

How could he talk about Lia so favorably now that she was dead? He had spent his entire life hating his sister. She had made more sacrifices than my father ever would by marrying the brother of the Rissi boss. Mauro Rissi and Lia had defied all odds. They became more than an arranged marriage. It was unusual in this line of work, but they had done it.

“Anyways, I have to select one of my daughters to marry him to show our good faith, and I selectedyou, Aria. I expect you’ll be on your best behavior in accepting this marriage proposal. I wouldhateto choose one of your sisters for the task.”

There it was.

There was only one reason he didn’t kill me when I saw how he was betraying our people, and it was the same reason he chose me for this marriage.

I would doanythingto keep my sisters safe; they would pay for it if I stepped one toe out of line. Not me.Neverme.

Since that night all those months ago, he hadn’t raised a finger to me.

But when I spoke too loudly or didn’t make myself scarce, Noemi, Livia, and Evelina paid for it.

I wouldn’t let my younger siblings be a part of this.

As long as I did my duty, they would be safe.

As long as I never tried to run away from our home like I did that night, they would all stay alive.

I did what I had to do. “Okay.”

“That’s not all.”

My fists balled in my lap, and his gaze dropped to the sudden gesture. I forced them to flatten across my knee as I took a deep breath. Demure. Obedient. A good daughter. I had to be all of those things and more.

But deep inside, I wished I dared to be like Noemi—to be reckless and disobedient and run off with a Russian mob boss our father hated more than anyone. Maybe I wanted to be carefree like Livia. Or quirky and oblivious like Evelina.

Instead, I was filled with rage that could never be quelled or dulled. A rage that had to be hidden so deep that it burned through my soul.

It seemed to be my curse as the eldest daughter.

“Okay,” I replied again through a deep breath.

“Once you marry him, your job will gather intel and deliver it back to me. I expect reports of their numbers, assets, andlocations. I want every piece of information you can find. Because once I have it, I will take my rightful position as capo dei capi, and Giovanni Rissi will bedead.”

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