Page 140 of Bride By Initiation

"They were Omnis?" I question.

"Yes, and I'm getting closer to earning my spot, just like you are." She beams with pride.

Surprised, I admit, "I thought you were already at the table."

Her lips twitch. "Thanks for the compliment, but not yet."

"You're welcome."

I stare at the locked window shade and ask, "So you really don't know where we're going?"

"No. I only know about the situation and my orders."

I tilt my head. "What will happen when we get there?"

She laughs. "I can't tell you until we're there, but nice try."

I smirk. "Point for trying."

"Yeah, point for sure. And I'm sorry. I would tell you if I could," she claims and then stares at me for a moment. She finally adds, "It's really good meeting you and coming clean."

I smile and grab her hand. "Yeah, it is. I'm an only child, so it's nice to know about family."

"It is," she softly agrees.

A calm beat of silence falls between us.

Then something occurs to me. I ask, "The back of the photo said Aurora and Finzia. Who are they?"

"Aurora is my mother. My real name is Finzia Valentina Abruzzo. My parents started calling me Valentina when we moved to Italy. It's important no one knows I'm Finzia except for the Omni. Well, and now you," she explains.

I smile. "It's a pretty name."

She smiles back. "Thanks. You'll keep my secret, right?"

"Of course."

We talk for the next few hours about many things, but mostly about what our childhoods were like. When we finally land, we're led off the plane and down a hallway similar to the one I walked down before my initiation.

There's no spa setting when the door at the end of the hallway opens. It's a dark room. The only light is cast by several candles.

Two similar-looking women stand in a circle of flickering flames. Black rose petals surround them. They wear long, white satin gowns with spaghetti straps, and they're barefoot.

On one side of them is a small rectangular pool. The other side of the room has seven naked, fit, well-endowed men.

Butterflies erupt in my gut, and I glance nervously at Valentina.

"Don't worry, they're not for you," she murmurs.

What this is, and what am I about to be privy to?

Valentina takes my hand and leads me toward the two women. Once we reach them, she announces, "This is Maria Abruzzo, and this is Amalia Marino. They look a lot alike, don't they?"

"They sure do."

Valentina states, "Their blood is mixed. They're half-sisters, sharing the same mother."

"Wow. You look like twins," I blurt out, but they don't answer.

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