Page 189 of Bride By Initiation

My stomach flips. I bite on my lip and wait.

She gives me another soft expression and then sits back. "Your father knows about The Underworld."

My eyebrows raise in surprise. "He does?"

She nods. "Yes. He didn't know Sean's father was involved, though. He had heard about it from Marcello Abruzzo."

"His sister's husband; Valentina's father?"

She affirms, "Yes."

"She's told me about her parents. Her mom is my aunt, I guess?"

"Yes, I know she told you."

"Of course you do," I sarcastically reply.

She laughs. "Don't worry. The days of everyone knowing everything about you will soon be over."

"They will?"

She smiles. "Yes. If you decide to take your seat at the table, all the spying and intrusions into your house will come to an end."

Anger fills me. "You planted that lipstick in Sean's pants, didn't you? And those coins in my drawer?"

Her face falls, and she shakes her head. "I didn't plant anything."

"Didn't you?"

"No. I'm not saying it wasn't somebody else, but it wasn't me. I don't know anything about that," she insists.

"Would you tell me if you did?" I hurl, tired of The Underworld interfering in my life. Yet I so badly want to believe Sean wouldn't cheat on me, and that they planted it.

Her expression turns stern. "Yes, I would tell you. You're at the final stage."

"Of?" I question.

A look what might be pride lights up her face. "Of getting your seat at the table. If you still want it."

I take a deep breath and slowly release it.

"You do still want it, right?" she asks, peering at me closer.

"Yes, of course," I say without a doubt.

She lowers her voice. "Even if you have to endure one more final test?"

A chill runs down my spine. "Like what?"

"No one gets a seat at the table without a sacrifice. I don't know what the Omni will choose, but you and Sean must be prepared for theceremony. If you don't follow through, you know the consequences," she warns.

"Death," I mutter, the chill in my bones deepening.

She swallows hard, pinning me with a fearful look. "Yes."

I lift my chin. "I'm taking my seat."

She studies me for a moment, then smiles. "Okay."

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