Page 11 of Bartered Innocence

When I’m about to ask who, he grips my elbow and pulls me toward the house. The garage door slams behind us before he leads me into the laundry room and starts the dryer. I remove my arm from his hold, rubbing at the spot.

“Jesus, you probably bruised me,” I say, glaring at him.

Ricky’s frantic look stops my whining. “Please tell me you didn’t lose your virginity, Isabelle.”

“That was the plan when you told me about thething.” I lick my drying lips and continue, “You were supposed to tell Luca that I wasn’t a viable candidate anymore, but wished to keep it a secret from our family.”

My brother’s eyes squeeze shut. “I didn’t think you’d go through with it, then I forgot.”

“You forgot?” I hiss out in a hushed whisper.

His jaw clenches. “I forgot, Belle. It’s been a hell of a couple of weeks and didn’t think you would get chosen.”

I scrunch my nose. “Thanks.”

Ricky rolls his eyes. “It’s not because of your looks. Our family is low in the ranks. I hold the highest position because of my connection with Luca, but he’s not Underboss yet. Most arrangements are for an exchange of power.”

“And we’re not worth much,” I finish for him. I rub my arm again, the echo of pain a reflection of my building panic. “Okay, so it’s probably some lowly soldier. We’ll just explain the mistake.”

He’s silent for a moment, his skin paling to a color that does nothing to calm my rising anxiety.

“What?”

Ricky shakes his head. “It’s not some lowly soldier.”

“Who is it?”

My brother swallows, shaking his head more vehemently. “He’s gonna kill us. They’re going to think this is some game of disrespect.”

“Ricardo, you’re freaking me out.” I say, gripping the front of his shirt and pulling him close. I tap his cheek hard enough to bring his focus back to me.

“Rian O’Callaghan. Luca and he have come to a peace agreement. I never thought he would choose you, Belle.”

The name ricochets in my chest, and I have to swallow the hysterical laugh that nearly escapes my throat. There’s no way this is a coincidence. That the man I gave my virginity to, the only man I’ve slept with, chose me for an arranged marriage. He knows exactly who I am because of that damn book, and that makes me wary.

I stand straighter, righting my clothes and patting down any loose hairs. “Is he here now?”

Ricky watches me curiously. “Yeah. Why aren’t you freaking out?”

I laugh now, void of humor. “I am beyond freaking out. Is our father here?”

He shakes his head. “Luca excused him from the meeting, said that I already know everything there is to know and there’s no reason to explain further to our father.”

Nodding, I wave him to walk in front of me. “Let’s get this over with.”

* * *

Rian’s blue eyes brighten when I step into the room, his gaze wandering down my body like it did that night in the bar. I can feel every inch of his stare and realize my casual outfit of jeans and a t-shirt for work isn’t one that impresses most men.

Luca clears his throat, gesturing me to the chair next to him as my brother guards the door. “Come sit, Isabelle. We have something to discuss.”

I move slowly, glancing at the man standing behind Rian. My stomach twists at his expressionless face. It seems like it’s carved in stone, and it’s a bit unsettling. His eyes are dark emerald, a dimmed anguished gleam in them along with his buzzed haircut making him look even more like a soldier than my brother.

Luca places his hand on my knee and I watch as Rian sits up straighter, as if he’s about to remove it. I turn to look at my brother’s oldest friend. Even though I’ve heard rumors of the horrors he and my brother have committed, I’ve always felt safe with Luca. As safe as one can feel so close to a Made Man of the Famiglia.

“Do you know why you’re here?” Luca asks, his gentle tone grating on my nerves.

I swallow to coat my dry throat, some of my confidence from earlier fading. “Ricky mentioned it.”

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