Page 2 of Kingpin

It’s almost over. Just stay calm.

It was what I had to do. Not only for the sake of my family, but to repay my uncle for the sacrifices he made for me. I owed that man my life. And if what I had to do to bring honor and protection to the family when we needed it the most was to marry a Rossi, then sign me the fuck up. Family was everything to me, and losing my own when I was only five years old had devastated my world.

I would’ve been nothing—and had nothing—had my uncle and aunt not taken me in.

“Move.”

A disembodied voice rose up from the crowd, and the suited men parted. I kept my eyes locked on the wall, allowing them to look me over and size me up. Looking the role of a future wife was the most daunting task of all. My innocence had to be intact. My delicacy had to be showcased. I needed to be equal parts strong and feminine, which I hoped I looked.

But I broke rule number one the second I smelled his cologne.

Never look him in the eye.

My aunt’s voice rang out in my head as my eyes searched for the origin of that scent. With notes of pine and tobacco, it reminded me of my father. Of the memories I had sitting at his feet while he had been in his study, sucking on his pipe and working his ass off. My eyes found the man coming for me. His steel-gray eyes locked with mine. His raven-black hair sat impeccably on top of his head, slicked back with grease and the sides painstakingly shaved with a fade. He was tall. Easily six foot three. The lankiness of his limbs greatly contrasted the short and stout men of his family.

Nonetheless, I saw strength beneath his suit. It was hidden beneath the silken fabric tailored explicitly for him. Between that, his eyes, and the scruff on his face, I felt myself go weak in the knees.

His sharp looks were equal parts alluring and dangerous.

And when I realized I was staring, my eyes shot back to the wall.

“Hmmm.”

I rehearsed the answers to questions in my mind. I forced myself to embody my cousin as I kept drawing in steady breaths. The man only called Israel slowly walked around me. I felt his hot gaze roaming up and down my figure. I rolled my shoulders back. I kept my head held high. And as he made his way back to the front, he stepped in between me and the wall.

“Look at me,” he commanded.

I felt everyone holding their breath around me as my eyes slowly rose. I didn’t say a word. Not until I was prompted, anyway.

“What is your name?” he asked.

You can do this.“Brianna Moretti.”

“How old are you?”

Stay calm.“Twenty-three.”

He nodded. “What’s your favorite color?”

I smiled softly. “Blush pink. I love the cherry blossom trees in the—.”

“I didn’t ask for your favorite tree.”

I swallowed down my sassy response as my eyes fell back to his chest.

“When is your birthday?”

You got this.“June 11th.”

“Year?”

“1997.”

“Are you still a virgin?”

My eyes snapped up to him. “Of course.”

He nodded. “Good.”

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