Page 20 of Mine Again
I wrap my arms around her, wishing I could shield her from everything coming her way.
“I’ll wear it tonight,” I say. “Or on Saturday for your party. Or both.”
Mari gives a short, broken laugh. “I wish you could. It would be the only bright spot on the day of my funeral.” Her smile falters. “But we both know Father already approved our wardrobe for the engagement party.”
“Stuff him,” I mutter, pulling her tighter against me. “I still don’t get it. Why has he arranged your marriage first when I’m the oldest?”
A voice cuts through the quiet, making us both jump.
“Isn’t that the question of the century?”
Mia springs up from beside the bed, where she must have been crouched and eavesdropping.
“How long have you been there?” Mari gasps, pressing a hand to her chest.
Mia grins. “Long enough. Sneaking in unnoticed is one of my ninja skills.”
“Excellent thing to sharpen,” I reply. You never know when stealth might save you in our world.
“Right?” she smiles and jumps onto the bed to hug me. “Happy birthday, sis.”
I roll my eyes, my smile slipping. I really hate the reminder.
This day used to be the happiest of the year. But for the last five years, all it’s brought is dread.
I take a breath. “So, have your ninja skills uncovered why Father’s orchestrating everything like this?”
Mia pouts, flopping onto the bed beside us. “No. He’s like a vault. I haven’t cracked it… yet.”
Then she glances at Mari, her expression shifting. “There has to be a way out of this. You can’t marry someone like Ronaldo Conti.”
“It’s not like I have a choice,” Mari says, sounding hollow. “This has nothing to do with me. It’s about what’s best for Father, isn’t it?”
“But how can you be so calm?” Mia bursts out. If she were standing, I think she’d stomp her foot.
Mari doesn’t answer right away. She stares straight ahead, her face unreadable.
“I just have to find a way to live with it,” she replies. “Maybe Conti won’t pay me much attention and will be gone a lot. If I’m lucky, he’ll mostly leave me alone. At least I’ll be away from Father. That has to count for something.”
Mia huffs, her jaw clenched. “You’re trading one prison for another. Neither is good.”
Mari’s shoulders sag like the weight she’s been carrying has finally gotten too heavy. She looks down at her hands, her lips quivering.
“Hey, let’s talk about something more upbeat,” I say, trying to shift the mood.
“Yes, good idea,” Mia agrees quickly, taking Mari’s hands in hers. “I’m sorry, sis. I didn’t mean to make you feel worse.”
She turns to me, a little cautious. “Do you think there’ll be a box of chocolates later today?”
I close my eyes as pain slices through my chest. I hadn’t expectedthatquestion.
And I don’t know if I can survive the answer.
Chapter Seven
Isabella
Mia looks at me, almost apologetic now, like she realizes too late the weight of her question.
