Chapter 2

"Who else do you think I would marry if I don't marry you? A blood pact is not a joke! Every Family in the city knows the Salvatore and Marlowe names are meant to be joined. How can you ask me to let the Marlowe Family lose face in front of every capo we answer to?"

"Adriana, I know you're upset, but do you think I'm happy? Do you think I wanted to bed another woman? If I hadn't been set up, how would I suddenly end up with two children?"

"You know me. I never go where there are women, not even when the Family sends me. What happened with Bianca was a real accident. How many times do I have to explain it?"

He laughed then, a beat too early, too loud, the sound landing wrong against the quiet on the line. "I already took her private photos and put the video out where it would hurt her. I've tried everything to make it up to you. What else do you want me to do, put a bullet in my own head to prove my love?"

His voice grew more tired as he continued. "I'm already exhausted. I don't want the woman promised to me fighting me at every turn. Don't worry. The two children will only be registered under your name. Bianca will just be the nanny, the one who keeps the house."

My tears fell and a bitter smile appeared on my face.

"So you mean I should raise your illegitimate children as my own? And not only that, but live under the same roof as your kept woman every day?"

"Sorry. I'm really not that kind of person."

After a pause, he shouted, "Fine! Remember what you said. Don't come crying later. If you're brave enough to walk away, then go!"

"Do you think any man out there is clean? I've already given you Bianca and the children. I've done all I can. If you can accept it, we seal the alliance. But if you can't, then leave! I don't care anymore!"

He hung up. Only the glowing screen of my phone stayed on, still showing our engagement photo as the lock screen, the picture they'd taken the day two bloodlines swore peace.

The memories from that day came flooding back. I remembered how he knelt in front of me, his eyes full of love, and swore an oath of loyalty in front of both Families. But that love only lasted a year. Tears dropped onto the screen and my hands trembled as I called my parents.

"I'm sorry. I wanted to break the alliance with Lorenzo."

They sighed. It was clear word of Bianca carrying his children had already reached Don Salvatore's ears.

"If you want to break it, break it. No daughter of this Family will suffer through this!"

"Even if you never marry, you'll always be our little princess."

After hearing that, I laughed with tears in my eyes. My nose was running like a child's.

"Papa, there's no need to call off the ceremony. I'm just changing the groom."

"You know Dominic."

My mother sounded shocked and raised her voice slightly.

"Dominic Falcone? Isn't he the one who hates the Marlowe Family most? I heard they nearly went to war over the shipping ground, and the Marlowes lost hundreds of millions to him!"

I smiled and wiped my face.

"Yes. He did it because of me. So I'm willing to take another chance."

Late that night, a request came through on the private channel we used for family matters. The photo attached to it was Bianca and Lorenzo, standing close.

I remembered how Lorenzo once told me he didn't like showing real faces where anyone could see. Now I realized it wasn't that he disliked real photos. He just didn't like showing pictures of us.

I accepted it. A message from Bianca came in right away. It was a photo. Lorenzo asleep on a hospital bed. Two baby cribs sat in the background. She followed it with a playful little face.

[I'm sorry, Miss Salvatore. Mr. Marlowe insisted on staying with me. The room isn't very nice, but he refuses to leave, no matter how I try to talk him into it.]

[We're going to be one family soon. I thought I'd reach out so we could stay in touch. If you ever need anything, feel free to message me directly.]

I didn't reply. My heart felt heavy. Two years ago, when I was sick and would faint every month, no matter the hour, no matter what soldiers he had waiting or what sit-down was on the table, the moment I messaged Lorenzo he would drop it all and rush to take me to the hospital.