Brutal Vows

20

I pause, hesitating to tell her this and upset her even more. But she needs to know exactly what’s at stake.

“They’ll do something terrible to you, too. Something worse than death, especially if Quinn discovers you’re not a virgin. We’ll talk about how you can fake that later, but the bottom line is that you’ll marry the

Irishman.”

“No, I won’t! I’m in love with Juan Pablo!”

This is when I notice the small dark bruise on the side of her throat.

Except it’s not a bruise. I know a love bite when I see one.

Feeling sick, I stride over to the wardrobe and throw open the doors.

It’s empty.

Lili is sobbing behind me. “I’m in love with him. I don’t care about the stupid contract or what anybody thinks. I’d rather die than marry anyone else. I’d rather die!”

I turn and look at her tearstained face. At the agony in her eyes. At all her shaking, frenzied fervor, and feel a twinge of jealousy.

At least she had this. At least she loved once. The memory of what she shares with Juan Pablo will help sustain her through all the dark and lonely years to come.

The only thing I had to sustain me was the hope that one of Enzo’s violent rages would end in my death.

They never did, though. He beat me near to it many times, but death never came to rescue me.

I had to rescue myself instead.

I cross to Lili and take her in my arms. She clings to me and sobs against my chest, her shoulders shaking. Smoothing a hand over hair, I hold her and make soothing noises until she’s calmed down a little and is only hiccuping.

“Tesoro,” I murmur. “My beautiful girl. You’re the daughter I never had, and I love you.”

Lili whispers, “I love you too, zia.”

“I know you do. And I want you to know that however I can support you through this, I will. I’ll always be here for you. I’ll always take care

of you. I’ll never abandon you, do you understand?” She whimpers.

My voice hardens. “And I promise you that if your new husband ever lays a finger on you in anger, I will end his life.”

That’s as close of an admission of my capabilities as I’ve ever come, but these are dire circumstances.

She lifts her head and stares at me through watering eyes. My heart aching, I wipe the tears from her cheeks with my thumbs.

“Now dry your eyes. Lift your chin. Steel your spine. Caruso women are strong and proud. We keep our moments of weakness private. Your fiancé is coming to see you today, and you need to be prepared.”

Her chin quivers. She shakes her head, clearly traumatized by the thought of having to face him.

“Don’t ever let him see you cry, Liliana. No man deserves your tears, especially not that one. Just remember what I’ve told you.”

I sigh, gathering her into my arms again. She tucks herself into me and sniffles.

After a long time, she whispers, “Maybe we’ll get lucky and he’ll get shot before the wedding.”

I close my eyes, imagining Quinn lying still and silent on the ground in a widening pool of his own blood.

For the first time in forever, I feel happy.

Then I leave Lili alone with her thoughts and get ready to deal with the next important task on today’s agenda. Firing the pool man.

He’s punctual, the smug Irishman. I have to give him that.

Precisely at five o’clock, Quinn rings the doorbell. Lili and I are already waiting, standing hand in hand in the foyer in tense silence. Beside us stands Gianni, vibrating happiness, practically wagging his f*****g tail.

Bettina opens the door and lets the Irishman in.

His ego takes up so much space that instantly, the house feels smaller.

“Mr. Quinn!” Gianni steps forward with his hands extended. “Welcome. So good to see you again so soon.”

Quinn gives him a cursory nod. They shake hands. Quinn glances at Lili and sends her the same disinterested nod he gave my brother.

He doesn’t look at or acknowledge me.

It feels deliberate.

Whatever the reason for it, his snub loosens the vise around my lungs, allowing me to breathe easier.

Maybe I was being paranoid when I thought he was coming on to me in the kitchen. It’s so rare that a man outside my family even dares to look at me, let alone flirt with me, I can’t remember what it feels like. Gianni says, “Let’s go to my study and have a drink, shall we?”

“No. I’m here to see Lili.”

I can tell Gianni’s offended by the rude dismissal, but he keeps the pleasant smile on his face. “Of course. Would you like to visit with her in the salon, or—”

“We’ll go for a ride,” Quinn interrupts coldly.

Lili glances at me in panic.

I frown. He wants to take her for a ride? In his car?

When I grasp his motivation, heat flashes over me. It crawls up my neck and settles in my cheeks, where it burns.

He doesn’t want to take her for a ride, he wants to take her for a ride.

This testa di cazzo thinks he’s going to sample the merchandise before he buys it!

Keeping my tone tranquil though I’d like to rip out his intestines through his nostrils, I say, “That will be lovely. I adore afternoon rides in the summer. So refreshing.”

When Quinn sends me a blistering scowl, I smile. “Of course I’m sure you remember that I’m Lili’s chaperone.”

If looks could kill, I’d already be dead. Quinn’s gaze is a thousand incoming arrows shot from enemy bows.

My smile grows wider.