Kon (Trassato Crime Family Book 2)(58)

Gian jerked back as if I slapped him. “You’re acting like a child.”

“You’re acting like a dictator,” I shot back.

“That’s enough!” Dominick pounded his fist against the desk; the metal penholder rattled then tipped over, scattering pens all over the top. “You need to learn your place, Carmela.”

“Where’s that?”

“Exactly where we tell you. You’ll marry Nico. You’ll come to the engagement party in three days. You’ll walk down that aisle and say ‘I do,’ and you’ll do all of it with a goddamn smile on your face.”

“And if I don’t?”

“Konstantin Trincher will pay for your sins against our family.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Dominick rose out the chair, dusting imaginary lint from his suit jacket, his lifeless eyes drilling into me. I’d seen him like this in the past when I spied on his conversations with my father. A shiver darted down the spine. This man wasn’t my uncle. He was the one people whispered about in hushed tones full of fear. He was a living, breathing manifestation of evil.

“Don’t play dumb.” He stalked around the desk, pausing near my feet. “You know exactly what I mean.”

My heart swooped and flapped against my chest. I’d stupidly believed I could get away with making that dumb deal with the Trinchers and walk away unscathed. At the time, I wanted to make Evie and Gian happy. Then I went along with Kon’s plan, thinking…I didn’t know what the hell I’d been thinking, and I didn’t care anymore.

I felt lighter around him, like the weight of all the ugly things in my past had been lifted from my shoulders. I wasn’t numb. I cared about my future again, and I no longer wanted to blindly walk off the plank, sacrificing myself for my family.

“I can’t marry Nico,” I whispered.

“It’s done. You will marry him; I gave him my word. You will honor it, or you’ll be dead to this family.”

“I will be dead either way.” My lips quivered. “A little over a year ago, I made a deal with the Trinchers. I agreed to marry Konstantin in exchange for them backing away from Gian and Evie.”

Gian’s head whipped to face me. “You did what?” His voice sliced through the air like a physical blade.

“You heard me.”

“That’s why you’re running off with him without regard for your family or our wishes?” Gian shouted.

“At first, but now…” I swallowed over the desert like dryness coating my mouth. “Now I love him.”

“That’s fucking ridiculous. Do you hear what you’re saying? You don’t love him. You have Stockholm Syndrome. He trapped you into this arrangement, and you twisted it up in your head, convincing yourself you love him or some shit like that.”

“You’re wrong. Either way, it doesn’t matter. I can’t go back on my word. Alix, his father, will come after me. After the whole family. He’ll—”

“He’ll do nothing.” Dominick hooked his thumbs over his shiny black belt. “He’s been trying to muscle his way onto our turf for years to push heroin. That’s what he wants. He doesn’t give a fuck if you marry his son. So here’s what’s gonna happen. I’m gonna cut a deal with the fucking Trinchers, and you’re gonna be a good girl and marry Nico. This is the best offer you’re gonna get.”

“I want—”

He pointed his finger at me, his face contorting with rage. So much rage, my blood iced over in my veins, zapping any of my lingering resistance.

“I don’t give a flying fuck what you want. You’re lucky I don’t kick your ungrateful ass outta our lives. You betrayed the family. You shit on your father’s dying wishes. You lied to your mother and your brother. You were disloyal to your future husband. But I’m willing to overlook all of that and let that man you supposedly love live on two conditions.”

Unease closed around my chest and I could hardly take in another breath. I gawked at Gian, begging him with my eyes not to abandon me. I didn’t see any sympathy on his face, only a deep divot between his brows. He wouldn’t help me. I only had myself, and I’d be damned if I let my so-called family hurt the man I loved.

I wanted to scream at Gian. I loved him more than anyone for as long as I could remember. As kids, we could finish each other’s sentences. We slept in the same bed until we were six. I tagged along with his friends, and he beat the crap out of anyone who looked at me wrong. When our parents confronted him, he’d always say a slight against me was a slight against him. I guess he didn’t believe that anymore.