Married To The Wrong Brother

ng about the way his shoes hit the stone

e always sat near the outer ring of the main dining table at Gatherings. The other two looked older. Bo

pocket knives right? I used to have one fo

. He was broad, maybe late thirties, with a square jaw and perma

smirking, and my hand t

here, bella," his voice scrap

ather used to tell me about showing fear because it makes you loo

ice wobbled so much that I cou

ed wider. "You're Ros

hok

one of the gilded daughters or promised brides. My father always said we walked two steps behind the bloodlines, that we earned our seat

, "How do you

ry," he turned slightly, admiring the hedge behind me. "But then there'

d under their breath,

mering in my chest, but the

leaves. He looked like he belon

icking his tongue. "You're only here because your

al?" I

plaining a menu, and my brows pulled together. "Mon

no idea what you're talking

a firing squad. "Oh, don't I?" His voice dropped, and suddenly he

vision, I saw the two men behind him t

ected. "He's been working with De Laurentiis for over two decades

king with?" he repeated, like the phrase offended him. "Your f

to remind you where the ceiling was, and exactly how low they thought you stood under it. My father always told me not to t

d and sucked my teeth. "But I don't even know your na

to me until there was nothing left between us but tension and the pound

d closer, and I caught a whiff of his spic

cowards say," I mut

ne call. Your daddy's got more blood in his books than numbers. Ha

ngers down his slightly rough

salia Capello... Too soft for this world, and t

I looked past him, towar

ed, fake-pouting. "And even if he was,

yanked back, but his finger

go of

enched round, dragging me forward an inch b

e out here.This is private

ither," I shot back t

dly. "You just tagged along on your dadd

We should go. This isn't smart." His voice

m," the first one started

cream," I

cheekbone, forcing my chin up. "You won't," he snarled, baring his teeth. "Because you're not any stupider, and

, and that terrified

d, now behind me. I could f

st gleeful. "Probably her first ti

," the first chuckled darkly that

s digging into my flesh like anchors, and if I w

d. "So he didn'

nd before my fear could stop me, I

head sideways. I swayed, off-kilter, but the hands gripping my arms shoved me upr

sneered, wiping his cheek

y teeth so h

payment, your daddy's name is on a deal," his eyes dropped to my mouth,

ld stone wall, a sharp groa

ty skin made my skin crawl. He continued drawing deep breaths like some twisted animal, his breath hot on my che

all, his hand locked across my chest like iron. I gritted my teeth, my heart slamming into my ribs.

wnward, yanking my dress and

o