THE WAY WE WERE BEFORE

LLA'S

ging on like an eternity. I sat stiffly on the cream-colored couch

hands neatly folded in her l

ossed over his chest, though the tension in his jaw

?" Emilio's voice was sharp, cutt

heavy with authority. "I'll get straight to the point." he said, his voice steady but firm

age. That one word sucked

ign that this was a bad joke. She sat motionless, her gaze

f the wall. His protectiveness flared like a stor

Russo family has been allied with the Romano family for generations. Th

I forced myself to speak. "So by union, you mean me." My vo

o mine. "Yes. You will

sion blurring. I shot up from the sofa, the

oice cracking. "I'm not some pawn fo

said nothing. Emilio, however, stepped

e 18th century. You can't just ma

nough!" His voice boomed, silencing us both. "This is not about feelings. I

s words pressing down on me. "Duty?" I spat, my

aid coldly, as if my protests were

fall. I turned to Mama, desperate. "Mama, ple

ally, she murmured, "Bella, your father

crashing down on me. I didn't look back at m

floor, echoing in the quiet of the hallway. My heart pounded in my ears,

losely behind. "Bella, wait."

walking, not caring where I was going. I just needed to get away from hi

his hand gently touching my shoulder. "Let me

"There's nothing you can do, Emilio. It's already

ding me. "I'm not going to let them do this to you, Bella. We'

offered, though I knew deep down that

y anchor. He always had been, and I wasn'

a small flicker of hope-no matter how dim-knowing that