A Burning Flame by Daniella Kunz (book recommendations txt) 📕

what this man is. He promised me a choice. I stand there silent as I gawk at the three of them. Unable to find my words. A sinister and triumphant smile pulls on Enzo's face as he watches me with calculating eyes- absorbing my reaction at gaining the upper hand from last night. So this is his retribution. Why take it so far? Marriage? Why me, I can't be the only one to have told him off before.

"Gianna?" My father gently asks, knowing I'm about to explode. I begin to shake my head as I take a step back.

"You can't," I tell them while knowing they very well can. My father looks down, not meeting my eyes, not wanting to watch me fall apart. Dante speaks up from his place.

"Enzo, do you mind stepping out for a moment so we may talk to Gianna in private." He calmly asks Enzo as if they are casual friends. Nodding, he steps out the door, quietly closing it behind him. At hearing the click of the door, I practically leap forward. I place my hands over my father's folded ones as I lean down, so I am eye level with him.

"Father, you can't do this. Please decline, you can't give me to him. Have you not heard of the things he does? How he rapes and beats women? Have you not heard of his reputation?"

"I have." His answer is short and distant.

"And you will still give me to him?!" My voice rises as my panic increases.

"Gianna, we don't have a choice." Dante steps in, speaking up again.

I turn to look at him. "What do you mean you don’t have a choice?"

I see the tension in his face as he grinds his jaw. "He threatened to withdraw the alliance, to start a war with us if we didn't allow him your hand. He was very insistent on you, and we don't have the resources to anger the Outfit right now. I'm sorry, Gianna. I would never do this to you if we had a choice."

"But you do, you can tell him to kiss your ass. Your Dante, the Capo of the Cosa Nostra, since when do you cower and give in to others demands!"

"GIANNA!" My father roars out, silencing me from continuing to speak to Dante that way. Tears well in my eyes as my vision begins to blur.

“I won’t do it. I won’t marry him.” I say as my head shakes from side to side.

“Gianna, damn it! You will do what I say, I have been more than kind these past years, but I need you to do something for me now. I need you to accept this. It will only be harder for you if you don’t.”

I stand up, backing away from my father, feeling as if I don’t know the man in front of me. “I can’t.” My father slams his fist down upon the desk, shaking it in his rage.

“You will, even if I have to drag your ass down that aisle, you will marry him.” He fixes me with a harsh glare as my fate is now decided for me. My heart sinks in my chest.

“I won’t. I’ll leave and run away. I won’t do this.” My father stands, grabbing hold of my wrist as he shakes me.

“You will!” He roars out at me.

“You are all a bunch of cowards. You are nothing better than Liliana’s father.” Rage flashing in my father's eyes as he reaches out, striking me across the face at my insult. I stumble back, stunned as I look at my father with wide eyes.

“You had better watch your fucking mouth, Gianna. I better not hear another fucking word come out of your mouth.” A cold reminded me that he is a part of the mafia before he is my father. When I remain there silent, he turns, nodding at one of his men standing by the door. “Go get Enzo and bring him back in.”

“Yes, sir.” He walks out of the room before shortly coming back with an eager looking Enzo in tow.

“Enzo, we have all accepted your proposal. Please sit, and we can discuss the details of our arrangement.” He gestures for Enzo to have another seat. “Gianna, you may leave now. I will call upon you when I have everything arranged.” My father coldly dismisses me from their presence. Turning, trying my best not to flee in my haste to get out of the room, I hear Enzo clearing his throat.

“I was hoping I may be allowed a moment alone with my new fiancee.” Possessive darkness washes over his face as my own falls. My pulse begins to race as panic grabs hold of my throat, threatening to squeeze it, cutting off my air. I don’t want to be left alone with him, terrified of what he may do once the doors are closed, leaving him free to do as he wants.

“I am sorry Enzo, but until you are married, there will not be any alone meetings. You may speak with her but only with myself or her guards present. She still belongs to me and will be under my protection until otherwise.” My father's stern voice commands his authority. I let out the breath I was holding as he came to my rescue. A scowl appears on Enzo’s face at my father's words and having denied him his chance to gloat.

“Yes, of course, we will talk another time then.” I see his jaw clench as he rolls his shoulders, clearly unhappy. He turns back to my father, allowing me to slip out of the room without needing another dismissal. Making my way outside, I burst from the front door into the salty humid air. Gasping for air as I felt myself begin to suffocate in the room just now. I don’t speak as I am driven home, feeling numb to what awaits me.

5

GIANNA

The next day my father calls to inform me that Enzo will be leaving