Page 2 of Forgetting the Enemy
Chapter 1
Zaira
Standing outside my father’s office door, I hear him talking to someone. Knowing how much he hates to be disturbed when he has someone in his office, I start to walk away but then turn back when I hear my name. He’s talking about me with someone, but with whom? I know I shouldn’t be eavesdropping, but now my curiosity is piqued, and I must listen to more.
“Are you sure Zaira is who you want?” he asks.
“Yes, I’ve wanted this alliance for some time now. You’ve known for a while now that I’ve been building to have my own family, and having Zaira in the mix will seal the bond between our two families,” the other man replies. I know his voice—Victor Masserie, one of my father’s caporegimes.But why are they talking about me?I think to myself.
“Marriage?” my father questions.Marriage?To Victor? Absolutely not!
“Yes, marriage, of course,” Victor replies.
“And how does this alliance ensure an increase in my power? From what I can see, the only one benefiting from this arrangement is you.”
“It would appear that way, but you’re missing the hierarchy of business, Alberto. When my power increases, your power increases because you are and will always be my Don.”
“And what about the Vitalis?” my father asks.
“Alberto, they don’t stand a chance against the alliance between our two families. Actually, I’m surprised they haven’t tried to push that old hope for a marriage contract of their own with Zaira and Michael.”
“Actually, it surprises me as well. Zaira is beautiful, and I am sure hard to resist. But when I accused them of killing my Maria—God rest her soul—all bets were off.”
I know my father blames Michael and his family for my mother’s death. He swears the Vitalis put a hit out on her, but I know Michael, and I know his father. They would never do such a thing. If they wanted to come after my family, they would not take a coward’s way out and go after my mother. They would go directly to the top and get my father.
He’s quiet for a few minutes and then he says to Victor, “So you are guaranteeing I will benefit from this?”
“You have my word,” Victor replies.
Victor has been part of our family my entire life. My father raised him and doted on him as if he was the firstborn son. My brother, Vince, never stood a chance and never got the same attention from my father as Victor did. As a child, I remember Victor never playing with us and always keeping his distance. My father even offered to educate him, but he refused. He wanted to be a made man and work his way up in the family. And he never hid the fact he wanted his own family, which is why this conversation comes as no surprise to me. Victor has always wanted this, but for some reason, I seem to be the key to make it happen.But why?
I’ve never liked Victor, nor have I ever trusted him. In fact, he’s always scared me. He’s never been pleasant or nice to anyone but my father, and the last thing I can imagine for my future is being married to him.Why would an alliance with Victor increase my father’s power? Victor didn’t have the muscle behind him, so why would he think he would add power to the Bonita family?
“However, Alberto, I think it is important to know what you are subjecting your daughter to. I’m not a nice man,” Victor says.
My father replies with a chuckle. “I’m not a nice man either. When did that ever stop me?”
“This is not a laughing matter, Alberto. You need to heed my words.”
“Fine, what is it you have to say?”
Listen well ’cause I will only say this once.” He pauses and then says, “Zaira will not be a wife who is treasured and doted on—or loved for that matter. She will satisfy my needs, both in the bedroom and out. This is a marriage of convenience and nothing else.”
His words terrify me. I cannot marry Victor. My father will insist. I’m desperate; I have to do something to stop this arrangement. Without thinking of how I’ll explain to them I was less than a little interested, I don’t knock and instead barge in.
When I open the door to my father’s office to protest, I catch him waving his hand in the air, shrugging Victor’s words away, and then he says, “You know I care nothing about that. Once she belongs to you, I wash my hands of her.”
I should have known. My father doesn’t care. If it helps his business or increases his power, then my wellbeing be damned.
He pauses when he sees me. “Zaira, my dear. Your timing is perfect, but you know better than to just walk into my office, especially when I have someone in here, even if it is only Victor.” He gives me a wary look, and I know I will have to pay for my intrusion. “Victor and I have something to share with you.” He says it so sweetly, with so much love in his voice.
I smile at him, but inside I am falling apart. How could my own father do this? I won’t argue with him about this so-called marriage for many reasons, one being that I’m already in trouble for walking uninvited into his office. Then, if I give myself away and reveal what I’ve heard, he will punish me for eavesdropping. Yes, it’s a rather odd concept for a woman of twenty-one but a definite occurrence in the Bonita family. Secondly, I know I won’t win if I did. My father’s word is law, and if he insists I marry Victor, then I have no choice but to marry Victor. Did I mention that when you are a Bonita, you have no free will, just my father’s will?
Putting on the invisible mask I wear in situations such as this—the one I have grown accustomed to wearing when I am around my father—I reply, “Good morning, Father.” I pause and turn toward Victor to address him. “Victor. Hope you both are well this morning.”
“We are, and we have good news for you,” my father says.
Victor rises from his chair and walks over and stands before me. “Zaira, your father and I have just spoken, and he has given us his blessing.”
