Page 7 of Vows of Blood
She pauses as she tries to control her shaky sobs. “And the best way to unite our families is by marriage.”
That ball inside me of all the bad things in the world ruptures and I’m suddenly cold all over and nauseous all at once. “Annie, what do they mean, ‘by marriage’? Who’s getting married?”
“Apparently I am,” she says. “They decided that their oldest children should get married to unite the families. I don’t want to get married, Izzy. I don’t evenknowhis sons.”
“That can’t be what they meant,” I say to her. “I mean, we’re not in Medieval times. You can’t just… arrange a marriage like that. It’s wrong, and it can’t be legal!”
She scoffs. “As if Mob bosses care about what’s legal. They can do whatever they like. And I’m just expected to go along with it.”
I can’t even wrap my head around this. I pause, trying to figure out what they must have actually been talking about. It just couldn’t be what she thinks it is.
“Annie, have you talked to Dad yet about it?”
“No,” she says. “He doesn’t know I was eavesdropping.”
“Okay, so maybe you heard wrong, then. Look, whatever’s going on, it can’t be what you think. Dad would never do that to you.”
“I don’t think so, Izzy. I know what I heard.”
Maybe I should talk to him myself, I start to think. Clear the whole thing up for her. He’d forgive her for eavesdropping and we can put this whole thing to rest.
The universe must be listening to me because all of a sudden, there’s a knock at the door. “Analisa? Isabella? You girls in there?”
It’s Dad. I don’t know how long we’ve been up here, but clearly, it was long enough for him to notice that we’re not among the guests anymore.
“Let’s just clear this up,” I say to Annie. “I’ll talk to Dad about it.”
Her eyes get large with panic. “No. Izzy, you can’t. He’ll be so angry with me.”
“It’ll be fine. I promise.” I pat her hand and stand up to answer the door.
Dad’s out in the hallway with a confused look on his face. “Is your sister in there with you?” he asks. “I was looking all over the place for you two.”
“She is,” I say, “but Dad, she’s really upset right now about something she thinks you told the Russians tonight.”
He stares at me with a look that I don’t quite recognize. It’s part surprise, but part something else. Something darker. He nods and leans into me. “And how does she know what I told them?”
“She overheard you in the parlor.” I see the first embers of anger in his eyes and I add, “But she didn’t mean to eavesdrop, Dad. She was just passing by the room.”
He shakes his head and starts pacing. Uh-oh. “Just passing by?” he repeats.
“Yeah. And she’s clearly upset by what she heard. She’s learned her lesson.”
“And how do you figure that?”
I sigh. Maybe I’m doing more harm than good here. I really hope Dad sees the humor in Annie mishearing something she shouldn’t have been listening to. “She thought she heard you tell the Russians that you want to marry her off to one of their sons.”
He stops pacing and narrows his eyes at me. “What?”
“She’s in shambles, Dad,” I tell him. “Like inconsolable right now. It’s silly, right? You’d never do something like that to her.”
He looks away from me, his jaw clenched. Suddenly, he looks like he wants to punch the wall. “Your sister shouldn’t have been listening in. That was work. You girls know better than to listen in when I’m working.”
I can’t believe that’s what he’s focused on right now. “Did you hear what I said? Annie thinks you’re trying to put her in some arranged marriage?—”
“I heard you just fine, Isabella. This is the reason I told you girls that your place isn’t anywhere near this business. Some things are not for your ears.”
I just stare at him as the realization hits me. “Oh, my God. Dad, tell me you didn’t promise the Russians your own daughter.”
