Page 25 of A Merciless Husband
Alessandro steps away, clasping his hands behind his back. “How wonderful it is to see you so in love, Irish Demon. Please know, I’m here forbusinessand have no plan of stealing her from you.” He directs the statement to Kerry, who relaxes a bit. “I’m Italian. I cannot help but be a bit charming, yes? But do not fear. In fact, be elated! I am here to discuss your marriage.”
There’s a moment of silence where Kerry and I both have to pause to process what he said and overcome our shock. “Pardon me?” I say quietly, not sure what he’s talking about.
“Your marriage.” Alessandro grins. “Well, it’s the simplest solution, almost too obvious, yes? It’s why my brother wanted to stop your arrangement in the first place. We have an honor code. Yes, he may find more creative ways to cause trouble after, but he knows he will start a war if he so much as touches one of our spouses. The full force of the Nameless would be raining down upon him. Each and every one of us would be filled with fury at such a dishonorable act. But, if you are unwed…”
Kerry lets out a low breath. “Then he could play it off as ignorance, that he was simply retrieving Astero’s granddaughter for him,” Kerry finishes the thought for him. “Feckin’ hell. You’re right.” He turns to me with a soft look, eyes searching mine to see my reaction.
But I don’t know what my own reaction is. It’s certainly better than the reaction I had the first time I found out that I’d have to marry him. But this time is different. I…don’t feel like Ihaveto marry him.
I get to.
We’ve already been discussing it. I’ve planned for a future here in Ireland. And…I like the thought of it. Of being with Kerry forever. And I know he wants that, too. He’s made that very clear.
I take a deep breath. “How quickly do you think we should do this?”
Alessandro rubs his chin, thinking for a moment. “Well, the sooner the better, for obvious reasons. Gives my brother less time to try anything. But if it’s too rushed, then your grandfather could claim that Kerry forced you, and we don’t want that. A good balance would be…four months, maybe?”
Four months.It’s so much longer than our previous arrangement, but still feels so fast to what I would’ve imagined my wedding would be before my grandparents interfered with my life.
Kerry steps up to me, haste in his movements as he grabs my hands. “When you have as much money as I do, you can get anything you want in four months. I’ll make sure it’s the wedding of your dreams, leannán. The perfect venue, the perfect dress, the perfect music, food, all of it. I swear to you.”
I smile at his earnest tone and squeeze his hands. “Don’t worry, Kerry. I’ve never been one for lavish parties, wedding or not. I’m not worried about it. I’m sure it’ll be really lovely, no matter what we do for it.”
“It will be,” Kerry’s voice drops to a whisper. “Because I’ll make sure it is. For you.”
The rest of the night is spent in much more casual conversation. Kerry brings in his chef to make a big dinner for us. I leave most of the talking to Kerry and Alessandro. The leader of the Nameless isn’t as scary as I thought he would be, thankfully. In fact, he seems…normal. Even more normal than Kerry. It’s odd, knowing he was the leader of a major secret mafia organization. He’s been the perfect gentleman, handing me food, asking politely for anything he might need. He seems to notice that I’m a bit nervous around him and that Kerry’s possessive, so he mostly directs all lines of conversation towards Kerry.
Until there’s a quiet moment as we eat our dessert, a sticky toffee pudding, which I’ve never had before. Alessandro lets it fall silent. I sayletbecause I’ve picked up that itseemslike he talks a lot, but in reality, he’s molding the conversation to his wishes. Kerry notices, too, sitting up a little straighter.
Alessandro turns to me, a depth of sadness in his dark eyes. “I am sorry your friend is missing,piccola signorina. I imagine you’re very worried about her.”
“I am,” I say softly, fingers tightening around my spoon.
He nods, brows pinching together. “I wanted to reassure you that we are doing everything we can to bring her back to safety. I hope Alasdair has told you what’s been happening?”
My eyes flicker to Kerry, and he nods. I look back to Alessandro and nod. “Yes, he has.”
Alessandro nods, looking thoughtful again. “Bene, bene.” He pauses for a moment. “You and her are not in such a different situation, you know.”
I furrow my brows, studying him. My eyes flicker to Kerry, but it’s clear he has no idea what the man is talking about, either. “What do you mean?”
“She is having to get married, too. To be safe.”
My eyebrows raise this time, the air rushing out of my lungs. “What are you talking about?”
Alessandro chuckles a bit at my reaction. “You know about her father and grandfather’s feuding, yes?”
I nod. “Yes, Kerry told me.”
Alessandro nods. “Sì. And you know her grandfather’s protege is within my organization, too, yes?” At my nodding, he continues. “She will marry him. It is for her protection, too. Her father is not the honorable type to look at marriage the same as us, but it will provide more protection, and ensure my brother does not get involved with her father. Her father’s men will know it will cause a war with the Nameless and they won’t want to be involved. We are quite the force to behold.” Alessandro winks at me, that charming smile flashing back up onto his lips.
I sit back in my chair and process that. Lily and I, best friends for ages, somehow finding ourselves in the same boat, needing to marry a mafia lord for protection.
“You will be sisters in arms, even as you are sisters in heart. It is a nice thing, yes?” Alessandro grins and sips his wine. Next to me, Kerry’s hand finds my thigh. He must know this information is jarring. It’s amazing how quickly he’s learned to read me.
My throat feels rather tight as I swallow. “Yes, I suppose. Is this already happening? Or is it just…your plan?”
Alessandro laughs and shakes his head. “I do not make plans. I make promises. Even so, this is already happening. She has been taken from her father. She issafe.Her grandfather has her, and he loves her very much. I believe his world has already brightened into heaven at the thought of him having a granddaughter, a family again.”
