Sinister Union (Billion Dollar Brides #2)

Prologue

PROLOGUE

RORK

I barge into Nico Marino’s office, my blood already boiling. He’s sitting there, looking as smug as ever, like he owns the whole damn world. Just because he’s twenty years old and taking over his family’s empire, he thinks he can do whatever he wants—including marrying Anna, my childhood friend.

“Rork O’Malley,” he drawls, a smirk on his punchable face. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

I plant my hands on the desk, leaning forward to meet his gaze head-on. “I’m here about Anna.”

Nico’s blue eyes narrow. “What about her?” he asks.

“This bullshit arranged marriage,” I growl. “Let her out of it.”

Nico leans back in his chair, a dangerous glint in his eye. “No. Our marriage is about more than just us. It’s about consolidating power between our Families. Strengthening our bonds.”

I scoff. “Spare me the politics, Marino. Anna’s not some pawn for you to play with.”

“You’d do well to mind your own business, O’Malley,” Nico warns, rising from his chair. “Anna is my fiancée now.”

“She’s my friend,” I counter, my voice rising. “I’ve known her since we were kids. She’s like a sister to me, and I won’t stand by and watch you treat her like some trophy wife.”

Nico’s face twists into a sneer. “Careful, Rork. Your ‘brotherly’ concern is starting to sound a lot like jealousy.”

“ Jealousy ?” I let out a harsh laugh, resting my hand on the desk. “You think I want Anna for myself? Christ, you’re more delusional and egotistical than I even thought. I want her to be free , you fucking jackass. Free to make her own choices, to be more than just some Mafia wife and ornament.”

“I’m warning you, O’Malley,” Nico says, his eyes burning with malice. “Shut the fuck up about my wife.”

I laugh harshly. “She’s not your wife. Yet. That is, if she even makes it up the aisle.”

"What are you suggesting?" Nico asks with dangerous softness.

I lean forward, getting right in his face. “I’m suggesting that Anna’s marrying into the wrong Family. And I’d be more than happy to help her out of this fucked-up arrangement before it’s too late.”

In a flash, Nico draws a blade from his suit jacket and levels it at me. “I’ve had enough of your disrespect, O’Malley. If you want to challenge me for Anna, then do it like a man.”

I reach for my own knife, my blood singing with the promise of violence. But before I can make a move, the office door flies open and Anna bursts in, her eyes wide with horror.

“Nico, Rork, stop this! Please!”

But I’m too far gone to listen. Seeing Anna only fuels my determination. We’ve grown up together like brother and sister as our families were neighbors and friendly. I’ve always protected her, and I’ll be damned if I let this entitled prick have her.

Anna always talked about doing something with her life—leaving our town to make something of herself. She’s always been smart and capable of something more. To know that her wings are being clipped and she’s going to be someone’s wife at the ripe age of eighteen? That her entire worth will be based on how many heirs she punches out and how well she ‘supports’ her husband by being meek and submissive?

Unacceptable.

The steel of my knife glints under the harsh office lights. “Bring it on, Marino.”

Our blades clash in a flurry of sparks and snarls. I’m fueled by rage and desperation, but Nico is quick—quicker than I anticipated. He parries my attacks with ease, that infuriating smirk never leaving his face.

Anna is screaming now, begging us to stop, her beautiful face etched in a look of despair. But her cries fall on deaf ears.

I lunge for Nico, but he sidesteps neatly. Pain explodes across my face as his blade slices into my flesh, just below my eye.

I stumble back, blood pouring down my cheek. Through the haze of pain, I see Nico advancing, his knife raised for the killing blow, his blue eyes like ice chips.

“No!” Anna throws herself between us, her arms outstretched, chest heaving. “Enough! Both of you!”

Nico scowls at her, his eyes promising death. “Step aside, Anna.”

“No!” she cries. “No, Nico! Don’t do this! Please, for me!”

Breathing heavily, Nico and I glare at each other over Anna’s head. Shame washes over me as I realize the depth of my failure. Not only did I fail to protect Anna, but I’ve been bested by the man I swore to save her from.

As blood drips into my eye, blurring my vision, I begin to wonder if Nico’s blade took more than just my pride. The searing pain makes it hard to tell.

I lock eyes with Anna. “You don’t have to do this,” I plead, my voice raw with emotion. “You don’t have to be his wife, his property. I can help you, Anna. You will have the entire Irish Mob behind you. You can finally chase all those dreams we talked about as kids.”

For a moment, I see a flicker of longing in her eyes, a glimpse of the free-spirited girl I used to know. But then she shakes her head, her eyes hardening.

“Those were childish dreams, Rork,” she says softly, her voice trembling. “My place is here now, by Nico’s side.”

Nico steps forward, putting a possessive arm around Anna’s waist, a triumphant smirk on his face. “You heard her, O’Malley. She’s made her choice.”

He levels a cold glare at me, his eyes glinting with triumph. “And let me make one thing clear. If you ever come near my family again, it’ll be the last thing you ever do. Understand?”

I clench my fists, every fiber of my being screaming at me to fight back, to take Anna and run. But she’s looking at me with pleading eyes, silently begging me not to make this worse.

So I swallow my pride, my heart shattering in my chest. “Understood,” I grit out.

I turn to go, blood dripping from my wounded face, my face screaming in pain. But it’s nothing compared to the agony in my soul.

As I reach the door, I pause and look back one last time. Anna is crying silently, but she doesn’t move to stop me, doesn’t say a word in my defense.

Something cold and hard settles in my chest, a seed of hatred taking root. They may have won this battle, but the war is far from over.

“This isn’t the end, Marino,” I vow, my voice low and deadly. “Someday, I’ll make you pay for this. I’ll have my revenge, even if it’s the last thing I do.”

Nico just smirks. “I’d like to see you try. Now, get the fuck out of here. You’re getting blood all over my rug.”

I stalk out into the night, leaving behind my childhood friend and the man I’ve sworn to destroy.

My face is throbbing, my vision blurred by blood. But through the haze of pain and humiliation, one thought crystallizes in my mind.

They think they’ve broken me, but they have no idea what they’ve unleashed.

Rork O’Malley doesn’t forget. And he never forgives.