Chapter One #2
He stopped walking and turned me to face him.
His smile was sad, but his eyes were resolute, hard and unyielding.
“I tried, Angelo, but they were adamant it takes place as soon as possible. We gave you freedom to pursue your passion but it is time to grow up now and do what you were always intended to do—your duty to the family and in this case that duty is marrying and becoming a wife.”
I dropped my gaze as if considering the implications of his statement but in reality, already thinking of a way out of this predicament.
“I will miss you, Papa,” I responded, attempting to pull on his heartstrings. “When and where?”
He pulled me in for a hug, allowing me a moment for real tears to prick my eyes and gently wind a trail down my cheek. “You are such a good girl, Amore Mio. A week from Saturday and it will be here in Toronto. But, after the ceremony, you will be leaving Toronto for good.”
The way he said ‘for good’ sent a shiver down my spine. “Where will I be living?”
My father’s eyes dropped, unable to face me. “I’m not entirely sure. The States, I think.”
The only good thing about the wedding being local was giving me a chance to escape, as I knew my city like the back of my hand. “Will you come and visit me, Papa?” May as well sink it home that I would no longer be his sweet Angelo.
“When I can, but it will be a while, they want you to know your place in your new environment before they will allow visitors.”
So, whoever they were, the family was powerful or had a lot of enemies. My guess was the second one.
“Listen to me, Angelo. Your mother is making the wedding arrangements and she is…well, you know her.” His gaze wandered, and grew misty with memory.
“Our wedding was…rather rushed. She had no say then in all the little things that matter so much to a bride, and I’m afraid she views this as her chance to have it done over, done right.
But if I cannot give you the life you hoped for, I can still give you the wedding of your dreams. If you need help reminding your mother it is your special day and not hers, you let me know and I will set her straight. ”
I wanted to scoff at his offer to protect me from my own mother, but what about the mafia prince I was being sold to?
Who would protect me from him? Not my father.
I felt angry and betrayed, but I couldn’t share any of that with him.
He’d just lay down the law and cloister me within the family home until I said I do.
“Yes, Papa,” I said and even managed a smile.
He kissed my forehead as he used to do when I was a small girl, and then he walked me back to the campus, believing my fate to be sealed.
I was determined that it wasn’t, not yet.
I had not lied to my father—I would miss him, and perhaps even my mother, from time to time—but I would not marry his ‘match’ for me. I would be free.
And somehow, against all odds, I did it.
It wasn’t graceful. It wasn’t easy. There were tears, lies, forged paperwork, and a terrifying amount of luck.
More than once I almost turned back. Walking away from my family felt like stepping off a cliff and hoping I learned how to fly before I hit the ground.
But I left.
Once I broke the chains of tradition and obedience, there was nothing left to hold me.
Perhaps I had started out running, but I wasn’t running anymore.
I had a new life, my own life, here in Pennsylvania.
I had the job I’d dreamed of. I had friends.
Friends who knew me as Gaby, not as a bargaining chip, a future wife, or a commodity to be traded.
And most important of all, I had my freedom.
“Earth to Gaby, anyone home?”
I pulled away from the memories of my old life and smiled at my friends around the table we shared in the restaurant. “Sorry, it’s been a long day in orientation, so far. What are we talking about?”
“Seriously?” Shay rolled her eyes. “Did you see that cute intern in the E.R. today? Oh my god, to die for!”
I met Shay only a few days ago when I answered an ad for room and board only one block away from my new job. From what I could tell, Shay was bisexual so when she said cute intern, I had no idea if it was a woman or a man she referenced.
“Um, yes? Dr. Harris?” I answered hesitantly. He was the only intern I’d seen that was as new as me.
“Well, duh. Yeah, so hot!”
Janet, the practical one in the group, ignored Shay’s theatrics. “How was your first day so far?”
I told them about a bed pan incident that had us all laughing.
Lucy added in a story of her own and before long our table was a loud peal of giggles that had drawn attention.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
Uh-oh, someone spotted me. I gazed casually around the restaurant, but didn’t see any threatening presence. Then my gaze landed on him.
Even sitting, I could tell he was tall. Broad shoulders strained against his shirt, and there was something unmistakably powerful about him.
Not gym-bro powerful. Dangerously powerful.
Tattoos peeked from beneath his white shirt sleeves that strained against his muscular forearms. His dark hair was thick and wavy and slicked back.
When my eyes found his, a sizzle shot through me, zapping straight to my clit with such intensity I had to clench my walls and press my legs together.
My pulse kicked up. Ridiculous. I didn’t know this man.
Had never spoken to him. Yet something about him commanded attention the way a storm commanded attention.
Beautiful from a distance. Potentially deadly if you got too close.
He held my gaze and raised his nose almost as if he could smell my excitement from across the restaurant.
Holy hell, now that was hot, if you could get past the dangerous, predatory vibe.
And by far, he was the most handsome man I’d ever laid eyes on.
A crowd entered the restaurant and the sexy surfer-looking guy who seemed to be everywhere at once moved to sit them down. By the time they parted out of my way, Mr. Dangerous was gone. Never had I ever felt such a strong instant attraction to a man, or any person for that matter.
My father’s words from childhood floated from where I’d buried them. “Never give your heart to a man, figlia, none of them are good enough for you.”
Whoever that tall drink of rippling masculinity was, he could certainly steal my heart. Best I never ran into him again. Unfortunately, fate rarely consulted me before making plans of its own.
I checked the time on my phone and noted to avoid the lunch hour at Buono Come Il Mamas in the future, in case he was a regular.
A few minutes later, I paid the handsome server whose name tag said Vinny and left the girls to go back to the hospital hoping that as the orientation continued, I’d forget about the handsome stranger.