were a blur of exc

the next, surrounded by beautiful women and taking his pick of whoever he desired. I

ge from his Nonno arrived, summoning

d into the back of his car, and

ne at the back, escorting them through the winding ro

oft glow over the mansion's grand fac

and Gino exited first, op

out, straightening his jacket

the door, her po

d politely, bowing slightly. "Ple

n eyebrow but

why she'd dire

but he pushed it down. Whatever awaite

, and Marco couldn't shake the slig

n he saw was his grandfather-seated in a wh

t pleased, that m

authority the elder Donato held. As the mafia capo, the

his was slight, a show of boldn

an's eyes

. Gino did so without hesitation, and the room seemed t

grandfather

with forced confidence. "I thought you were going to scold me for some

spleasure. "I know you landed in Ashwood City earlier th

but hid it well. He kept

have something better to talk a

back, curio

y of a man used to having his commands followed

elief written all over his f

smile. His expression was hard,

ized his grandfath

ynn family," the old man

n flashing in his mind. "Flynn?"

deep ties, the kind of connection

atriarch, Nonno Flynn, had run

Donatos was as old

friend, Roberto Flynn, that his first granddaughter would

not interested in marriage, Nonno," he said, his tone sharp and dismissive. "Flings are a

father slammed his hand on the table, th

ld man said, his voice dangerously low, "

s he processed the threat that

ith the very thing he had been working so hard for. The C

nd Cosa Nostra's reach, doing whatever it took to pro

her's attention, to make him s

rco had thought his

named him Capo yet, Marco assum

ventually, age would force him to step down, and Mar

ow, t

his sudden marriage arrangement was a ro

e had worked for would slip

white. His jaw set in frustration. The tension

n and smiled, his tone smug. "I guess you have no othe

, the old man snapped his fingers

r's right-hand man, entered. He carried a remote, givin

n the wall fli

with auburn curls, dressed modestly in a simp

arrating as he swiped t

23 years old. Beautiful, kind, and from a respected

at the screen

images of Delilah fl

etite, with delicate featur

entirely. She was short, slender, and-he couldn'

was used to, the ones who caught h

l you want me to marry?" he asked, disbelief drip

u seriously trying to marry me off to

calm, almost amused. "These photos are from eight years

hrown by the revelatio

u either. Apparently, you barely take any photographs yourself. Her aunt sho

ng the effects of tradition. "It's the family culture of the Flynns and the Donatos. Neither the bride nor th

ting out a frustrated chu

ne turning stern, "Delilah Flynn and her aunt will b