Fragile Longing

by Cora Reilly

Sofia. She was a child. Ten years younger than me. I’d never even spared her a glance. “She’s what,

“You’ll be busy with this war and establishing your reign over Indianapolis. A later wedding would be advantageous,”

Ten fucking years younger than me.

I couldn’t imagine wanting Sofia like that, couldn’t imagine wanting her at all. She was a child. She wasn’t Serafina.

“What condition?” Dante’s voice was clipped. His patience was running dry. These last few months had tested us all. My eyes slanted to Samuel. He was watching me with narrowed eyes. Did I trust him with my sister? More than any of the other prospects. Father would marry Emma off at some point, and nobody of worth wanted her. She’d be cast off to someone who

“He marries my sister Emma,” I said. Samuel’s face twisted with shock. “She’s in a—” He stopped short. Good for him because I wanted to kill him. “In a wheelchair, yes. Which is why nobody of worth wants her. My sister deserves only the best, and you are the heir to the Minneapolis Outfit. If you all want this bond, Samuel will marry my sister, then I’ll marry Sofia.”

gave a sharp nod. “It’s not what I want, but it’ll have to do.” “It’ll have to do?” Samuel growled, stepping forward with narrowed eyes.

“Just one more thing. I don’t want word about Samuel’s bond to my sister to get out yet. She doesn’t need to know this was a deal in exchange for Sofia.”

best.” That was probably true. True for both our sisters. Fate had dealt Emma some harsh cards, and she deserved only the best. Would she ever get it? Probably not. “I’ll treat Sofia with the same respect as I have always treated Serafina.”

The moment I spotted him, my heart did a strange flip it had never done before. He gave me a smile, and again my heart beat wildly

“You know we have rules in our world. Rules we all have to follow. Danilo can’t marry Serafina anymore, so we decided that we’d promise you to him.”

“Danilo really wants to marry me when I’m grown up?” I couldn’t believe it. Danilo was so handsome and clever. Serafina and he had looked like monarchs beside each other, like a Disney dream couple. Dad kissed my forehead. “Of course, he does. Any man would be grateful to have you as his wife. He chose you.”

I liked him even when you were promised to him. He’s cute and chivalrous.”

I didn’t mind waiting, and it made me happy that Danilo had agreed to wait so long for me. That meant he really wanted me.

Danilo looked furious. “She

else. Not Sofia.” “I didn’t choose her. I chose you. But you were taken from me, and now I have no choice but to marry your sister even though it’s you I want!” He didn’t want me? I sucked in a sharp breath as my chest constricted. Tears pricked my eyes. Danilo and Fina looked up.

“Sofia, can I talk to you?” Danilo said. I froze. Danilo had never approached me. Slowly, I sat up and wiped my eyes. I hopped off my bed and checked my face in the mirror. My eyes were puffy and my nose red. Fina was a pretty crier. I was not.

If I wanted him to want me, I couldn’t act like a little girl anymore.

doubted Sofia and I had anything in common, certainly not now. She was a little kid. When

“It’s a messed-up deal. You realize neither Emma nor Sofia will be happy if they find out you and Samuel struck an agreement to marry each other’s sister.”

“It wasn’t your fault, Danilo. You have to stop blaming yourself for the accident.” I glared at him. “This discussion is over.”

“I think it’s a mistake to wait to announce the bond,” Mom said. “Maybe people would stop pitying her if they knew she’s going to marry a future Underboss. And maybe Cincinnati will realize their mistake. May they rot in hell, all of them.” Mother crossed herself as if God would grant her wish to her that way.

“Serafina is pregnant. She’s seventeen weeks along.” The news hit me like a sledgehammer. Another reminder of how Remo had taken her from me. As if even from afar he’d found another way to humiliate me by showing me again how he’d dishonored my fiancée.

“You know how people always stare at her.” “I know, but I don’t give a fuck. Let them stare.”

Emma gave me an embarrassed smile. “People are staring.” “They’re staring at me. The abandoned bridegroom,” I said in a forced joking voice.

“Why didn’t she get an abortion? Did she find

out too late?” “She didn’t want an abortion,” Pietro said. His voice made it clear that his choice would have been different if it had been up to him.

Despite my efforts, Danilo hardly looked at me. It was as if I were air. His expression was passive. The only time there was a flicker of passion was when he spotted Serafina across the room. After that, I was invisible to him. Anna nudged me once he left. “Hey, don’t pull such a face,” she whispered then turned back to Emma. I forced my eyes away from Danilo and smiled at Emma.

“He has to ignore you in public. Until you’re older, it’s against etiquette to show that you’re engaged.” She was right. I kept comparing my situation to how Danilo had treated

“He probably just forgot. Men are like that,” Anna said during the opening credits. “How do you know so much about men?” I scoffed. Anna rolled her eyes. “I have a brother, and he can be a major douche.

have to, ladybug. For my babies. I want them to be safe and happy. I need to protect them from the whispers.” I hated the way people badmouthed the twins. They were only babies, but people hated them because they looked like Remo Falcone, the enemy. I

Remo Falcone, she hadn’t sounded as scared as I’d expected. Sometimes, she even looked wistful, and now I knew my gut instincts had been right. “Do you love him?” “I don’t know,” Fina said, her blonde brows pulling together. How could she not know? But then I remembered my confusing feelings for Danilo and understood. Emotions weren’t always black and white. “Dad won’t allow me to see you anymore, will he?” I asked, my eyes prickling with tears that I tried to hold back for Fina’s sake. I didn’t want her to feel guilty. Fina looked away briefly, blinking rapidly. “I hope one day he’ll understand.”

“She chose him. She saved him,” he gritted out, and then he told me how Fina had gone to a safe house where they’d kept Remo Falcone to kill him and she’d saved him. Dante had let her go and now my family blamed my uncle for losing Fina, but she’d made her choice to leave—not Dante.

The instant she’d pointed her gun at us to protect her kidnapper—our worst enemy—I’d hated her.

Our families were in shambles for various reasons, but Dante had kept his in perfect condition.

“She betrayed us. She drugged me so she could save Falcone.”

liked them here in the Outfit.” Samuel grunted. “She could have sent them to Vegas.” “Do you really think Fina could have lived without her babies?”

Mom and Emma needed me to

be strong, to be their rock in these unsteady times. It was my task in life. My duty.

entered my mind, and my thrusts turned almost vicious as the prostitute knelt before me, but the images were distorted, clouded with bitterness and a sickening need for revenge.

“He’s handsome but intolerable. He’s fun to piss off, though.” I giggled. “And he’s your bodyguard. Your dad would kill him if he touched you.”

Dad and Samuel had been annoyed that Danilo had sent his own bodyguard to keep me safe, but for me it was a tiny sign that he cared for me in some way, even if he didn’t show it otherwise. Like all men in our world, he was a control freak.

And the only thing

that’s hurt is his pride, certainly not his heart.”

“You look like a bad copy of your sister. Do you want people to badmouth your family again because of what happened?” “I–I didn’t mean it like that.”

“You’re young. I might have frightened you yesterday, which is why I’m going to pretend that you didn’t act like a petulant, rude child just now, but I expect more from you.”

Danilo caught my gaze over the flames and gave me a small smile. My heart sped up, but

She dashed toward the lake in black underwear and dived in. “I’ll ask for a fucking pay raise once I’m back in Chicago,” Santino growled as he got up and began to undress. I couldn’t help but giggle.

wanted a reaction from him. No risk, no fun—that was pretty much her motto.

Already at our last encounter I’d noticed a change, and now it was impossible to ignore. I noticed Sofia, not because she deserved my attention due to our planned future together. No. I