Chapter 4 Celestina

CELESTINA

Despite the warmer temperatures that March brought, I was glad for my thick wool sweater. I'd never grown used to the colder climate of Baltimore. The weather in Atlanta had been so much warmer. My fingers were stiff as I settled them on the piano keys and began to play. Melancholic low notes of music filled the room, a reflection of my current emotions. I had started fiddling with the composition a couple of days ago, but it was still far from good.

When my aunt stepped into the living room, perfectly styled-as always-in a beige cashmere

dress, her dark hair piled on top of her head, I lifted my hands off the keys and the sound died off in a soft exhale.

Uncle Altair entered behind her. He was a tall man, heavy around the middle, with a mustache

that twitched when he talked. They exchanged a look and something heavy settled in my stomach.

"We need to have a word with you," Altair said.

I got up from the bench and followed them toward the seating area. They sat on the couch, and I took the armchair across from them. It felt like I was facing a tribunal.

"It hasn't been easy on us, taking you in," Altair began, and I curled my fingers into the leather of the armchair. It wasn't the first time I heard it, but it still stung. "But we did what we could. We gave you what we could to raise you."

They had given me shelter and education, but affection or even protection from the harsh whispers of society ... No. Never that. I was grateful anyway. I knew how important outward appearances were, and they had risked their reputation by taking in a traitor's daughter.

"But you are a grown woman now and it's time for you to have your own home, to be a wife and mother."

My insides tightened, but I kept my face blank. Over the years I'd learned to hide my emotions. "You found a husband for me?"

Who would have agreed to marry me? Perhaps they had settled on a soldier after all. It was for the best. If I married down, the wedding and marriage would be a low-key affair, no attention, little potential for scandal. A soldier might see me as a way to improve his position, because despite being a traitor's daughter, I was the Capo's cousin. Maybe that would make him overlook my defect.

Aunt Josephine smiled but her eyes showed guilt, perhaps even shame. Altair cleared his throat. "I know you aren't aware of the details of my business, but the Famiglia is at war."

As if anyone didn't know that. Even small children were brought up with the knowledge that we had to be vigilant because the Outfit might attack, or heaven forbid, the D'Angelo.

"I know, Uncle Altair," I said quietly.

"But Phoenix was approached with an offer of peace. You don't need to bother with the details, but it might be the final step to destroy the Outfit."

My breath stuck in my throat. What was he talking about? If the offer didn't come from the Outfit, who else was willing to agree on a truce?

"It's an honor, Celestina. After what your father did, we thought we would have to give you to a soldier or never find a husband at all."

"Who is it I am going to marry?" I forced the words out, but they sounded strangled.

"You will marry up," Aunt Josephine assured me with a tense smile, but her eyes ... her eyes still held pity, and deep down I knew that whatever horrors my past held, they would soon be accompanied by new horrors.

"Who?" I rasped.

"Salvatore Greco, second in command to his brother Cosimo Greco, the Capo of the D'Angelo," Altair said, avoiding my eyes.

I heard nothing after that, rising without a word and walking out. I went upstairs, continued into my bedroom, and sank down on the chaise longue, staring blankly at my bed. It was neatly made. I didn't let the maids make it, hadn't let them make it in years. Every night I took my pillow and blanket and curled up on my chaise longue to sleep, and in the morning I returned everything and made my bed so no one found out that I didn't use the bed and hadn't in six years.

Six years. I was only thirteen.

As I stared at my bed, the horrors of the past took shape again like they did every night when I closed my eyes.

A knock sounded, tearing me out of the painful memories. I took a deep breath and willed my voice to be strong. "Come in."

Aunt Josephine opened the door, but she didn't enter. Worry tightened her mouth. "Celestina, that was very rude," she said. She regarded me then averted her gaze, and again it was filled with a hint of guilt. "You should be honored to be given to someone of importance. With your background, it's a blessing. Your wedding will be a spectacle. It'll bring honor to your name." "And yours," I said quietly.

She stiffened, and I instantly regretted my words. I had no right to criticize her or my uncle. "We braved a lot of unpleasantness because we took you in. You can hardly hold it against us that we are happy to have found such a honorable match for you." "Has it been decided?" I asked quietly.

She frowned. "As good as. The Grecos insist on Phoenix's relative for the marriage, naturally, so Altair suggested you. Phoenix would like a word with you before he makes the offer, which isn't how it used to be done, but if he insists on your consent, we can hardly refuse him. We invited him and his wife over for dinner." Her eyes met mine, finally. "You will tell him you are delighted by the honor, Celestina, won't you? This is your chance to redeem your family and yourself. Maybe your brothers will even be allowed to become Captains if you marry someone like Salvatore Greco."

My throat closed tightly, and my gaze found the bed again.

"Celestina, you will tell him you agree, won't you? Your uncle already told Phoenix you would. It will lead to rumors if you refuse."

I looked back at my aunt, who looked worried.

"I will agree," I whispered, because what else was there left to do?

That evening before dinner, Phoenix pulled me aside to talk to me without my aunt and uncle, which displeased them greatly, made plainly clear by the scowls on their faces.

"I'm not going to force you to marry if you refuse," he said. His presence made me nervous.

"I'll be twenty this fall. I need to marry."

"That's true," Phoenix conceded. His gray eyes regarded me as if he thought he could pull any truth out of me with just his watchful gaze, but I had learned to hold on to my secrets. "But you could marry someone else."

I could, but if I refused to marry Salvatore Greco, I'd be even more of a pariah in our circles. Uncle Altair and Aunt Josephine would be disappointed, and they would have an even harder time finding someone else. And how would I justify my refusal? In our world, you married the man your parents chose for you, no matter how bad the choice. "Who would marry Salvatore Greco in my stead?"

"Most of my cousins are promised or married. I'd have to choose one of the daughters of my Captains. A few of them will be turning of age this year and aren't engaged."

Another girl given to the monsters in Las Vegas. A girl more innocent than me. A girl who deserved a chance at happiness no matter how small it would be in our world.

Nobody had protected me all those years ago, but I could spare another girl this fate. "I will marry him. You don't have to choose anyone else." My voice didn't betray my terror. It was firm and determined, and I forced myself to meet Phoenix's gaze for the first time this evening.

Phoenix stared at me a moment longer, but I could tell he approved of my decision. Duty and honor were the pillars of our world. Each of us had to do what was expected. It would have made him and the Famiglia look bad if he couldn't have offered one of his cousins to the D'Angelo. These were the rules we lived by, and his own wife had been given to him for peace. This was how it was done, how it would always be done.

After dinner, it was Caroline who approached me. She smiled kindly and touched my arm while the men drank their scotch in the smoking lounge and Aunt Josephine got espresso ready for us. "Nobody would blame you if you refused," Caroline said.

"You married Phoenix. You did what was expected, what honor dictated, and I know the same is expected of me," I said with a smile.

She frowned. "Yes, but-"

"It's not like this has ever been my home. Even if I wasn't the one who broke his oath, I'm paying for my father's mistake. I want to move on from it. This is my chance to redeem myself. Las Vegas can be a new start for me."

Those were the words expected of me, but they fell heavily from my lips because I knew that my marriage to Salvatore could destroy everything. My reputation and any chance at peace. And beneath these worries, lay a deeper, darker fear-a fear born in the past that haunted my present and would determine my future.