Chapter 5 Vows And Revenge

RAFE POV

Rafe watched the lady in front of him closely. She was lost in her head, thinking about his offer of marriage.

She was beautiful, yes, but there was something off about her. Rafe couldn't place what it was but the more he watched her the more puzzled he got.

Selene Costa, works in a law firm by day and works in the underworld by night. In his years as a Mafia leader he hasn't come across someone... so daring. And he had come across a lot of daring people.

And so he watched her, trying to see if he could get any read on her. He couldn't.

She held herself with calm grace, like a snake. Despite her being in her head she sat with her shoulders high and her expression blank.

Women were like an open book to Rafe, he could read them easily, but not this woman. She was guarded. And that made him curious and... fascinated.

He watched her as she raised her hand to her necklace... and there, a crack. She flinched. It was barely noticeable but he saw it. He saw everything.

And then she raised her eyes to him and asked, "Why do you need a wife?"

"I'm not telling you that," he answered. "And I won't ask what you're investigating about."

There was no need for any of them to know anything more than they should. This marriage was just one of Rafe's many business deals, but one he was really desperate about.

Selene nodded before she looked away from him and let her eyes fall to her lap.

Then she raised them back to him and said, "Yes. Yes, I accept your proposal. But I would like to read the contract and know what this marriage would entail before I sign anything."

Rafe let himself smile. "Of course, Ms. Costa."

"One question, if you don't mind, Mr. Mortetti?" she asked, her eyes steady on him.

He waved for her to ask. "Ask away."

"Why me? Why propose this marriage to me?"

Ah, finally. He had been waiting for when she would ask. "Because like I said earlier, Ms. Costa, you have considerable fortitude. We're going to be patrolling as a couple that is madly in love with each other. You'll understand when you read the contract," he added when she frowned. "And so you'll dive deeper into my world, not just some crime bar. You'll see and hear things, Ms. Costa. Not every woman has a stomach for that. But you do. And you want something from me. I know you do."

She didn't bother to deny it and just watched him before she said, "When will I get the contract?"

A straight-to-the-point woman. He liked that.

"My assistant will email it to you," he answered.

"When is the wedding?"

"A month from today, but before then we'll have to be seen in public together."

"I'll be moving into your house after the wedding, I presume?"

"Yes."

She clenched her fists ever so slightly and then unclenched them. Then she nodded. "Very well, Mr. Moretti. We have a deal. I will sign the contract when it's sent and I'll include my terms and conditions in it. If you approve it we can proceed."

A small smile curved his lips. "Perfect."

He stood up as she got to her feet, and held out her hand. "It was a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Mortetti."

He shook her hand firmly, her palm callused for a woman. "The pleasure is all mine. And please, call me Rafe. We're soon-to-be married after all."

She only gave him a tight smile and said, "Have a nice day, Mr. Mortetti."

And then she pulled her hand away and walked past him. He turned slightly and watched her go. Now that she was standing she could see she had a wonderful body. Not fat and not slim either. Curves in all the right places.

As she walked out of the dining room without looking back, he thought to himself, "Perhaps this marriage won't be as bad as I thought it would be."

***

LENA POV

Lena tapped her finger on her desk as she stared at her laptop screen. She had come back from work today and had checked her email to see that Mortetti's assistant had sent the contract.

She had read it twice to make sure she didn't miss anything and was satisfied with what the contract said; they were going to act like a lovely couple in public-holding hands and smiling at each other-because the world needs to be convinced that the marriage was real and Rafe Moretti wasn't blackmailing Lena to be with him. But behind closed doors, they would go their separate ways.

There would be no intrusion into each other's personal lives or privacy. Both were free to have as many lovers as they wished, as long as it remained discreet.

She wouldn't ask him why he needed a wife and he wouldn't ask her what she was investigating. And he would give her all the resources she needs.

And finally, no strings attached. Once the one year was over they would file for divorce and be out of each other's hair.

It was perfect.

She added a few terms of her own and sent it back to the assistant.

She removed her glasses and rubbed her hand across her face.

This marriage was just in name only. Exactly what she needed. So there wasn't any reason for her to feel like she was betraying her family.

In this one year, she would investigate like never before, and if truly Moretti was behind her family's death she would ruin him.

Things were finally coming together.

She pushed herself away from the desk and started toward the kitchen to make dinner when a ping from her phone stopped her.

She picked it up and saw a message from an unknown number. As she opened it, her heart sank.

She blinked at the message repeatedly, as if it would change the content of the message. It didn't. She rushed back to her desk and put on her glasses before she looked at the message again.

But it remained the same. She was seeing it clearly. Just those seven words were enough to tilt her world.

The message reads, "The game has begun, Lena Santoro."