Chapter 5 - A MARRIAGE BOUGHT WITH DEBT
My father owed Antonio Russo eight million dollars.
That was the number written into the settlement agreement.
Eight million.
My father had borrowed money through a chain of business ventures.
Some legitimate.
Others questionable.
When the investments collapsed, he owed more than he could repay.
Antonio offered a solution.
Marriage.
In exchange, he would assume the debt and protect my younger sister, Isabella, from the consequences.
I agreed.
Not because I wanted to marry a mafia boss.
Because Isabella was nineteen.
She had a scholarship.
A future.
And I refused to let my father's mistakes destroy her life.
Now, sitting beside the ocean, I asked Antonio something I should have asked before signing.
“Why me?”
He looked at me.
“What?”
“Why did you want to marry me?”
He hesitated.
Then answered:
“Because I knew your father.”
I frowned.
“That doesn't explain anything.”
Antonio looked away.
“No.”
I leaned forward.
“Antonio.”
His jaw tightened.
I continued.
“Rule number one of being married to me.”
He looked at me.
I smiled faintly.
“No secrets that affect my life.”
Antonio stared.
Then nodded.
“Fair.”
I waited.
He took a breath.
May you like
“Your father was connected to the people who killed Elena.”
My heart stopped.
