Chapter Two

Anna’s POV

“Anna,” her mother snapped, “are you listening to what we’re saying at all?”

Anna jerked back to attention and shifted when she found five scowling faces, all directed at her.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured, and most of them released an irritated sigh.

“At least tell us what you heard so far,” her younger brother snapped, and she flinched. She'd tried; she really had, but after the night she’d had, her attention this morning had been terrible.

“Fuck,” someone snarled, and she bowed her head in shame.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured again.

“Whatever,” her dad said. As the capo of the Moreni house, he was all shades of insane. He flitted between moods like he was on drugs and made decisions on a whim, most of which only favored the children he’d fathered.

“Pay attention, Anna. This is especially for you,” he said softly, and she shuddered. A soft voice was a dangerous one. She nodded.

“As we all know, the Outfit has been a major pain in our asses for years now. We have come to a truce at last. We're considering peace for a period of five years, and to get it, both houses have decided on a marriage. One of their children marries one of ours, and one of ours marries one of theirs."

Anna's chest pounded in her ears at that. The fact that she was in this conversation was a clear warning. With the way she came into the family, she wasn't often treated as one of them except if it was to their benefit.

Her dad's eyes rested on her, and she rejected the urge to shudder. “We've come to a decision. Anna will be marrying into the Outfit, while Luca will be marrying the woman coming.”

“But...” her younger brother began, but she just remained silent. What was there to say? The fact that they were sending her and ignoring the part about her not being a part of the family spoke volumes. Vera and Leila were at least two years older than she was, but they weren't being sent.

“Do you understand what I said?” her dad asked when she remained silent.

“Of course, Dad.”

“Good.” He said, standing up, and then he was gone. No other details—who she was going to marry, or when the marriage was going to be. Nothing. Just "You're getting married, Anna," and that was all.

She stood up too.

“And where do you think you're going, young lady?” her mother asked.

Anna looked at her blankly. “I thought we were done.”

“Your father might be done, but I'm not. Do you think I’m still here because I have nothing better to do?”

Anna buried her sigh and sat back down. After what had happened to her parents almost 18 years ago, this home was the longest she'd been in, and yet the woman still hated her.

She'd racked her brain about it for ages, but there was just no logical conclusion. Her mother had gotten married to the capo a few months before Anna was given to them at 11, and while she had warmed to his other children, she saw Anna as a pest, something to be gotten rid of. She’d no doubt encouraged them to send Anna off.

“Concerning the marriage," her mother continued, her voice dripping with false sweetness, "you're going there as a Moreni."

Anna gaped at her, momentarily forgetting her carefully cultivated mask of indifference. "The Outfit doesn't know they're not marrying a Moreni?"

"Well, I just mentioned that you are one now, right?" Her mother smiled, a predator eyeing its prey. "So from now on, you're a Moreni. Most people already believe you're one. You just need to act like it."

Anna looked at her adoptive mother in shock. Was it really that easy? She already answered to the name Moreni, but any idiot would be able to tell after sitting with them for an hour that she was the outsider in their midst. Nevertheless, she nodded, and her mother smiled.

“There’s one more thing you need to prepare for," her mother added, her tone turning serious.

"Alright, Ma," Anna replied, bracing herself for whatever new burden they were about to place on her shoulders.

"We don't trust the Outfit," her mother began, leaning forward conspiratorially. "They're too unpredictable. We don't know their habits, their vices, where they frequent, or what they do. That's the major reason why you're going."

Anna's stomach twisted as she began to understand what her mother was implying.

"Go there as your family's eyes and ears," her mother continued, confirming her suspicions. "Whenever the opportunity or need arises, find a way to get the information to us."

"You want me to spy on my husband?" Anna repeated, fighting to keep her voice calm. She wasn't even shocked anymore. Of course, they wouldn't just marry her off—they had to squeeze every possible advantage out of the situation.

"Yes!" her mother hissed, her eyes flashing dangerously. "Your family wants you to do that for them. It's not too much to ask, considering all we've done for you, Anna. You can at least try to show your gratitude."

Anna gritted her teeth, nodding mechanically. In her mind, though, a quiet rebellion was brewing. She was just a pawn to them, with no real affiliation to either family. But she wasn't going to let anyone dictate her actions anymore. This could be a new beginning, a chance to forge her own path.

Her mother stood up, approaching her with a sickly-sweet smile. Her hand cupped Anna's cheek, and Anna closed her eyes, suppressing a shudder at her touch.

"Anna," her mother cooed, her voice a mockery of motherly affection, "don't think about being stubborn right now. Because there's nowhere you could go that we won't find you. Louisiana isn't somewhere we're worried about attacking, so don't think you're far enough away to do as you wish. There's no distance long enough for that. Okay?"

Suddenly, her mother's grip tightened, yanking Anna's hair back painfully. Tears sprang to her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She nodded against the pain, relief flooding through her when her mother finally let go.

"Now run along, dear," her mother said, patting the hair she'd just pulled as if nothing had happened. "You have a wedding to prepare for in less than two weeks."