Chapter 5

"You're getting engaged tomorrow," father said, levelling me with a probing stare, "and into one of the most powerful families in the Syndicate."

My face remained blank.

"Castello is a good man."

My face... didn't remain blank.

That sentence rattled my nerves, stringing them tightly with its obnoxiousness until I felt like I would erupt. I'd like to know what his definition of 'good' comprised of. And I had a feeling it wasn't that 'good', either.

"If I had my way you wouldn't be getting engaged tomorrow, Emiliano," father said quietly, stopping his assault on the piece of paper.

The anger and irritation pumping through me sloshed to a halt, receding backwards at an unholy speed and being replaced by hope. Sweet, fragile hope.

"You'd be getting married," he concluded.

A distant crashing sound filled my ears from a faraway space. My budding hope shattering to pieces. A familiar curdle pushed its way into the back of my throat and