Velvet Lullabies

Adelina cringed even thinking about telling her best friend. Sure, Gemma would get it. She was probably the only person who would get it.

Still, the words sat like poison on her tongue.

She was having an arranged marriage.

She heaved a sigh and faced her friend. “He’s marrying me off.”

Gemma face fell for a second, and then immediately she was in a fit of rage. “Who does that asshole think he is?” she tossed some books that were laying nearby. “This isn’t olden times!” she screamed.

She was right.

This was the 21st century. A man can’t just marry his sister off like she’s piece of meat.

But he was going to, and no one was going to stop him.

“Gem, it’s okay.”

Gemma turned from the bed she was ripping sheets off. “What?”

“I said it’s okay.”

“How is this okay, Addy?”

She shrugged her shoulders.

She had been dreading this day for the three years since Theo died, but there was something about Lucian.

He talked to her.

He asked her what she wanted.

He gave her a choice.

She couldn’t remember the last time someone other than Gemma asked her what she wanted.

Her ma loved her, sure, but she always saw her as a little princess that would marry the king.

She had been playing a role since she was one day old and Theo gave her that nickname.

She never had a chance.

But now, yeah, now someone was giving her a choice.

“I just, I think it’s going to be okay.” She told Gemma.

Gemma eyed her, clearly thinking she had lost her mind. “Have you met him?” she asked slapping both hands on hips.

Adelina nodded. “Three times now. He just got me released from house arrest.”

Gemma’s narrowed eyes lifted. “How?”

“I think he has some power over Vinny?

??” Adelina mused, plopping down on the bed.

“Like when we all had lunch, every time Vinny spoke Lucian waved his hand and he shut up. It was…” she thought for a moment. “strange, but kind of awesome.”

“So, he’s a boss?” Gemma plopped down beside Adelina on the twin bed.