6. Ginevra

CHAPTER 6

Ginevra

P apa waits until Blake has left the house before he turns his wrath on me. “What are you playing at, girl? Either that man is a fool, you got yourself into trouble, or you’ve somehow snared him into this situation. So which is it?”

I guffaw. Me snare him into marrying? Fuck, I need a drink and it’s not even noon.

“This isn’t funny!” My father rounds his desk, coming toward me and I instinctively back away until my legs hit a sofa. He grabs a fistful of my hair, wrenching. “Tell me what the fuck is going on. The truth, for once in your life.” Spittle sprays across my face.

Papa hasn’t hit me in years, but he seems close to violence right now. Even so, I keep up the charade. Mr. Baron is far scarier than Papa.

“I met Blake through Roman and Sophia.” Which is technically true. “We’ve gotten to know each other over the last couple of years and this just kind of happened. We thought keeping it a secret was the best thing to do until we were sure?—”

He shakes me by my hair. Pain erupts through my scalp, but I swallow my whimper.

“I don’t believe you,” he says right in my face.

“It’s the truth! I swear.” Tears prick my eyes.

Papa studies me for a long moment, then with one last ruthless tug on my hair, he releases me and paces his office. “You never should have kept this from me. Baron is a dangerous man, scheming. What is he after?”

I rub at my sore head, wrapping my other arm protectively around myself. Papa’s rarely violent, but he has his moments—only with me, of course. I’m the only one in this family who brings out his fury.

He’s not actually angry about my supposed secret relationship with Blake, he’s furious because of what Blake made him do—apologize to me.

No one has ever stood up for me the way Blake did, especially against my father. I’m still rattled by it. Most of all because I don’t understand why he cares about the horrible things my father says to me, and the names he calls me? I’m sure it’s just a power play. That’s the only rational explanation.

But… for a moment it felt like he really cared. Like he saw me as a person who deserves a sliver of respect.

I let go of that thought before it anchors deeper inside my mind, my heart…. my soul. It doesn’t belong there.

Papa continues, “You should have told me about your ties to Mr. Baron.”

“Why?” I snap. “So you can use my relationship with him to your advantage?”

Papa’s fingers curl into fists, and I recoil. “Don’t make me hurt you, girl. Why are you always so difficult? Why can’t you be more like your sisters, or your mother?”

I fall silent as he berates me, pointing out how I’m lacking compared to my siblings. He’s been telling me for years how I’m not as good as them, how I never will be either. How I’m lucky to be living under his roof.

“You are a disgrace,” he says, pacing again. “The only reason I haven’t thrown you out of my house is because your mother and sisters would object. But now, just maybe, you’re good for something.” He stops and stares down at me. “Don’t fuck this up. Make Blake Baron my son-in-law. With him as family, I’ll become the most powerful and feared don in the city. But if you two break up or divorce then that’s it. I’ll cut you off and toss you out of here. Don’t ever bother coming back—this won’t be your home anymore.”

I nod again.

He’s not bluffing. He’ll make sure I never set foot in this house again if I disappoint him. Too bad my fake marriage to Blake Baron will inevitably end in divorce. He’s sure to have an airtight prenup in place, which means I’ll be on the street, penniless.

I’ll deal with those consequences later. For now, it seems my father has completely bought this fake relationship. That’s one family member down. Now all I have to do is convince Mama and my sisters.