a man she didn’t like. And Marissa knew that Sierra disliked Jimmy. They’d talked about the men coming through her father’s house on several occasions and Jimmy just had a look about him, something that told both girls that he was cruel in ways they couldn’t even imagine.
Marissa shuddered and pulled her car over to the curb, afraid she might get into an accident as she fought down the emotions that felt like they might smother her at any moment.
She couldn’t leave. If she took off and headed out of town, where would Sierra be? Still married to a gross, disgusting man without her big sister to protect her and warn her of the dangers lurking everywhere, but the worst ones being inside their own home.
How could her father order something like this of his own daughter? Oh, yeah. He wanted grandsons! What a chauvinistic pig! Her father deemed that boys were the only ones willing and able to follow in his footsteps. He’d always railed against fate that had given him two daughters instead of sons that he could train to take over the family business. She had to laugh because he was actually right in that area. Both of his daughters abhorred his business.
She leaned her head against the steering wheel, feeling furious and impotent. Why couldn’t she and Sierra have been born into a normal family? Why couldn’t they have been part of a family where the father cared about his children? Why wasn’t her father a man who wanted his offspring to sprout their own wings and fly? Why had her mother had to die of cancer so many years ago? Maybe if she’d been allowed to live, her mother could have stepped in and stopped her father’s crazy marriage plans.
That raised a more realistic question, why couldn’t her father just pass on his criminal life to one of his lieutenants? Or one of his nephews if he wanted to keep the businesses in the family? He had several, many of whom were eager to learn more about the criminal enterprises they all seemed to thrive on! She probably had ten male cousins, all of whom were currently running some aspect of her father’s businesses. It was only the women who weren’t allowed to join the gang.
Well, they were actually part of the family business. Their roles were to contribute to the wealth of the family through marriage and giving birth to the next generation of criminals. It was disgusting how this whole business was so dynastic. She knew that other fathers, and mothers for that matter, hoped to pass on their legacy to their children and grandchildren. But those enterprises weren’t illegal! They weren’t brutal! They weren’t teaching their offspring to shoot, kill and maim!
Her head fell onto the steering wheel and she stifled her anger and resentment so she could figure out what to do. She had to come up with a plan so she drove to one of her favorite coffee shops. Once she was sitting by the window, a cup of tea warming her hands, she went through the possibilities, considered all her options. She could ask Zeke to marry her, but of course he would tell her no. The man had been quite clear on his intentions and, although they involved the marriage bed, they didn’t include a marriage.
But the alternative, marrying Jimmy, was abhorrent! Fat, disgusting, evil Jimmy was not an option! She couldn’t do that. Nor could she leave Sierra and allow her to fall victim to the fate her father had planned out for either of his daughters. The thought of letting Sierra marry Zeke didn’t even enter her mind.
She’d just have to do it, she realized. Somehow, some way, she’d have to marry Zeke.
Chapter 3
“Thank you for seeing me on such short notice,” Marissa stated, clutching her purse tightly so Zeke couldn’t see how badly her fingers were shaking.
Zeke watched the pale, nervous beauty enter his office. He observed her carefully, his eyes noticing that she barely moved inside the doors. It was almost as if she were afraid to enter although why that would be the case, he wasn’t sure. His mind took in all of the details and realized that something was extremely wrong. “I was thrilled to hear of your request to see me. But I’ll admit, I’m curious as to why. Our conversation two days ago was interrupted abruptly and I didn’t think I’d be hearing from you so soon.” He gestured to