Bridget.
I fuckin’ hope she’s not as beautiful in person. If she is, I’m screwed.
Chapter 2
Bridget
“What do you mean I’m getting married in two weeks?” I screech at my da’s announcement of my impending nuptials. Though I knew my father’s plans for my sister and myself, I’d hoped to be far away from here before that time came.
I thought my time would be longer than it is but evidently, it’s run out.
Fuck mo shaol!
“You knew this would be coming, iníon beloved, I’ve not kept this news from you that you were contracted to be married,” Da sighs, swiping his hand across his face.
“But why now? Why can’t I have more time? I’m not ready, Da, please, don’t make me marry a man I don’t know,” I cry, all but begging my da not to make me do this.
“Bridget, stop the tears. I will not change my mind. Dean O’Connell is a good man and leader to the Alliance. You will do as you’re told and listen to your husband when wed. Now he will be here in two weeks to collect and wed you. Then after, you are to go home with him to America like you’ve always wanted to do,” Da says firmly.
“If I have to marry a man I don’t even know to go to America, I prefer to stay here,” I scream, stomping my foot as if I were a pubescent child rather than an adult.
“That’s enough, iníon beloved. Now go inform your sister to come in here,” Da commands.
Huffing, I rush out of the room before the tears can fall from my eyes. Why can’t I be a normal person and live my life the way I want? Choose who I want to be with? Be who I want to be!
Because you were born into the mafia world, that’s why.
Making my way up the stairs toward my and Alison’s rooms, I try to come up with a reasonable argument to get out of marrying a man I’ve for one never met let alone seen what he looks like. For all I know he could look like an ogre.
I shudder at the image of the man popping into my mind. I could be marrying a wart-faced, potbelly mongrel waiting to take me to his lair and drain the life out of me. Or chain me up in a room and leave me there, only allowing me out into the light of day when he wants to use me for breeding children. I just want to run away and not deal with the thought of this altogether.
Alison’s door is cracked open when I get to it. Pushing it open I find her sitting on her window seat with a book in her hand. She’s the reader of the family, content to be with her books rather than outside with people. I love her though, she’s my confidant. The one who holds all my secrets.
“You won’t believe what Da just informed me of,” I mutter, making my way to her bed and flopping backward on it to stare at the ceiling.
“Let me take a wild guess, you’re finally gonna be married off to the man you’re contracted to be with,” Alison says softly, lifting her eyes up from the page she’d been reading.
“Yes, to a man I’ve never met or seen. An image of an ogre of a man keeps popping into the front of my head. I mean can you imagine being married off like we learned in school of the kings and queens signing treaties with the promise of marriage between families. Ugh, why can’t Da move away from these ways?” I ramble on.
“Bridget, it could be worse. You know I overheard Da on the phone just this morning. He’d been speaking with Kean Bryne.” My stomach drops at the ruthless man’s name. I’d heard stories of him and his son. I should be thankful that I’m not to marry Kayne. I’ve met both men at parties we’ve all attended over the years and both of them, no matter how good looking, give me the creeps.
“What were they talking about?” I ask.
“Evidently, Kean is looking for a new bride and was doing his best to get father to give him your contract. Said he’d buy you if need be,” Alison murmurs.
“What?” I screech.
“Yep, though you should be grateful Da loves us both. He informed Kean that he wouldn’t back out of the contract he’d already made with your betrothed’s father. I didn’t get to hear much more for fear of being caught eavesdropping but at least he’s not giving you to such a vile man,” she states as she places her book down. For being my deirfiúr beag she’s well over her years. In another few short months she’ll understand more about how I feel.
The first time I began to worry, thinking Da was being silly about the whole thing to keep us from dating. However, I learned quickly he meant business when I informed him I was going on a date with a guy from my class. I’ll never forget the rage that filled his eyes when he not so pleasantly told me I would not be leaving this house with another man. That my betrothed would be the only one who took me anywhere.
“I love Da, but I don’t want my freedom to be a who I want to be taken from me. I want the chance to figure out who I am. Is that so wrong to ask for?” I ask, sitting up I run my fingers through my hair.
“No, it’s not too much to ask for,” she says quietly, standing. “Let’s not worry about this for now. Did you want to see if we could go for ice cream? Maybe Da will allow us to go spend some time in town.”
“You know it’s not fair sometimes how calm you can be. Especially when it comes to matters like this,” I inform her jokingly. It’s something we’ve
