Page 58 of Poison and Wine
“How can you possibly be okay? You’ve been forced into a marriage after fighting so hard to escape.”
“Everything is not what it seems.”
“Were you not forced?”
I stole a glance at Callum. “At first it might appear that way. But Callum found a way to make marriage very palatable to me.”
Rafe’s eyes pinched shut. “Did he or did he not kidnap you from the order and force you into marriage?”
“You’re not listening to me,” I argued.
“I’m hearing everything you’re saying, and the only explanation is you’re apparently suffering from Stockholm syndrome.”
I rolled my eyes with exasperation. “If that were the case, I would be saying I was in love with Callum, which I can assure you I’m not.”
With a smirk, Callum replied, “You wound me, Caterina.”
“Shut up!” I snapped.
Rafe watched our interchange curiously. “Then why would you willingly marry him?”
“Because he offered me something no man ever had before.”
A strangled growl came across the line. “Don’t fucking tell me he laid one finger on you.”
When I realized his insinuation, I threw a hand over my eyes in embarrassment while Callum had the nerve to chuckle. “Oh my God, Rafe, I wasn’t talking about that.”
“Then what?”
“Callum agreed in a signed contract to allow me to get an education and have a job.”
My revelation stunned Rafe into silence. “He did?” he finally questioned incredulously.
I nodded. “In that way, he gave me freedom.” Feeling Callum’s heated stare, I turned to look at him. To my utter surprise, a genuine smile curved on his lips.
“But what about your vows and the order?”
My stomach twisted at his mention of the order. I’d spent the last few days swimming in a sea of guilt about abandoning my vows. The voice that had been creeping into my subconscious the last few months argued that I could still serve God without being in an order. At the same time, I would obviously be fighting an uphill battle when I was married to a mafia man.
“While I may no longer be a part of the order, I won’t be abandoning my faith. I will still serve by volunteering and helping those in need.”
“You will?” Callum asked with a curious look.
“Of course.” Raising my brows at him, I asked, “Do you have a problem with that?”
“As long as it doesn’t interfere with your ability to be my wife or with raising our children.”
With a roll of my eyes, I replied, “I think I can manage.”
“Then I don’t have a problem with it.”
When Rafe cleared his throat, I turned my attention back to him. “I don’t know what to say,” he replied.
“Say that you’ll give my marriage a chance.” With a pointed look, I added, “Say that you’ll give Callum a chance.”
Rafe shook his head furiously. “You can’t ask that of me. Not yet at least.”
“We’re having a wedding reception Saturday. I’d like for you to be there.”