Page 44 of Diavolo

Green eyes dimmed with a sense of defeat. Forced marriages and family honor sounded positively medieval. But Elyse recognized the truth in Alessandro's claims. The mafiawasbuilt on rigid traditions and archaic practices. It wouldn't be surprising if the men were still using their women as bargaining chips to settle disputes and hash out negotiations.

Alessandro forged on, "If you do not choose me, some other fucker will force your hand in marriage. You are a piece on your grandfather's chessboard. He will not hesitate to sacrifice you for the greater good."

Agitation churned in Elyse's chest. Alessandro's depiction of her grandfather didn't sound very grandfatherly at all. It seemed as though her Graviano blood sealed her fate. Helplessness now threatened to overwhelm Elyse. Her chest ached painfully.So much for looking forward to meeting a long-lost family member.This bone-deep disappointment triggered Elyse to lash out at the very man who'd shoved her down this rabbit hole. Her features sharpened with accusation. "My grandfather wouldn't even know about me if it wasn't for you!"

"Benedetto would have found you eventually," Alessandro replied smoothly. "If he did not find you, Stefano and Mikey would still be hassling you. Either way, I would have intervened."

"Go to hell."

"Only if you come with me."

"Fuck you."

Unfazed, he rose from the bed, away from her, and stalked across the bedroom. At the door, Alessandro paused for a moment to drive home one final point, "You are a smart woman. If you think,carefully, about everything I have told you, youknow the logic is sound.I am your best option.We leave for Paris tomorrow morning."

The following morning, Elyse boarded a private jet bound for Paris. Elyse had never flown above economy class before, and, as much as she resented her current predicament, admittedly, it was nice to travel in style. The interior of the aircraft was elegant and posh. Wide, cream-colored leather seats with ample leg, head, and shoulder room were configured in a twin club arrangement around two square mahogany tables.

Elyse sat across from Malina and Nils beside the first table while Alessandro was huddled around the second table with three burly, scary-looking men in tattoos and suits. They conversed in Italian the entire time. Elyse wanted to listen in, but she'd barely started brushing up on her language lessons. In her novice state of Italian, Elyse struggled to keep up with the speed of the men's speech and the scope of their vocabulary.

Curiosity prompted Elyse to ask Malina about the other three passengers. As usual, the older woman smiled politely and told Elyse that Luca, Marcello, and Monte were business associates of Alessandro's. As usual, she didn't believe Malina. To Elyse, the intimidating trio looked and acted more like Alessandro's bodyguards. Or his henchmen.

As they took to the skies, Elyse focused on ignoring Alessandro. It wasn't easy. Brown and blue-gray eyes never strayed far from her direction. Elyse could feel his gaze piercing her throughout the flight. Their conversation from the day before had left its mark. Reluctantly, little by little, Elyse found herself agreeing with Alessandro's argument. If everything he told her about Benedetto Graviano was true, marriage would beinevitable, which meant Alessandro was,very likely, her best option for a husband. Better the devil she knew, right?

Still, such a strange new reality felt too freakish to process. It felt as though she'd stepped into the Twilight Zone. This was supposed to be the twenty-first century. Not the Middle Ages where women were married off for cattle. She was an independent, educated woman. A professionally-trained surgeon for fuck's sake. How could this be happening to her? It was mind-boggling.Unthinkable. Elyse didn't want to go back to the Mancinis in New York. Nor did she want to face her grandfather alone. Somehow, in this fucked up twist of fate, Alessandro had become her only ally. But pride and fear continued to rule her heart. She was too stubborn and paranoid to surrender to him.

Elyse spent the rest of the flight in a state of unease. An hour later, they neared Charles de Gaulle Airport. Elyse peered out the cabin window as the plane circled down to make its descent. The airport was a ways off from the city center, so the scenery consisted mostly of small French towns and villages surrounded by a sprawling patchwork of squarish green fields. In a different life, under happier circumstances, Elyse would've been thrilled to visit France.

Once the jet touched the ground and came to a full stop, the crew lowered a small flight of stairs to the runway. Two identical black Rolls-Royce's awaited them outside. Elyse exited the aircraft alongside Alessandro's entourage.

Malina, Marcello, and Luca drove away in the first vehicle. The rest of them got into the second car with Nils at the wheel and Monte in the front passenger's seat. Alessandro opened the door for Elyse before taking her hand. He helped her into the backseat. Then, Alessandro slid in beside her. His proximity set her nerves on edge. Tension radiated in the air. Elyse couldn't ignore him anymore. Not like she had on the plane. His tall,imposing frame swallowed up much of their shared space even though there was an empty seat between them.

Physically, Elyse recognized that she was far from his equal. He could overpower her without breaking a sweat. Escape seemed futile. In fact, ditching Alessandro and their pending nuptials no longer ranked at the top of her to-do list. The discovery of her Graviano blood had all but killed this prospect.

Yet, Elyse didn't want to abandon the possibility of escape altogether. Unlike Zurich and Crans-Montana, Paris was a larger, more populated metropolis. Public transit seemed readily available at every turn and, thus, friendlier to navigate for a foreigner. How much free rein would Alessandro be willing to give her? A lone woman could easily wander down a busy street and disappear into a crowd of tourists and locals. Elyse's mind broadened with possibilities.

Recklessly, she decided to test the parameters. Elyse cleared her throat. "Sir?"

Intentionally, Elyse had addressed Alessandro as such to butter him up and to remind herself, specifically, to withhold herself from him.Fuck emotion. Feelings were a trap. She needed to stay sharp.

Brown and blue-gray eyes danced toward her. "What can I do for you?"

"May I ask, where are we headed right now?"

"Our flat in the 16th arrondissement."

Our?Elyse chose not to pursue it. "I see."

His mouth quirked. "You seem to have a lot on your mind, Dr. Romero. Please do not keep me in suspense. I would love to hear your thoughts."

"Other than today's physical," she paused, "will you need me for anything else?"

Alessandro smiled. "Funny you should ask. I was going to tell you once we got to the flat, but..."

Elyse eyed him warily. "But?"

"Malina is currently finalizing the arrangements for your dress appointment."

Elyse's expression soured. The bastard must be talking about an appointment for herweddingdress.