POV's Jace
Philip leaned against the wall across from Father's office. I strode past him, trying to get a handle on the rage burning through my body.
I wanted to kill someone, preferably our father. I went straight toward the bar area in the living room of the house.
"What did our sadist of a father do now?" Philip asked as he fell into step beside me.
I glared. "He wants me to marry a fucking child."
"What the fuck are you talking about? I thought he was trying to set you up with the most beautiful woman of the fucking Outfit," Philip said mockingly.
"They must be out of their minds over there, because they want me to marry Selena Baker, who's fucking fifteen."
Philip whistled. "Holy shit. Have they lost their fucking mind? What did the poor girl do to deserve such a fate?" I am not in the mood for his jokes. I wanted to hit something—hard.
"She's the oldest daughter of the Consigliere, and she looks like an angel come down to earth if you believe Silas ."
"So they marry her off to the devil. A match made in hell."
"You're starting to piss me off, Philip." I reached over the counter of the bar and grasped the most expensive whiskey bottle, which our father kept for special occasions. I brought it to my lips and took a deep swig.
Philip snatched the bottle out of my hand and tipped it back, downing a considerable amount of the amber liquid before sliding it back over to me. We went back and forth like that for a while before Philip spoke again.
"Are they really going to make you marry that girl? I mean, I'm all for the kinky stuff, but fucking a fifteen-year-old is too freaky even for me."
"Her asshole of a father would hand her over to me tomorrow. That bastard doesn't seem to care."
"So what are you going to do?"
"I told Father I wouldn't marry a child."
"And he told you to grow a pair and to do what your Capo tells you."
"He can't see why the girl needs to be older for the wedding. All she has to do is spread her legs for me."
Philip narrowed his eyes in that fucking annoying way he had when he was trying to figure something out.
"And would you?"
"Would I what?" I knew what he meant, but it annoyed the living hell out of me that he had to ask. I expected that question from everyone else, but not him. He knew even I had certain lines I was not willing to cross. Yet. Life could be a bitch, especially if you were in the mob, so I'd learned that 'never say never' is a motto to live by.
"Would you fuck her?"
"I'm a killer, not a pedophile, you stupid asshole."
"Spoken like a true philanthropist."
"Fuck you, and stop reading the fucking dictionary."
Philip grinned, and I shook my head with a smirk. That fucker knew how to make me feel better. Philip had barely stopped talking since we'd gotten off the plane, and he obviously had no intention of doing so now that we were in the Baker mansion. I am seconds away from punching him in the throat.
TIME SKIP ~
"Stop sulking, Jace. You should be happy. You'll meet your fiancée today. Aren't you curious how she looks? She could be butt-ugly." She is not. Father wouldn't let the Outfit cheat us like that. But I hadn't found a photo of her on the internet. Finnick Baker seemed to keep his family out of the public eye.
"I'm surprised the maid didn't follow us. It seems like a risk to let potential enemies walk through the house without supervision. Makes me wonder if this is a trap," Beckham said as he kept looking over his shoulder.
"It's a power play. Finnick wants to show us that he isn't worried about our presence," I said as we headed in the direction the maid had pointed us toward.
I could hear people running our way. My hand went to my gun. Beckham and Philip did the same as we turned the corner. When I saw what caused the commotion, I relaxed.
Children were chasing each other, hurtling straight toward us. The boy managed to stop, but a young girl rushed toward me, her arms flailing, and crashed into my body. My hands shot out to catch her. She stared up at me with wide eyes as I held her by the shoulders.
"Nova," one of the other girls shrieked. My eyes snapped toward her, then her golden blond hair, and I knew who she was. Selena Baker, my future wife. She is the oldest of the bunch, but damn it, she looked so fucking young. I mean, it isn't as if I'd expected a grown woman, but I'd hoped it wouldn't be so fucking obvious that she is only fifteen.
When I was that age, I already felt and acted like a man. I amn't sure what I'd have done if Nelson and my father hadn't agreed to wait until she is eighteen. She is beautiful in a childish way, but there is the promise of breathtaking beauty under her young features. She is small but, with my size, most women were. In a few years, when she'd become my wife, she'd be stunning. She'd better learn to hide her emotions better until then. She looked fucking terrified. I am used to people giving me that kind of look, but with women, I prefer admiration and lust to terror any day.
"Nova, come here," she said. She is trying to look strong and grown-up. She would have been more convincing if her voice hadn't shaken and if there hadn't that petrified glint in her eyes.
I loosened my grip on her sister, who bolted toward Selena as if the devil were at her heels. Had these girls never met other men? Finnick probably kept them in a golden cage, which suited me just fine.
"That's Jace Nelson," a redhead blurted and actually wrinkled her fucking nose at me. I amn't used to so much rudeness. People knew better than to disrespect me. Not Im's brats, however. There is a hiss, and the boy shot in my direction and actually attacked me. "Leave my Sister alone. You don't get her." Beckham made a move to interject as if I needed help against a midget.
"No, Beckham." I stared down at the boy. His fervor is almost admirable if it isn't so futile. I caught his hands.
Selena crept toward me as if she thought I might snap her brother's neck and then her own. Fuck, what had her family told her about me? They should have lied. I knew I had a reputation, and I am fucking proud of it, but Selena didn't need to know about it—yet.
"What a warm welcome we get. That's the infamous hospitality of the Outfit," Philip said, as usual letting his fat mouth run free.
"Philip," I warned before he said more. These were children, even my future wife, and they didn't need to hear his colorful vocabulary. The midget is squirming in my grip, snapping and growling like a wild dog.
"Ken," Selena said, her eyes darting up to me for a millisecond before she grabbed her brother's arm.
"That's enough. It's not how we treat guests."
Despite her fragile appearance, Selena seemed to hold some power over her siblings. Her brother stopped struggling and looked at her as if she were the center of his world. "He's not a guest. He wants to steal you away, Selena."
Sorry, buddy, nothing about this fucking arrangement is my idea. And yet I had to admit that, after having seen Selena, I wouldn't let her slip out of my grip for anything in the world. She is mine now. I regarded her as she smiled down at her brother with so much kindness, stunning me.
Philip chuckled. "This is too good. I'm glad Father convinced me to come."
"Ordered you." Our father never tried to convince anyone. He ordered, bribed, or blackmailed. Selena had a hard time meeting my gaze; she is obviously embarrassed by my attention. A deep flush had spread on her cheeks. I released her brother, and she clutched him against her body protectively.
She is so shy and terrified that I wondered if she'd dare to oppose me if I actually made a move toward her brother. Not that I'd ever do that. There is no honor in attacking children and women."I'm sorry," Selena said feebly. "My brother didn't mean to be disrespectful."
"I did," the boy shouted. Selena's hand shot out and clamped his mouth shut. I almost laughed. It had been a while since a woman had made me want to laugh, even by accident.