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When the look in her eyes went hard, rather than sympathetic, I was about to chance it anyway… and then Tomas announced that he wanted to marry me?

I stared at him.

I could not be any more shocked than if he’d announced he wanted to run for president.

Nor was I the only one, going by the fact that we all asked the same question at once. Tomas just stared at the don, almost as if he was daring the man to say no. I whipped my head around to see how the don was taking it.

The older man looked just as shocked as the rest of us, the first real expression I’d seen on his face.

“You want to marry her?”

Everyone’s heads turned to look at Tomas again. He nodded.

“Why?”

A question that required multiple words to answer. Tomas’ jaw tightened and released. He looked like he was struggling. If I’d thought he might open up around his family, I was being proven wrong now. He remained a man of very few words.

“Gio did it.”

Everyone turned to look at the second largest man in the room, my head turning only a heartbeat behind the others. Gio looked down at Clara, who tilted her head back to look up at him. She shrugged.

“That’s true enough,” she said.

“That’s not the only reason I married you,” he argued.

“It was the main one. You wanted to… how did you put it? Keep me under control and make sure I couldn’t testify against you?”

He scowled down at her, but it lacked any real heat.

Holy cow, was I going to end up married to Tomas?

Did I want to be married to Tomas?

If it means I get to live.

Live a little longer, have more chances at escape. It had taken me a while, but I’d gotten out of Don Bianco’s house, hadn’t I? My escape attempt when I was using the loo had backfired because it had been hasty, unplanned. I’d taken advantage of an opportunity.

If I married Tomas, I would be able to plan. Just like I had with Don Bianco. And that had worked. The only unplanned part of killing him had been Tomas’ appearance… and that was also why I was still alive now. I didn’t particularly want to repay him for saving my life by killing him, but if I had the opportunity to take my time with my plans, I could likely get away without hurting anyone at all.

Well, no one who deserved it. I didn’t yet know Don DiNardo or the others. I would certainly do my best to spare the women, though. Just like I had at the Biancos. They seemed like good eggs.

“I think that sounds like the perfect solution,” said Mrs. DiNardo, brightening as she looked down at me. She turned to beam at her husband. “Just look at how well it’s turned out for Gio and Clara. And Tomas certainly deserves whatever he wants, after a job well done. Besides, it’s not Ivy’s fault she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I’m sure she did not choose to be in that cage.”

“I did not,” I chimed in. I didn’t know if it would help, but I was not at all averse to playing on this woman’s sympathy. “My father owed a debt to Don Bianco and used me to pay for it.”

“Oh you poor dear.” I found myself suddenly pulled into a hug, with my face squished against a very generous bosom. “I cannot imagine how terribly that awful man must have treated you. Tomas is a good boy, though, you will be happy with him.”

That last part sounded more like an order than reassurance, but I wasn’t going to argue with her. I nodded my head as she released me enough to let me pull back and widened my eyes to appear as harmless and vulnerable as possible.

“Very well.” Don DiNardo sighed, looking me over again. There was a hardness in his eyes, a warning. He lifted his gaze to Tomas. “Make sure that you have her under control, Tomas.”

Jerk. But I also knew how much worse it could be.

I look at Tomas again, and he nodded at Don DiNardo.

Mrs. DiNardo slid her arm through mine and started walking me out of the room.

“Come, dear, let’s get you settled in a room. And some dresses… Hailey’s might fit you, though they might be a touch big. Have you eaten today? You’re as frail as a bird.”