The Price of Defiance

CECE

"No." The word leaves my mouth before I can think better of it.

There is a long silence on the other end of the call.

My mother sounds offended when she finally speaks. "What did you say?"

"I said no. I'm not coming home to apologize to Falcone, and I'm not marrying him just because Dad decided that my life is a business arrangement."

Her voice ices over instantly. "Then you have made