Gianna, I was trying so hard to maintain a neutral expression, but it was incredibly difficult. To my embarrassment, Matteo’s hand on my back really helped me focus. His expression on the other hand did nothing but fuel my anxiety. He looked like a bloodthirsty man. I glanced at Luca and my father, who did not bother to dispense pleasantries. Things had definitely gotten worse since I had left. If Luca was being uncivil to my father, relations between the Outfit and New York could not be good right now. Aria gently touched my arm, her eyes full of concern. I forced a smile, but it must have been off because she merely frowned in return. Damn. Matthew pushed me forward. Dad and Luca were already heading toward the living room , but at the sound of hurried footsteps I froze, my gaze darting toward the stairs. Lily and Fabi were rushing toward me, their faces lit up with happiness. Tears came to my eyes as my little brother tackled me, burying his head against my sternum. God, he had grown since the last time I had seen him . How was it possible? I had only been missing for six months. And then Lily hugged me, too. “We missed you so much,” she whispered through tears. Fabi’s grip on me made it hard to breathe but I didn’t care. I hugged them just as tightly. While I was on the run, I barely dared to think about my family because each time I felt like an abyss was ripping through my chest . “Didn’t I tell you to keep them upstairs?” Dad hissed, forcing me to look up and find Mom hurriedly descending the stairs. “I’m sorry. They were too fast,” he said in a mild voice. Her eyes shifted to me briefly before returning her gaze to my father without a word. I swallowed. So that was it? Because I had not done what they wanted, I was dead to them? I knew Father would condemn me, but I hoped that at least Mother would be happy to have me back. “Lily, Fabi, go back to your rooms.” “But Dad, we haven’t seen Gianna in forever,” Fabi grumbled. My father overcame the distance that separated us with two quick steps and snatched my brother and sister away before pushing them toward Mom. “Upstairs now.” Fabi thrust out his chin and even Lily did not move. My father’s face was turning red with anger. “It’s okay,” I told them.
“We can talk later.” “No, you can’t. I won’t have you around them. You are no longer my daughter, and I don’t want your rot to rub off on Liliana,” father said with a hard look on his face. I wasn’t even sure what to say about that. He didn’t want me to see my sister and brother anymore. “That’s bullshit,” Matteo said. “Matteo,” warned Luke. He was already grabbing Aria’s wrist to keep her from interfering.
“This is none of our business.” The father looked at him grimly. “Right. This is my family and Gianna is still subject to my rules, never forget that . “I thought I was no longer your daughter, so why do I have to listen to a word you say?” Matteo squeezed my waist tightly.
What? He could provoke my father but I was not allowed? “Watch out,” father said. “You are still part of the Outfit.” “We mustn’t let Dante wait any longer,” Luca said. This time we actually moved into the living room without incident. Dante Cavallaro waited in front of the window, talking on the phone. He hung up and turned to us. I had to suppress a shiver when his cold eyes settled on me. The man of ice, indeed. Suddenly I was really scared. This was serious. I couldn’t remember the last time I had felt so horribly helpless. “Luca, Matteo, Aria,” Dante Cavallaro said in his emotionless voice. “Gianna.” I jumped in surprise. I had imagined he would pretend I was inferior to a greeting, as my father had done. “Sir,” I said, bowing my head slightly. I hated doing this, but I knew what was good for me. “Do you realize that what you did was a betrayal?” asked Dante . I wasn’t sure what to say. If I agreed I would be screwed, and if I didn’t I would enrage the man who might decide to have me killed. “Gianna is my fiancee, and if she had not run away she would be my wife by now. I think it is up to my brother, as Chief of New York, to determine whether she deserves punishment. My eyes flew from Matthew to Luke, whose hard eyes sent another shiver down my spine. “This is ridiculous,” the father muttered. Dante, however, did not seem offended. “I guess you still want to go through with the wedding?””Yes,” Matteo said without hesitation. No one bothered to ask me what I wanted, of course, but I knew better than to open my mouth. Not when things could end really badly for me. Dante motioned Dad to come closer and they talked quietly for a moment. Father did not look at all pleased. “I’m not going to make it an official matter. I won’t stop you from completing the marriage. If you don’t, however, I will have no choice but to punish you,” Dante told me. He nodded toward Matthew before turning once again to my father. “I’m handing him over to you because Gianna is your family, and I hope that at the end of this day there will be an agreement that allows us to work together peacefully.”
With that said, he took a step back and motioned my father to take charge. “Can you really afford to welcome someone like Gianna to New York? As the new Chief, your people expect you to protect traditions and treat traitors without mercy,” Father told Luke. “My people accept my decisions,” Luca said, but there was a hint of warning in his voice. “Whatever the decision will be .” Suddenly I wondered if Luca would really take charge of me. Not that I wanted to join La Cosa Nostra, but if the choice was between staying in my father’s territory or living in New York with Aria, then I knew what I would choose. Seeming about to draw knives, Matteo approached Luca to discuss something quietly, and Aria used the moment to join me. I gave her a grateful smile. “My brother will take your daughter off your hands, despite her transgressions. I think that is a very generous o ffer from us. You should be happy that you don’t have to look for a new husband for her.” The father scoffed. “As if I could find anyone. I wouldn’t waste my precious time like that.” My blood was boiling, not only because of Father’s words, but also because Luca’s offer didn’t suit me. They were acting like I was a piece of scum. Listening to them made me realize that I was right to run away. This world was seriously screwed up. “So what do you say?” asked Luca, tight-lipped. The father looked at his boss but Dante seemed intent on staying out of it. It seemed he couldn’t care less about the outcome. “I hope you are not planning to celebrate the wedding. I want the matter to be handled as discreetly as possible. It has caused enough embarrassment to me and the Outfit . I won’t give her a chance to shame us further,” Dad finally said. I gritted my teeth so hard that I was surprised my jaw didn’t snap. Matthew shook his head. “I don’t need a wedding party. I’d rather get drunk without the old maids in the family around anyway. A laugh tickled the back of my throat but I swallowed it. Matthew gave me a look as if he wanted to see if I found him as funny as he obviously did. Everything he did was calculated. It was something I could never forget. Matteo masked his mortality with humor and smiles, but I would not be fooled. Not now, not ever, especially not when it was obvious he thought he was being generous by taking me back. “The old maids weren’t going to come anyway. No one wants to be associated with someone like her,” Dad said, casting a dirty look in my direction. Aria’s grip on my wrist was steely, as if she still didn’t trust me to fiercely attack Father. “There will be a church service as is the tradition,” Luca said. “There is no need for guests other than the immediate family.” “Tradition,” huffed Father. “Gianna spit on our traditions. The presentation of the papers on which your Familia is so adamant will have to be canceled. And a white dress is also out of the question. I will not allow her to mock our values.” Luca nodded, “That’s reasonable.” Aria gave her husband an incredulous look, but I wasn’t surprised that I wasn’t allowed to wear white. As if I gave a damn. For all I cared, I was going to get married naked. I didn’t want any of that. And I didn’t give a damn about their stupid traditions. They acted like they were doing me a favor, like I was a criminal on death row who had been offered a pardon on a silver platter. I had done nothing wrong, nothing compared to what each of the men in that room had done. “She probably allowed every man in Europe to have her, and you still want her?” asked Father again. I knew he was doing it to shame and hurt me, and I hated that he had not been completely successful. I stared at the man who was my father and felt nothing. I had always known that he did not like me very much, but I had never realized how much he despised me. I sank my nails into the soft flesh of his palms. Matthew stood with that crooked smile on his face. ” I chased her for six months. If I hadn’t wanted her, do you really think I would have wasted so much time on her? I have better things to do.” If I heard that one more time, I would lose it completely. “I thought you wanted revenge, but my men told me you didn’t even touch her.” My father looked at me harshly. “On the other hand, you probably didn’t want to get your hands dirty. I don’t think a simple shower will be able to wash my daughter again.” Aria grabbed my wrist even harder and I stopped. I didn’t even realize I had taken a step toward our father to do-I wasn’t even sure what I was going to do. Hit him?
Maybe. His words and expression really made me feel dirty and I hated that he had that power over me. At the same time I would rather have jumped off the roof of this house than admit that I had not slept with anyone while I was on the run. It was a secret I would have protected with all my might. “Who says I’m not still out for revenge?” asked Matthew in a dangerous voice. His dark eyes met mine. The bastard. So were the worried looks in the car just pretense? He knew I didn’t want to marry him. He knew this was punishment for me. Who knew what else he had in mind for me once I was in his clutches? “I’m not marrying anyone,” I blurted out. “This is my life.” My father looked livid as he approached me and slapped me hard across the face. My ears ringed and the taste of copper filled my mouth. So long and so many slaps ago, I would have cried.
“You will do as I say. You have soiled our name and my honor enough. I will not tolerate your insolence one more day,” he growled, his face flushed. “What if I don’t?” My wrist was almost numb from Aria’s crushing grip. She had managed to position herself halfway between Dad and me, despite Luca’s obvious disapproval, but he was busy holding Matteo’s shirt with an iron grip. I tried to pull Aria back but never took my eyes off Dad. Aria was still trying to protect me, but it was a battle she could not fight for me. My father’s hand was still up, ready to hit me again. What would he do if I hit him back? I wished I had been brave enough to find out. “For your betrayal, no one would bat an eye if you turned yourself in to one of the Outfit’s sex clubs, so we could exploit your promiscuity.” Despite my best intentions, shock opened my eyes wide. Dante frowned but I wasn’t sure if that was a good sign or not. Matteo’s eyes blazed with so much hatred that the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Luca was still grabbing his shoulder, preventing him from what? I wasn’t quite sure. “That will not happen. Gianna will become my wife. Today,” Matteo said.