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Prologue
Heading to the Bertinelli’s mansion, I stare out the car window as we pass by the streetlights of a night-cloaked Boston, catching sight of my father’s contented reflection.
“I’m proud of you, son.”
I offer a noncommittal sound, adjusting the cuffs of my black suit jacket. This marriage has nothing to do with my duty to the Famiglia but with what my greedy soul yearns for––her.
My father’s driver parks the Maybach in front of a white townhouse, guards posted strategically around the perimeter. Enemies are always lurking, waiting for their shot to overpower us. Death will surely come sooner rather than later for me, but until then, everyone will fucking bow down to me and fearfully whisper my name. I’d rather pay for my sins after I live like a king, bending to no one’s will but my own, and marrying into the second-most feared crime family will cement the era of a new alliance.
We step out of the car, heading toward the door where a butler welcomes us.
“Good evening, sirs. If you’ll follow me.”
He escorts us down a lavishly carpeted hallway until we arrive at an open door, where Domenico Bertinelli awaits us in his office, a glass of whiskey in his hand. The moment he sees us, he does what every man in our position does—hides everything he feels inside behind an impenetrable mask. Still, I detect the tiredness in his eyes, the frayed nerves, even the tic in his jaw, caused most certainly by the unavoidable fact that I will be the head of both our families.
He has two daughters, while my father has two sons. He needs this union more than we do, and he knows it. In our world, sons take over the business and daughters marry for alliance.
“Tommaso, Cato, welcome.”
Domenico stands up, ever the gracious host, and we shake hands. After he pours my father and I a glass of whiskey, we take a seat on the couch facing his desk. I twirl the glass around before I take a sip of the amber liquid, passing the time. This is a mere formality—everything has already been drafted and signed.
“Chiara’s going to spend another year at St. Mary’s School until your marriage.”
My father nods, agreeing with the decision to keep her sheltered, even though I would have preferred her to know exactly what this life entails. She will never be ready, neither for me nor for this life, by being kept away. Still, I down the whiskey as they talk, allowing them the illusion of control.
Patience, just one more year, and then both my father and Domenico Bertinelli will have no choice but to obey my decisions. I look from one man to the other, their adversarial positions mixed with a certain amount of mutual respect. They have their money stashed in everything imaginable, from shipments to investments. If there were ever two men with endless power and influence, it’s them. And when I marry Domenico’s daughter, I will be the head of an empire. An empire forged in sweat, blood, and money.
Welcome to the new mafia. We wear posh suits and pretend to be legitimate businessmen.
As they smoke their disgusting cigars, I excuse myself, stepping outside and drag a relaxing breath. It’s done. She’s mine now.
The wind bites into my skin and I crane my neck to the blackened sky that is as dark as my soul. I forget to breathe as I catch something out of the corner of my eye. It’sher, leaning over the balcony railing. She’s so damn beautiful my chest constricts. No wonder her father wants to keep her sheltered; an ethereal beauty like her should have never even been born into this kind of world.
Chiara’s dark hair flutters in the wind, a silky curtain of black. She has her face tilted to the moon, giving me an unobstructed view of her slender neck. Her head snaps to me, her instincts on point. Her green eyes find mine, burrowing into my hollow soul; I sold it to the devil a long time ago, putting my one desire above everything else. When it comes to getting what I want, my reasonableness is completely ignored, justified by my selfish aspirations.
Her nose scrunches up. “I’m never going to marry you.”
Her defiance stirs something inside me, my apathetic heart pulsates with renewed life.
“We’ll see about that,cara.” The endearment slips out of my mouth, infuriating her.
Chiara spins and disappears back inside, her reaction leaving a smile teasing my lips. Her reputation of being a troublemaker has seeped through the rumor mill. It was the other reason that made me decide to take her as my wife. I don’t want blind obedience. I want to earn it. Let’s see how the next year will transform her. It might be a problem, having to break her defiance.
My father and Bertinelli’s boisterous laughter interrupts my thoughts, so I join them back inside.
“You’re going to bring this family to new heights.” My future father-in-law grins—a victory smile, one hungry for the blood of our enemies. For more money, more power, more everything. Family is the credo we hide behind, masking our greed for all worldly things.
We say goodbye and then get into the car.
“You’re quiet,” my father says, a hint of worry threading through his voice.
“When am I not?”
“True. This marriage will help the Famiglia. An excellent alliance, not only to survive but to thrive.”
That’s it, isn’t it? It doesn’t matter how much wealth we accumulate, how our name is whispered in hushed tones, because we’re still fucking mortals, and there will always be someone out to prove that. I refuse to accept that fact though, I plan to be the exception.
“Any other plans for tonight?” he asks.
