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I turned my back on him with my hands on my hips, “What happened?”
He threw a contract down on his desk and nodded towards it. I lifted it and scanned the alliance Alessio was proposing for our family. My eyes widened at how generous it was. How much he was willing to give us.
“This would make us the most successful family in the North again,” I lifted my gaze to meet his as he nodded slowly. “I don’t understand. All he wants is 5%?”
“That and… he wants to marry Elle.” I sat down in an armchair as I held his angry gaze. “I won’t do it, mamma. He says he loves her and maybe he does, but what kind of man would I be to give my own sorella to him after everything that has happened. How would that look?”
“It is not what it seems, Gio. You really need to listen to Elle. To what really happened between them. They have something very rare, Giovanni. I believe they are soulmates.”
“Soulmates?” he scoffed in disbelief. “Not you too! Why has everyone around here lost their fucking heads?! That man is our enemy. I believe that Elle has fallen in love with him, but Stockholm syndrome is real and she deserves so much more than to be tied to a man like him.”
“It isn’t Stockholm syndrome. They met and fell for each other long before she was taken to the South. And you think marrying her to a man who she does not love is any better?” I sighed, crossing my legs.
“What do you mean they met before?”
“Like I said, you need to speak to Elle. Actually, no. Speak to Olivia. You’ll be calmer if you hear it from her. Now, what are you planning to do about this contract and the fact you have Don Barbieri in our cellars?”
“Like I said, I plan on torturing him. I have his permission to take Finn’s punishment. And through the torture, I will get him to give up this marriage alliance. I will sign the contract, but he is not marrying Elle.”
“If he truly loves her and is the kind of man I think he is, he will not give her up, Giovanni. You will end up killing him.”
“We will see.”
“Have you already started?”
“Of course.”
I inhaled and exhaled slowly as I shook my head. “Let me see him.”
“No.”
“I’ll take Marco with me. Maybe I can get him to change his mind on the marriage alliance and offer him something else. If you truly believe that he will give Elle up, what do you have to lose?”
Gio rubbed his chin, deep in thought. “Fine.”
“In the meantime, go and speak to Olivia. Get all the facts. It is the only way you can make an informed decision as to what to do next. Don’t be so stubborn that you aren’t willing to accept that not everything is how you perceive it to be. That is consigliere and Madre advice.”
I left his office and told Marco to follow me down to the cellars. I may have heard Elle’s side of the story, but until I looked this man in the eyes and saw for myself who he really was, the doubt that Gio had would always live inside me too.
Two soldiers opened the heavy, metal door to the small torture room we kept underneath our estate and I halted to take in the King of Italy for the first time. He was on his knees wearing only his boxers in what we called a stress position. His wrists were cuffed in heavy chains that hung from the ceiling forcing his arms up above his head. A black hood was over his head and he had a pair of headphones over his ears, most likely playing the sound of screaming babies or women in pain. It was a torture technique used by the military to break their hostages in interrogations. The overwhelming overload on the senses would cause even the most mentally strong individuals to crumble in time. It was a strain on the body physically, mentally and emotionally. And it was agonisingly slow. It was meant to feel like a never-ending torture. My eyes scanned over his body as I took in the bruising down his ribs and the blood-drenched bandages over one shoulder and thigh. With his head hung low to his chest under the hood, I had no idea what he looked like, but from his impressive physique he was a man who took care of himself. Well, usually.
I nodded to Marco, who walked over to him and removed the headphones before whipping off the black hood from his head. He blinked against the brightness of the fluorescent light in the room, sweat beading on his forehead before his captivating blue eyes settled on me standing before him.
“Alessio Barbieri,” I folded my hands in front of me as I gave him a curt nod with my fierce mafia woman mask placed firmly on my features.
He panted a little, leaning his head against his bicep, peering up at me with a charming grin. He really was a very beautiful man. I could see why Elle was so taken with him.
“Cecilia Buccini. Sorry for my lack of dress and all the blood. I hoped to meet my future mother-in-law when I was looking my best, but I am still glad to finally meet you.”
“And why is that?” I narrowed my gaze on him, secretly impressed by how well he had composed himself during that torture and was able to show so much confidence and charisma in his compromising situation.
“Because I wanted to meet the woman who brought Elenora Buccini into the world and thank her for making me a better man than I thought I could ever be. So…” he held my gaze, his exquisite blue eyes already breaking down my intimidating mask, “Grazie Signora.”
I moved my gaze to Marco, who had a small curve at the corner of his lips in knowing, as I sighed heavily. Oh fucking hell. I liked him already.
Marco moved a steel chair over to me and I took a seat with the contract he gave Giovanni in my hands. I wasn’t sure if he just didn’t have any energy to speak or if he was waiting for me to initiate the conversation because he didn’t utter a word. He looked exhausted, but there was no sign of defeat on his face. He was here for the long haul.
I crossed one leg over the other and placed the contract on my lap, smoothing it out as I held his gaze. “Your charms won’t work on me, Don Barbieri.”
