"The reporters Valentina spoke to, they were there. At the party."
I set down my coffee cup hard enough to rattle the saucer. "What?"
"Three of them. They posed as guests, had fake invitations, the works. It was a professional job." Giovanni's jaw tightens. "They got photos, recorded conversations. This morning, there are already articles online about the 'child bride' marriage."
Fury rises in my chest, hot and immediate. "How the fuck did they get past security?"
"We're looking into it. But Father..." He pauses, choosing his words carefully. "The articles aren't just gossip pieces. They're asking serious questions about the alliance, about potential criminal connections. Someone's feeding them detailed information."
I stand abruptly and begin pacing behind my desk. This is exactly what we didn't need right now. "How bad is it?"
"Bad enough. Photos of you and Vittoria, quotes from guests about the 'unusual' nature of the marriage. They're painting a picture of forced marriage and criminal conspiracy."
"Fuck." I drain my coffee, mind racing. "What's being done?"
"Rocco's handling damage control. Legal threats, buyouts, the usual. But some of these outlets can't be bought or scared off."
This is a nightmare. Just when we're trying to rebuild the Syndicate's reputation, this shit surfaces.
"There's more," Giovanni continues reluctantly. "The Costas are furious. Domenico is threatening to pull out of the alliance entirely."
My blood turns to ice. "What?"
"He's claiming we can't protect his daughter's reputation, let alone her safety. He's demanding answers—who leaked the information, how we plan to fix this—and wants guarantees it won't happen again."
I close my eyes, feeling everything I've worked for crumbling. "Where is he now?"
"Conference call with the other family heads. They're all concerned about exposure."
This is a fucking disaster. I grab my phone and scroll through the news articles Giovanni mentioned. The headlines make my stomach churn:
"Boston Crime Family Forces Teen Into Marriage"
"Child Bride Scandal Rocks Elite Boston Wedding"
"Inside the Arranged Marriage That Has Everyone Talking"
The photos are damning; Vittoria looking young and vulnerable, me appearing possessive and controlling. The narrative being painted is exactly what we feared.
"Get Vittoria," I order Giovanni. "Bring her here now."
"Father, she's not the problem?—”
"I know she's not the fucking problem," I snap. "But she's about to become the target. These vultures will tear her apart if we don't get ahead of this."
Giovanni nods and leaves. Minutes later, there's a soft knock.
"Enter."
Vittoria steps in, and I can immediately see she knows. Her face is pale, eyes wide with something between fear and fury.
"You've seen the articles," I state.
She nods, closing the door behind her. "My mother showed me this morning. Father's... not pleased."
That's putting it mildly. "Sit," I command, but she remains standing.
"I'd rather not."
