“You’ll fall under your husband’s rule and his Capo’s, of course. Your birth family ceases to matter, and you’ll be safe as long as you’re loyal to your new one,” Gia answers but I can tell from the quaver in her voice she’s not as convinced or tough as she acts. And my brothers could never cease to matter to me.
The door opens before we can say more and Alessio’s stepmother walks in. “Children, it’s time for dinner. Oh, here you are,” she says to me in a tone of… well, I can only call it dislike. “You’ve been missed, Caterina. My husband isn’t fond of strangers roaming our premises, even harmless little girls like you.”
“I apologize, Mrs. De Luca. Your home is lovely, as are your children, and I meant no disrespect.” Her eyes narrow at the words my mother would’ve expected me to say. What did I do wrong?
She tosses her blonde locks, scolding Gia to stand up straight and urging Valdo to comb his hair. “Bibi doesn’t like that you’ll outrank her someday when Alessio becomes Capo. She probably didn’t like you calling herMrs.De Luca either because it makes her sound old,” Frankie whispers while she’s distracted.
Ah, this is where Sofia gets her vanity and pride from I suppose because Bibi De Luca is a stunning beauty without a doubt. “I didn’t mean to imply-”
“Don’t worry about it. She’s a bitch, but she’s a bitch I occasionally feel sorry for considering what she endures as my uncle’s wife.”
A chill sweeps through me as I take a closer look at Bibi. Her physical beauty will fade in time with only the brittle shield of her husband’s name left to protect her once he’s used her for the last time. Will I be any different than Bibi, assuming I live that long? I wonder if Alessio is close to her and what happened to his own mother. I don’t recall ever hearing anything about her. Perhaps considering Silvio De Luca was her husband, it might be for the best that I don’t know.
***
The betrothal dinner passes in a blur of small talk on my end of the table. With our mothers present, no one is quite as candid as they were in Sofia’s bedroom.
The men are louder at the head of the table, and I catch myself staring more than is strictly proper at Alessio. He’s clean now, wearing a black button-up and matching slacks. His sleeves are rolled up, revealing those toned forearms and a couple of tattoos. There’s also a scary-looking knife strapped to one arm, but he looks undeniably hot in a dangerous way. I am so uncomfortable in this dress. He called my bangs hideous. They are but it doesn’t take away the sting of knowing he finds me unattractive.
Valdo is seated beside him, something that seemed to annoy his cousin. Now and then, Alessio whispers something in the boy’s ear, and the child gazes at him with hero worship shining in his eyes. Does he say the things a sweet brother might say to a younger sibling? I remember the way Nico and Dante alwaystried to make me laugh as a little girl despite our father’s disapproval. Or does Alessio share grisly tales of torture at the dinner table to delight a future monster?
“Obviously, Gia’s wedding will come first. As it's not Ritchie's first marriage, he doesn't expect anything extraordinary, so we hope to have that out of the way before Christmas,” I hear Bibi telling my mother. “Then, we’ll focus on planning Alessio and Caterina’s and Sofia and Carlo’s since the girls are so close in age. Two years to plan but, with our girls marrying future Capos, they must be impressive events!”
Marrying a Consigliere would be considered an honor by most, but Bibi is obviously prouder of Sofia’s match. I notice Gia staring at her dinner plate, promised to a cruel old man and pretending not to mind. My heart goes out to her.
“Naturally, New York will host Sofia’s, but I do hope she can have a say in things. She has the most impeccable taste,” Bibi adds with an amused glance at my dress.
“Yes, of course,” my mother agrees. “As for Caterina, she and I would both enjoy having a say in her-”
“We’ll be hosting that here. There’ll be nothing for you to worry about,” Bibi interrupts, ending any talk of me planning my own wedding.
“Suits me fine,” I mutter and Frankie catches my eye. She widens hers comically and I feel myself choking back giggles. She’s going to get me in trouble if I’m not careful.
“You won’t be plottingeverything, Bibi,” a low voice says from the head of the table. My head snaps up, surprised to hear Alessio addressing our end. He’s staring straight at me.
“Of course, Alessio,” Bibi demurs.
Her husband gives his wife, his son and then me a hard stare. He’s been polite at the table, but I wonder what thoughts are hiding behind those cold blue eyes. From the instant he greeted us earlier today, he terrified me. If Alessio is a monster, this isthe man who made him one. I’ll be living under his rule the moment I become Alessio’s wife. “Let the women deal with that. You have no time for planning weddings,” he says to his son.
Alessio scoffs as if that’s the furthest thing from his mind. “There are only three things that I want regarding this arrangement for now. Number one – I will choose who protects what’s mine from the moment I place my ring on her finger…”
I glance at Manfredi, my old guard, whose cheeks have puffed up in outrage. He’s watched over me since birth. We’re not close but he’s familiar and he’s never treated me unkindly. Has Alessio deemed him unfit as my bodyguard for some reason?
My father furiously sputters, “But Caterina will be in Chicago until your marriage and I am Capo-”
“Iwillhave a trustworthy man of mine there to watch over her… but my soldier Armando will respect your rules while he’s there and cause no issues. I swear it,” he adds, touching the three-headed wolf tattoo at his throat.
My mouth falls open. He dares to tell the Capo of Chicago how things will be and who he’ll accept into his household? But, an oath is serious and, for all his bluster, my father finally gives Alessio a begrudging nod. “If it is important to you, your man and mine can both watch over her.” What is happening?
“Number two – my bride is to choose her own dress for the wedding and her wardrobe from this day on.”
Oh.I don’t mind that so much. I give him a tentative smile because I willneverwear this terrible dress again.
Then, he finishes his demands by glancing at my mother. “And three – have her on birth control before our wedding night.”
I gulp with flaming cheeks, wishing he hadn’t said that aloud. Frankie snorts in her wine and nearly chokes.
“A future Capo needs an heir. We marry to make the Trio stronger,” my father says, angered anew.
