He nods, knowing the man his father was. “Okay, so… what is it you need me to do?”
I stare at him, feeling grateful for his protection and annoyed that he sees me as a burden.
I’ve done my best to earn my keep.
Working for him.
Being hostess when he needs it.
“He’s probably going to sue for some sort of custody.”
“He's Don Monti now. If he wants custody?—"
“I can’t let him take the kids. They’re all I have.”
He arches a brow. “Are you asking me to kill him? Because you know I?—”
“No!” Geez. “I could just use your support.”
“You want to keep your kids, Elena? Marry him," Dom says, his voice matter-of-fact.
I blink, certain I've misheard. "What?"
"Marry Luca. It's the simplest solution." Dom shrugs like it’s the simplest of ideas. "You'd have the protection of being Don Monti's wife. The children would have both parents. The families would be formally allied."
A startled laugh escapes me. "You can't be serious. Luca would never—" I stop, shaking my head. "Dom, he hates me right now. I kept his children from him for six years. I let him believe another man had fathered them."
“Have you been fucking him since he came back?”
“God, Dom, why do you have to be so vulgar?”
“Okay, have you been making love? Because if so, then it seems to me marriage is still the answer. Maybe he’s pissed, but he’s not an idiot. He knows refusing marriage will disrespect me, and we can’t afford discord now.”
I wonder if I should remind him that Luca doesn’t care about interfamily discord.
After all, he’s been investigating my father’s death despite everyone telling him not to.
“I'll speak with Luca, try to work out an arrangement that protects everyone's interests." His phone rings. “I have work to do. Are we ready for Christmas?”
I stand. “I’m going to work on that now.”
As I leave Dom's study, I feel like I’m caught between two powerful families. They both care more about honor, respect, and appearances than the people they say they want to protect. In this moment, I feel utterly alone.
I throw myself into organizing the decorations that will go in the ballroom for the Christmas festivities, grateful for the mindless task distracting me from the endless loop of Luca's face when he realized the truth, or how easily my children accepted him, or the way Dom suggested marriage like he was proposing a business merger.
By late afternoon, the decorations are organized and ready for display.
I’ve met with the cook and baker to review the menu, called the florist to double-check our order, and gone to the wine cellar to make sure we have enough champagne.
It’s time for me to pick up the kids, so I stop by Dom’s office to let him know I’m leaving.
His door stands open, voices drifting through the crack.
I wait outside knowing he doesn’t like me to interrupt when he’s in a meeting.
"—becoming a problem. If you give me the word, I can take care of Monti permanently."
My blood freezes in my veins at Gio’s statement.
