As all faces turn to us, I flick my eyes towards a certain group. Searching.
I don’t have to search for long. Leo’s face is pale with shock, the men on either side of him staring at me as though I have truly risen from the dead.
I offer them a smile as I sweep past, following my father up to the podium. He sits in the Corvo throne, Matteo and I behind him on each side as the rest take their seats. Gio stands behind his father’s empty chair, and murmurs echo through the hall.
A click sounds from behind me, and I turn, pausing.
Dante stands stock still, staring at me. He looks exhausted, still wearing the same suit he had on last night. His shirt is crumpled as hell, scattered with twigs and dirt and who the fuck knows what else.
As if he hasn’t stopped searching.
His eyes take in my body, the sharp tailored black suit, the silk red shirt tucked in. The guns at my waist. My daggers, slotted into my shoes and bulking out my sleeves.
My face, battered and bruised.
And he closes his eyes. I see his lips move.
As he strolls past me, his face settling into his usual slight frown, his fingers touch mine. Just barely.
And we face forward.
The five heirs. Matteo. And four dons.
My father stands. He has no need to raise his arms for silence, the room emptying of noise as if someone has flicked off a switch. Someone has set up a microphone on a lectern ahead, and he moves to it.
“What a pleasure it is to be here once again, in the hallowed halls ofmafia university.” His lips twitch as he uses the nickname preferred by many. “To see so many of you here, and to know that the next generation is so focused, is a truly wonderful thing.”
He pauses. “But times are not what they once were, my friends. The winds of change are sweeping across our country, making it harder to do the work we once did. All we want is to work as we always have, supporting our communities with transport, protection and more. But the powers that be are finding ever more ways to trip us up.”
I’ve heard this speech. Many times before, in fact. My father uses some iteration of it every time he visits, tomotivateus.
Most of the time, it has the opposite effect.
But everyone stands straight, paying attention. Nobody wants to catch Joseph Corvo’s eye for daring to lookbored. Or, God forbid, the man standing beside him, a gleam in his eye as he searches the crowd.
“Yes,” he says softly into the microphone. “Now, more than ever before, the Cosa Nostra must come together. We must put our petty squabbles aside, and focus on what is truly important. Family. Reputation.Strength. Only together may we stand tall against the forces who try to knock us down. Only together, do we rise.”
I fight the urge to roll my eyes.
“And in this time of change, protecting the future is of the utmost importance.”
My attention sharpens.
“We must prepare for every eventuality, must plan for the unexpected as well as the inevitable. And this,la mia famiglia, is the reason for my visit today.”
The crowd stirs. I force myself to stay still, keep my face even. As though none of this is a surprise to me.
“In order to plan for the future, one must have a partner to spend it with, no?” My father smiles as my spine locks. “And I am therefore delighted to announce, to you, today, an engagement.Myengagement.”
What thefuck?
A smattering of applause breaks out. Matteo leads it, his hands beating together as he glances towards me with a smug smile.
My father holds up his hands with a laugh. “There will be plenty of time to celebrate, my friends. But please, do show your appreciation for my fiancée.”
Everyone turns, waiting, as he holds out his hand.
Heels click against the marble noisily as she appears. Her make-up looks heavier, her long, flowing blonde hair curled into a sticky-looking updo as she smiles at my father. As she takes hishand in her white dress, blushing prettily as the crowd breaks into applause.
