“Then promise not to get upset.”
“I can’t do that.” He drops his head with a weary sigh. “Why are you worried?”
“Because you won’t believe I want to marry you for how I feel.”
I lift his head and say to him, “Allow me to be the judge of that. Now tell me why the urgency for us to be married.”
“I am under the impression based on evidence provided by Pietro tonight that Sebastian has worked an agreement with Kirill, the Pahkan of the Bratva, to help them in their efforts to win the war between our families.”
Silence.
A deafening silence that rattles my bones and turns my veins to ice.
“They’re working with the Russians?” My voice is filled with dread.
“Based on the intel it would be difficult to deny the claim.”
This isn’t disastrous. This is catastrophic. Kirill will stop at nothing until every ounce of blood from the Donati Famiglia is spread across the streets of New York in which they love so much.
Hell, the bastard will even bathe in it.
“So the marriage. . .”
“Will keep you protected,” he explains. “Pietro and I will not be enough to keep you from harm. I need my Famiglia to protect you. Once you are one of us they will have no choice but to protect you with their life.”
Acid forms in my throat. An unsettling feeling flits about in my stomach.
“I should’ve known this was coming,” I mumble.
“How could you have known? I’ve had you here?—”
“Because I was the one who suggested our family should align with the Russians in the first place,” I admit guiltily.
His brows crease. “What do you mean?”
I try to create distance between us but he doesn’t allow it. He only holds me in his arms tighter. “My pa always wanted to reclaim his power here in the states. The reign of the mob had started with the Irish, it was only fair it was given back to him.”
“This was over a century ago. The war of the Irish Mob and the Costra Nostra. The Battle of New York.”
“Yes,” I say evenly. “And when word had spread that Don Savio Fiore was offering his daughter’s hand in marriage to the infamous Constantine Donati, whispers began amongst all the families.”
“Even Tao had his reservations for a business arrangement with us because of Savio,” he tells me.
“And he was right to. Savio was a sleazy cunning mobster. Anyone with a right mind knew of that. And his son,” I mutter with disdain, “his son was just as nauseating as him. Somehow he was more pompous than Savio. But he was charming, more manipulative. And he could offer you poison and make you believe it was the antidote.”
“You’re speaking of the alliance between your brother and Luca.”
“My brother was naive to believe a word out of Luca’s mouth. And my pa should’ve known better. But Luca had promised a seat beside them on the throne. It was too tempting of an offer for my brother and Pa to resist. I offered my advice in hopes they would listen. There was a war happening and they were aligning themselves to a losing side. But the Russians. . .theywould slaughter you all and not care to reap the benefits. We would be indebted to them of course, but the real reward for them, especially Kirill, would be having your heads as a trophy. And everyone knew once they entered business with the Triads you were an enemy to Kirill. He never believed Tao’s sister to be dead. He wanted his bride. So my pa and Sebastian going to the Russians doesn’t surprise me. They’ve only come for their help too late.”
I expect him to release me. To view me as the enemy I’m sure his Don and Donna have me painted as. That I am, if nothing, but Seamus’ daughter.
Except it doesn’t happen. Instead his eyes materialize to one of pride. “You’re brilliant,” he marvels.
Confusion twists my features. “I’m telling you I was the one who gave my pa the idea of the perfect way to destroy you and your Famiglia and you’re praising me?”
“I’m always impressed by intelligence, gazzella. It makes you even more beautiful to me.”
“Are you sure you’re in your right mind?” I half joke.
