Romeo takes me by the hand, leading me to the living room. When we arrive, the entire Vitale family has already assembled, and a current of tension lingers in the air.
Mom, Michael, and Joey are all here, and they look pissed. I can’t imagine how they’ll make me the scapegoat for Riccardo’s behavior, but I’m sure they’ll find a way.
Michael and Joey both narrow their eyes when they notice Romeo holding my hand, but my mom is the first one to open her mouth.
“Gabriela, we’ve been calling you all day,” she snaps.
“My phone is dead.” I shrug. “I didn’t charge it last night.”
“Then we go to your building and have to find out from the doorman that you’re gone. And apparently, you’re not studying on campus anymore. I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but?—”
“You’re coming home with us,” Michael cuts her off. “I have two other prospects lined up, and one of them is willing to marry you this week.”
Romeo slips his arm around my waist, anchoring me to his body and giving me the strength I need.
“No,” I reply, my voice calm but firm.
Michael snorts. “This isn’t a negotiation, kid. You’re coming home, and you can kiss school goodbye.”
“I’m not a kid,” I tell him. “And I’m not sure what part of this is unclear. I’m not coming home, and I’m not quitting school.”
Michael’s gaze slides to Angelo, probably wondering what he can get away with. If he had it his way, he’d drag me out of here by force.
“Now you listen here.” My mom points a shaky finger at me. “We’re your parents, and?—”
“You aren’t my anything.” I stare at her, completely empty. “You weren’t a mother to me, and Michael isn’t my father. You may as well be strangers for all the love you’ve shown. I’m doneletting you control my life, and for the record, I’m marrying Romeo.”
“Like hell you are,” Michael bites out. “I didn’t agree to that, and it’s up to me.”
He glances at Angelo for backup, but doesn’t get any. Michael’s ego is the most obnoxious thing about him, so I’m not surprised when that wins over logic.
“Alright, that’s it. I’ll carry you out if I have to.”
Before he can even breathe my direction, Romeo’s voice reverberates through the room.
“Come any closer to her, and I’ll lay you out permanently.”
“And he’ll have plenty of help.” Rafe steps forward, followed by Michele and Cristian.
Michael glowers at Angelo. “Are you going to let this fly?”
Angelo cocks his head to the side, a calm but deadly look in his eyes. “Do you really want to make an enemy of me?”
That shuts Michael up. He may be stupid, but even he knows better than to push his luck with the head of theCosa Nostra.
“If we walk out that door without you, Gabriela, you’re dead to us,” my mother says.
“That works for me.”
She stares at me in disbelief. “You don’t screw over family.”
“This is my family.” I gesture at the Vitales. “And as far as I’m concerned, Martina Moretti is the only mother I ever had.”
She looks like she wants to smack me, but Michael grabs her by the arm before she makes this any worse than it already is.
“Come on, Ang. We’re done with her.”
As Michael drags my mom away, Joey lingers behind. His pea-sized brain seems to be calculating whether or not he could actually take the Vitale brothers.
