“Because it’s time,” I say simply. “And because I need an heir.”
Sienna blinks, fury giving way to disbelief. “Anheir? You sound like you’re living in the sixteenth century! And, I’d like to point you, you have an heir. Me!”
I don’t flinch. “It has to be a male heir. You’ll understand one day.”
Her eyes glisten, but she refuses to look away. “No, I won’t. Because I’m not you.”
Then she turns and storms out, slamming the door hard enough to rattle the glass that overlooks downtown Chicago.
The silence that follows is almost deafening.
Elizabeth lingers by the doorway, torn between following Sienna and staying.
“Go after her,” I tell her quietly.
But she doesn’t move. Instead, she hesitates and then steps closer.
“Are you okay?”
For a moment, I’m too surprised to answer. No one asks me that. Not my men, not my business partners, not even Fran.
“I’m fine,” I say automatically.
She studies me like she doesn’t quite believe it. “That didn’t look fine.”
There’s no accusation in her voice, just quiet observation. Still, it stings more than it should. I turn away, pouring what’s left of my espresso into the sink.
“Sienna will calm down. She always does.”
Elizabeth’s voice is soft but steady. “You hurt her.”
I look at her over my shoulder. “You’re brave to say that to me.”
“I don’t think it’s brave to tell the truth,” she says.
Her words hang there, simple and honest and for the first time in a long while, I have no easy response.
I take a slow breath, letting the silence stretch between us before I finally speak.
“Sienna’s all I have,” I admit quietly. “Everything I’ve done—everything I’m doing—is to protect her future. Even if she doesn’t see it yet.”
Elizabeth’s expression flickers. “Does marrying someone her age protect her future? Or yours?”
It’s a clean hit, unexpected and sharp. I almost laugh at the audacity of it.
“Careful,” I murmur. “You’re starting to sound like me.”
“Maybe someone should,” she replies.
Her tone isn’t defiant. It’s honest. And somehow that makes it worse.
I find myself watching her longer than I should, the calm blue of her eyes a strange contrast to the chaos she’s brought into my life.
“You should go,” I say finally.
She nods and turns toward the door, but before she leaves, she glances back at me. “For what it’s worth… I think she just wants her dad. Not the Don.”
Then she’s gone, the soft click of the door the only sound left behind. I stare at the empty doorway for a long time, her words replaying in my head like an echo I can’t shake. And for the first time in years, I wonder if maybe someone’s finally seenme.
