I close my eyes briefly. I love my sister, but she's right. I'm Don now. I put that love away, in a box, because I need my sister to understand that I am not just her brother, I'm her boss.
"I'm not following her plans. I'm making my own." I keep my voice low. Hard. "The Marini alliance is critical. Especially now. I need their support. Their resources. The Morozovs are circling."
"The Morozovs?" she shakes her head. "Luc told me that you worked with Alexei."
"That was one time, and it was barely an alliance," I tell her. "He's gunning for territory. He wants to replace me, and the families might consider it. I need Marini support."
Her mouth opens and closes, as though she isn't sure what to say. "So, you're selling me. Just like our mother."
"I'm securing our family's future." I meet her eyes. "You'll marry Saint. You'll strengthen the alliance. And you'll do it because that's what's required," I shake my head. "It's already been agreed upon Gemma. There are contracts in place. If we break?—"
But she doesn't hear anything but the no, and I can see it in her eyes.
"I hate you." Tears are streaming down her face now. "I hate you so much."
"I know."
"You're just like her. Just as cold. Just as ruthless."
"Yes." I don't deny it. "And that's what this family needs. What Angelo needs. What Sera needs."
She's breathing heavily, tears streaming down her face.
"What about what I need?"
I've never understood my mother more.
"You need to play your part."
She stares at me. Hatred and desperation warring in her eyes.
Something twists in my chest. It’s the same feeling I had when she was five and scraped her knee, when I picked her up and promised nothing would ever hurt her. I'm the one hurting her now.
But I push it down. Lock it away with everything else I can't afford to feel.
"That's not enough," she says.
"It's all I'm offering."
She stares at me. Hatred and desperation warring in her eyes. I expect her to rail at me. Cuss me out or cause a scene.
But I watch as something dies in my sister. Her eyes dimslightly, and before I can say another word, she turns and walks away.
Leo appears beside me. He has made a full recovery. Thankfully. I need him at my side. "That was harsh."
"It was necessary."
"She's your sister."
"She's a Nero. That comes with responsibilities." I watch Gemma disappear into the crowd. "She'll understand eventually."
"Will she?"
Maybe. Maybe not.
But it doesn't matter. What is done is done. We all have our parts to play, and this is Gemma's.
I look out at the cemetery. At the families watching. At the soldiers waiting for orders.
