"She barely knew you existed a month ago," Nico adds. His arms stay crossed, his posture rigid. "Now suddenly she's choosing you over a Rogers alliance? Over every other option we presented?"
I meet his gaze without flinching. "Perhaps she has better taste than you give her credit for."
"Or perhaps you manipulated her." Bruno wheels forward, his chair scraping against the hardwood. "Cornered her. Did God knows what to convince her?—"
"Bruno." Pietro's voice cuts like a blade. "Enough."
The former heir's jaw clenches, but he falls silent.
"However you did it," Pietro continues, "she made her choice. And we're going to honor that choice."
I keep my face neutral.
"But." Pietro's eyes harden. "We need to make something very clear before we discuss any deals."
I wait.
"Despite whatever agreements we make in this room today none of it matters if you hurt her."
"I have no intention?—"
"I'm not finished." Pietro's palm slams against the desk. The whiskey glass trembles. "If one single word reaches us that you've disrespected her. One complaint. One tear she didn't choose to shed. One bruise she didn't ask for. War starts. The marriage ends. And you end with it."
I should bristle at this. Should remind him that I'm about to become pakhan of the Chicago Bratva. That my men outnumber his. That threatening me in my position carries consequences.
Instead, I feel something unexpected.
Respect.
These men would burn their alliance with me to ash if I hurt their sister. They would sacrifice territory, money, political advantage for her safety.
And this is rare in their world. I've seen parents selling for money their daughters. I've also seen worse than that.
This is what family looks like, I realize.This is what she has.
I lean back in my chair. "I understand."
"Do you?" Nico pushes off from the window. "Because you don't seem like a man who takes orders."
"I don't." I hold his stare. "But this isn't an order. It's a promise I was already going to make."
Silence.
"Vittoria Sartori will be my wife," I continue, my voice dropping low. "That means her safety, her happiness, her wellbeing—they become my responsibility." The word slips out before I can stop it. True, but perhaps too revealing.
Bruno's eyes narrow.
"I didn't pursue her for the alliance." I address Pietro directly. "The alliance is convenient. Useful. But I would have pursued her without it."
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Dmitri
Pietro holds up a hand before I can continue. "No one in this room is ready to hear why you chose her. We're talking about our baby sister."
Fair enough. I close my mouth and wait.
The Don leans back in his chair.
