"I've respected you and your family since the beginning, Baganov. Your father built something solid. You've maintained it. I hope you won't prove me wrong."
"I don't intend to."
"Now." Pietro straightens, and the shift in his posture signals we're moving from family matters to business. "Whatever we run together—fifty-fifty split. Clean down the middle."
I nod slowly. Expected.
"We don't care what the Russians already own," Nico adds, his arms crossed over his chest. "Your existing operations remain yours. This alliance creates new ventures. Those get split evenly."
"Agreed."
Lorenzo speaks for the first time since I entered. "Political connections flow both ways. Your family has reach in certain circles we don't. We have access to others you need."
"Mutual benefit." I incline my head. "My father's connections in city council, the port authority, they transfer to me. You'll have access."
"There's the matter of Vittoria's assets," Pietro says carefully.
My spine stiffens. Here it comes.
"She owns a substantial amount. Her share of the family businesses, personal investments, trust funds from our father." Pietro watches my face like he's waiting for something. "It's considerable."
I know exactly how much Vittoria Sartori is worth. Yuri compiled the financial reports weeks ago. The number has seven figures before the decimal point.
"I don't want any of it."
Silence falls over the room like a heavy blanket.
Bruno's wheelchair creaks as he shifts forward. "What?"
"Her money stays hers. Separate accounts, separate assets." I hold Pietro's gaze without flinching. "I'm not marrying your sister for her inheritance."
Pietro stares at me for a long moment. His jaw works like he's chewing on my words, testing them for lies. I let him look. I have nothing to hide on this point.
Finally, he nods. A single, sharp movement.
"That's... unexpected," Nico admits.
"I assumed you were going to ask for more than that."
Nico uncrosses his arms and leans forward.
"We could," Nico says. His voice is flat, matter-of-fact. "We could demand controlling interest in your distribution networks. We could require quarterly audits of your books. We could insist on veto power over your business decisions."
I wait. There's more coming.
"But we're not selling her." Nico's dark eyes bore into mine. "We're not auctioning off our sister to the highest bidder. We're securing that she won't be played. That she won't end up married to someone who could destroy her."
The room goes quiet again.
They're protecting her.
All of this was never about alliances or business advantages. It was about finding someone who wouldn't break her.
Vittoria doesn't know.
"One last thing."
I turn to face him. Lorenzo has been quiet throughout most of this meeting.
