Sandro studied me for a long moment. I could see him calculating. Weighing the risks of keeping Stefan against the risks of losing me.
"He can stay," Sandro said finally. "But he's your responsibility, Matteo. If this blows up—if Giuseppe retaliates, if the other families make moves, if this complicates the trial—it's on you. You handle it. You protect him. You deal with every consequence."
"Agreed."
"And we need to be smart about this," Elio added. "Stefan can't just wander around the club freely. People will recognize him. Word will get back to Giuseppe. To the other families. We need to control the narrative."
"What do you suggest?"
"Make it public on our terms," Luca said. "Bring him down to the club. Introduce him to key people. Make it clear he's under your protection. That anyone who touches him answers to you. Control the story before someone else does."
It was smart. Risky, but smart.
"When?" I asked.
"Soon," Sandro said. "Before rumors start spreading. Before Giuseppe hears from someone else that his son is alive and living with his enemies." He looked at me. "And Matteo? I want to meet him first. If Stefan's staying, if he's going to be part of this world, I need to assess him myself."
Fair enough.
"I'll bring him down in an hour," I said.
"Make it two," Sandro corrected. "I need time to prepare for this conversation."
I left the conference room and went back upstairs.
Stefan was sitting on the bed reading one of the books from the shelf. He looked up when I entered, and I could see the anxiety in his eyes.
"How did it go?" he asked.
"You're staying. Officially." I crossed to him and pulled him close. "Sandro agreed. But he wants to meet you. In two hours."
Stefan went pale. "Meet me?"
"You're part of this now, Stefan. Part of my life. Which means you're part of their lives too. Sandro needs to assess whether that's going to be a problem."
"And if he decides it is?"
"Then we'll deal with it." I kissed his forehead. "But it won't come to that. Sandro's not going to make me choose between you and them. He's too smart for that."
"Because he knows you'd choose me?"
The vulnerability in his voice destroyed me.
"Yes," I admitted. "I'd choose you."
Stefan kissed me. Deep and desperate. Like he was trying to convince himself this was real.
When we broke apart, he said: "What do I say to him? To Sandro?"
"The truth. He'll know if you're lying. He always knows." I held his gaze. "Just be yourself. That's all you need to be."
"I'm not sure who that is anymore."
"Then be whoever you are right now. The Stefan who chose to stay. The Stefan who plays chess and speaks four languages and makes me forget why I should be focused on anything else." I pulled him closer. "That's enough."
***
Two hours later, I brought Stefan down to Sandro's office.
