“You think we don’t know that?” Maximo snaps, leaning forward. “My men haven’t had a day off in three weeks.”
Isabella rolls her eyes. “Poor babies. Maybe they should learn to multitask like our crews.”
“Rich coming from someone who’s never worked a day in her life,” Maximo retorts.
Isabella’s cheeks flush. “You don’t know the first thing about me.”
“I know enough,” he says, eyes sliding down her body.
“Enough,” I interrupt, but the electricity between them is unmistakable—like watching Carmela and me months ago, hatred barely masking something else entirely.
A realization hits me like a thunderbolt. I glance at Carmela, who gives me a subtle nod—she’s been right all along.
I clear my throat. “Nico, could I speak with you and my father privately?”
We step into the hallway, closing the door on the continuing tension.
“What is it?” Nico asks, guard still up despite weeks of alliance.
I take a calculated risk. “I have a proposition that could permanently unite our families.”
My father clears his throat. “And you didn’t think to run this proposition by me first?”
I clench my jaw. “Trust me.”
His eyes narrow. “I’m listening.”
“Maximo and Isabella. An arranged marriage—like mine with Carmela.”
Nico’s eyebrows shoot up, and a deep chuckle rumbles from his chest. It’s the first genuine laugh I’ve heard from him since this mess began.
“Those two?” He shakes his head in disbelief. “They bicker like cats and dogs. Maximo can barely be in the same room with her without starting an argument. That’s a cruel option, even by our standards.”
“I agree, it’s pretty farfetched, Silvo,” my father states.
I lean against the wall, my shoulder still tender. “Carmela and I were the same way. She hated me when we married—thought I’d tricked her when we met at a club.” I can’t help the small smile that forms. “Now? She’s the first person I want to see every morning and the last one I want to hold at night. What began as business became... everything.”
Nico studies me, and there’s a shift in his expression. I’ve never shared anything this personal with him before, and I can sense he’s weighing my sincerity.
“Look at them in there,” I continue, nodding toward the conference room. “That’s not just hatred. That’s chemistry masquerading as contempt. They’re circling each other like wolves.”
Through the glass panel, we can see Isabella gesturing animatedly while Maximo leans forward, his face intense as he argues back. Yet neither walks away.
Nico and my father follow my gaze, watching them for a long moment. “My boy needs someone who won’t bow to his every whim. Someone with fire.” He taps his fingers against his chin, considering. “And the alliance would be... substantial.”
“Permanent,” I correct. “Family.”
He nods slowly. “It’s a good idea, Silvo. But we can’t force them. Let’s run it by them together.” He rubs his jaw thoughtfully. “See how they react when it’s not just another order.”
“Agreed,” father says, and him and Nico exchange a nod before stepping back into the room.
The moment we enter the conference room, the arguing stops. Something in my expression must betray me because Carmela sits up straighter, a small smile playing at her lips.
“We have a proposal,” Nico announces, his voice commanding immediate attention. “One that would cement our alliance permanently.”
I scan the faces around the table, lingering on my sister. She’s smart enough to sense what’s coming.
“The De Lucas and the Morettis have been enemies too long,” Nico continues. “We propose uniting our families through marriage—Isabella De Luca and my son, Maximo Moretti.”
