Giovanni inclined his head toward the warrior. “Something simple,” he beamed. “A joining of Houses. A reshaping of the feud into an alliance. In short—a marriage.”
A fucking…what?
My heart stumbled over itself.
All I could do was stare at him. At Marcello. At Gabriel, whose expression hadn’t changed at all, which meant he’d already anticipated my uncle’s play, and I was the one playing fucking catch up.
“Explain,” Marcello’s eyes sharpened in a way that made my stomach drop.
“You must realize the DiRavello empire is essential,” Giovanni said smoothly. “Our banking connections, our ties to mortal nobility, our expertise in diplomacy. My brother’s death was a tragedy, but it need not divide us. If Luca’s position is to be upheld, as you so generously agreed, then let that loyalty be forever sealed in a way no one can question.”
His gaze slid to me, then to Gabriel.
Raw, murderous rage filled me, like a cauldron boiling at my center, while another, detached part of me wondered if any of this was real.It couldn’t be. There is no way my uncle would maneuver me into challenging the Don, knowing we would end up here.
Then why was I a ball of nerves, waiting to explode?
“Let my niece wed your heir.”
The room went very still.
Bile rose in my throat, the room swimming before my eyes as my past and present and future crumbled around me.This could not be happening.
There had to be something here I was not seeing. Some escape route only he knew about, or a threat I was unaware of.
And yet… my instincts were quiet, nothing about the Dominico’s raising any red flags. Only this horror growing heavier and heavier in my belly, the dawning realization I’d been duped by the one person I’d put all my trust in.
Nico’s arms uncrossed, his pale eyes flicking between us.
This was preposterous. My entire life had been spent watching my uncle scheme and manipulate, but not once had his deviousness extended to us.Family did not lie to each other. That had been our family mantra for as long as I could speak.
The one absolute I had always relied on.
And suddenly, I wondered if my uncle believed in anything other than protecting his own power.
Gabriel’s turquoise eyes burned, not with heat, as Marcello steepled his fingers. “Gabriel is not a bargaining chip,” he countered, his tone dangerously soft. “And as my heir, my son has certain responsibilities.”
Read: there are about a hundred females I can marry him off to that outrank your pitiful niece.
I gripped the chair arms. “Right. That’s good enough for me. We’ll just be on our…”
Giovanni stopped me with an outstretched hand. “I meant no disrespect. I merely state the obvious. Instead of an execution, a public marriage would transform this… unfortunate outburst into a romantic tale for the ages. The Dynasty would cheer you as a magnanimous ruler, capable of forgiveness. The other families would see that DiRavello Court is not drifting away but woven even tighter into your line.”
I could see it already—the fanfare, the gossip, thefucking dress I’d have to wear if I went along with this travesty.
I’d rather fucking be executed.
At least the suffering would be minimal.
“You would have me marry your enemies, instead of avenging your own brother,” I shot my uncle a withering glare. “How poetic. Or should I say pathetic?”
“A marriage,” Giovanni continued as if I didn’t even exist, addressing Marcello, “would end this matter concisely. Emberline will withdraw her accusation. You could open an investigation into Enzo’s death, quietly, without the spectacle of Arbitration. If any… irregularities are found, they can be handled with discretion. Meanwhile, the alliance between our families would reassure everyone that there is no schism at the heart of the Dynasty. As we both know, unity is all that matters.”
I had to hand it to my uncle—he set elegant traps.
Only this time, I’d been the one caught.
16
