Alessandro crosses the room, placing his hands on my shoulders. "You are not her. You're a Dante. You're stronger than anyone I know, Valentina."
I look up into his eyes, wishing I could believe him. But all I feel is certainty that I'm walking into the wolf's den.
"If I die?—"
"You won't."
"Make it count. Make him pay."
My brother pulls me against his chest, a gesture so rare I almost break. "I swear it.”
2
CRISTIAN
I stand outside Don Alessandro's office, curious as to why I’ve been summoned.
I secretly hope it’s to put an end to Maksim Vasiliev.
That mother fucker has wreaked havoc in the Dante family for too long, killing Don Lorenzo, kidnapping a child, and nearly killing Luca Dante. And now he has the gall to act like he’s been victimized?
The hallway is silent except for the occasional murmur of voices from behind the heavy door.
I roll my shoulders, trying to loosen the tension there. The emergency meeting with the Bratva earlier suggests something important is going on.
I knock twice and enter when I hear Don Alessandro’s “Come in.”
Alessandro stands by the window, looking irritated. But it's Valentina who draws my eye.
She’s seated in a leather chair.
Her raven hair cascades down her back, and those gray Dante eyes flash with a mixture of defiance and fear.
I force my gaze away, focusing on Alessandro.
Men who admire the Don's sister too openly don't tend to keep their eyes.
"Cristian." Alessandro acknowledges me with a nod. "Good. We have a situation that requires your particular skills."
Valentina makes a sound that’s something between a scoff and a laugh. "Tell him what you've arranged. Tell him how you've sold me to the monster."
“You agreed.”
She looks down, and for the first time ever, I see defeat in Valentina’s normally strong features.
My eyes cut to Alessandro, wondering what they’re talking about.
“Valentina is betrothed to Maksim Vasiliev.”
I search Alessandro’s face for some sign that this is a joke.
But the Don's expression remains hard.
"You're marrying her to Vasiliev?" I had to have heard that wrong.
"It's the most efficient solution to our current problem. Maksim wants assurance of our commitment to peace. This alliance through marriage will satisfy him."
I've heard stories about Maksim's treatment of women.
