"And you don't?"
I look at Claudio. At the desperation in his eyes. At the way he's trying so hard to protect me.
He's twenty-six years old. My older brother. He should be the one making these decisions. He should be the one holding this family together.
But he's not.
He never has been.
"This is what's going to happen," I say. My voice is calm. Steady. The voice I use when I'm paying bills we can't afford. When I'm negotiating with creditors. When I'm holding everything together with my bare hands. "I'm going to marry whoever the Sartoris choose. The debt gets cleared. Our family survives."
"Antonella—"
"This isn't a discussion." I hold up my hand. "This is a decision. My decision. And it's made."
Claudio's jaw works. He wants to argue. I can see it in every line of his body.
But he doesn't.
Because deep down, he knows I'm right. He knows there's no other way.
"Now," I continue, "we all need to get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a long day. We'll need to be ready when the Sartoris come back."
Gianna is crying. Silent tears streaming down her cheeks.
I cross to her. Pull her into my arms. She's taller than me, but right now she feels so small. So fragile.
"It's going to be okay," I whisper into her hair. "I promise. Everything is going to be okay."
She doesn't believe me.
I don't believe me either.
But it's what she needs to hear.
"Go to bed," I tell her. "Try to sleep. I'll handle everything in the morning."
She pulls back. Wipes her eyes. Nods.
Then she's gone. Footsteps on the stairs. The soft click of her bedroom door.
I turn to Claudio.
"You too."
"I'm not leaving you alone with him." He glares at Papa, who still hasn't moved from his spot by the window. Still hasn't said a word.
"Claudio." I put my hand on his arm. "Please. I need you to rest. I need you to be strong tomorrow. For Gianna. For me."
He searches my face. Looking for something. I don't know what.
Whatever he finds, it's enough.
"Fine," he says.
He hesitates. Then he leans down and presses a kiss to my forehead.
"You're too good for this family," he murmurs. "You always have been."
