"I said no." My voice comes out harder than I intended but I want to make myself clear. "The wedding happens as planned. Valentina Marino will become my wife. That's final."
"Clearly you’re not fucking thinking clearly," Raffaele says.
"I'm thinking more clearly than I ever have." I look at each of them in turn. "For years, we've ruled this city by father’s side and it’s always been the same: fear and violence. Through being exactly what Father taught us to be. And it's worked. We're powerful. Wealthy. Untouchable."
I pause.
"But we're also alone—every single one of us. We have money and power and respect, but we don't have what Father had with Mother. We don't have someone who sees past the violence to the man underneath. Someone who makes us want to be better than what this life demands."
"That's weakness talking," Raffaele says.
I look at Matteo. "You think she's my weakness. You're wrong. She’s going to help me be the Don this family actually needs.”
My brothers are silent.
"The wedding happens in month," I repeat. "And anyone, family or otherwise, who has a problem with that needs to deal with it."
I walk into the house without waiting for a response.
* * *
When I get to Valentina’s room, I find the door
She's standing by the window when I enter, still in that royal blue gown, the diamonds at her throat catching the moonlight streaming through the glass.
"Take off your clothes," I command.
She turns to look at me, and I can't quite read her expression. Not fear. Not defiance. Something else entirely.
Slowly, she reaches behind her back and unzips the gown. It pools at her feet in a whisper of silk and fabric, leaving her in nothing but the diamonds and lace.
My breath catches.
She unhooks her bra next, letting it fall. Then slides her underwear down her hips until she's standing there completely bare except for the diamonds I gave her.
"Is this what you want?" she asks softly. "To punish me for making you stop? For challenging you in front of everyone?"
"No." I walk over to her. "I want to worship you. I want to show you exactly how I feel about you."
I pick her up, and she wraps her legs around my waist instinctively. I carry her to the bed, laying her down on the silk sheets like she's something precious.
Because she is.
I strip off my tuxedo jacket, my tie, my shirt. Her eyes follow every movement, dark with want.
"You saved him tonight," I tell her, climbing onto the bed and settling between her thighs. "Lorenzo Calabri doesn't know how lucky he is that you asked me to stop. That I value your request more than I value his blood on my hands."
I lean down, pressing kisses along her collarbone, her sternum, the valley between her breasts.
"You have power over me, Valentina," I continue against her skin. "More than you realize. More than anyone else ever has."
Her hands find my hair, fingers threading through it, holding me to her.
"Then give me more," she whispers.
I look up at her. "More what?"
"More control. More say in our world." Her eyes are fierce. "This mansion, your empire, everything that belongs to you—you keep saying it's mine too. Prove it."
