Page 157 of Tempting My Mafia Monster

“Outside.” She swallowed and licked her dry, chapped lips.

“Okay,” Macilio said, taking each of us in. “I think that’s everything covered for now. Do you have questions?”

When Liv didn’t respond, just staring blankly at the mock-up of the funeral programme, I shook my head on her behalf. He stood up, packing away his files and brochures. “Again, I am truly sorry for your loss.”

“Grazie.” Elenora stood to walk him out of the living room just as Raffaele bulldozed through the door, nearly knocking the old man over. My nephew had been a hurricane of rage and violence since we lost Gio. It was how he survived the pain, not slowing down enough to truly grieve. The heartbreaking irony was that Gio had been the same way when we lost our papi. There was so much of my brother in Raff.

“Raff!” Elle scolded, but he’d already marched past her towards me, Liv and Lili, who were all sitting on the sofa.

“When were you going to tell me?”

“I’ll be right back,” Elle said, helping Macilio out the door. She disappeared, and we all stared up at Raffaele’s thunderous face.

“Aleksandr is here to discuss the wedding? Lili is not marrying that Russian stronzo!”

“Raff—” Lili started, but he didn’t let her get a word in.

“I am the heir to the Del Brenta. I will be the Boss of this family, and I will not allow my sister to be shipped off to Russia to become some Bratva’s whore!”

“Raffaele!” Olivia snapped, her eyes burning with angry tears. “Watch your tongue!”

“It’s the truth!” he argued. “Aleksandr needs a bride to give him an heir so he can take over from his father. Russian tradition. He isn’t marrying her for any other reason than that. She wasn’t even his first choice! Imagine how he will treat her! And you’re okay with that, Mamma?”

“Of course I am not okay with it,” Liv hissed. “But what other choice do we have?”

“War!” Raff said, hands on his hips. The healing cuts on his face were already showing the scars they would leave as his face twisted with rage. “Fuck the Russians. We will go to war.”

“And lose more of the people we love?” Elenora interrupted, waltzing back into the room. “Raff, you are seventeen. You have no idea what going to war with the Bratva will cost this family. Giovanni did not lose his life so we could all join him. He would have prevented war at all costs.”

“Papi would never have agreed to sell his daughter to the Russians!”

“No one is selling me to anyone,” Lili argued. “Raya was willing to enter into an arranged marriage to protect this family, and everyone agreed. Now I am taking her place.”

“Raya is twenty-nine, and it was her idea! You’re twenty-three, Lili!”

“What has age got to do with it?” Lili argued. “I still know my own mind.”

“Aleksandr is ten years older than you. He’ll want to get you pregnant immediately! Is that what you want? To be his breeding mare!”

Lili’s cheeks blushed and she looked down at the floor. “It doesn’t matter what I want.”

Guilt tugged at my chest. This was never supposed to fall on her shoulders. But like everyone else, I felt helpless to stop it.

“I am the heir. My word is final and I say my sister is not marrying him.”

“Raff, I love you, but no,” Elle said, looking at him sympathetically. “Your word is not final. You are the heir, but until you come of age and prove you are ready to take on the responsibility of leading this family, Alessio will not title you as Boss. Santino is the Boss until then, and he has agreed to the marriage.”

“Mamma?” Raff threw his hands out at his sides, looking to her for support. Liv stood up and exhaled a long breath that showed the level of stress her body was under.

“Elle is right, darling. The decision has already been made. I’m sorry, but you aren’t ready to be in charge.”

The fury in Raff’s eyes as he scanned each of our faces was murderous. He stormed out of the room, his fists clenched tight, and headed for the front door. We all knew exactly where he was going. Sean and Oscar had been in the cells beneath my family’s estate since the attack.

Maddox hadn’t even attempted to go down there. He said being there for me right now was more important. But that didn’t mean Sean and Oscar weren’t suffering horrifically. Maddox agreed to let all my family torture them daily. Raffaele and Santino were making the most of the offer.

Elle sighed. “I’ll let Max know he’s gone to the cells. Liv, shall we walk around the gardens and get some fresh air?”

“Sure,” Liv answered robotically. Lili and I hugged her before they left.