Antonio
The afternoon sun filters weakly through the curtains, casting a warm glow on the table where I’m having lunch with my mother. She’s finished her lunch, but I’m still pushing mine around on my plate, my appetite lacking from my earlier conversation with Alessia.
I came here to talk to my father about a shipment we’re expecting this week, one that needs to be funneled through Casa delle Ombre , the restaurant my father runs to launder money for La Famiglia . With everything moving so fast, and this being our most important front, we need to make sure the paperwork is airtight.
But my father left early with Cecilia. He’s letting her get more involved with the business than I think she should be.
I glance at my mother, trying to keep my frustration in check. “I don’t get why he’s doing this. Why let her in?”
She sets her cup down carefully, eyes calm. “Your sister’s smart, Anton. She wants to prove she can handle the hotel.”
“She shouldn’t be handling any of it,” I snap, my voice sharper than intended. “This world isn’t for her.”
“Cecilia’s not a little girl anymore,” my mother replies evenly. “She’s nearly finished with her degree, and more importantly, your father trusts her.”
I sigh, leaning back in my chair. “He’s letting her get too close. I don’t think she understands what she’s getting into.”
“She’s stronger than you give her credit for,” my mother says quietly, though I can sense her patience thinning. “You can’t protect her forever.”
“I can’t believe you’re okay with this.” I shake my head and push my plate away. “Cecilia shouldn’t be involved at all.”
A pause lingers between us before she speaks again. “Your father wants to give her a chance, . She’s capable. You have to let her grow.”
I don’t want to argue with her, so I say nothing. Cecilia’s strong, sure, but this isn’t about strength. It’s about the danger, the target she’s putting on her back when she doesn’t need to.
The doorbell rings, breaking the tension. “I’ll get it,” Mom says as she stands, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
Earlier this morning, Valentino saw me talking to Alessia. It was a brief encounter, nothing more than a few tense words, but I knew it would rub him the wrong way. And here he is. As soon as I hear the front door creak open, his voice oozing false charm as he greets my mother, I know my cousin’s not here for a friendly visit.
“Valentino, it’s so nice to see you,” Mom greets him, her voice warm as always.
“It’s good to see you, too, Aunt Nicki,” Vigo replies smoothly. “Is still around?”
“He’s in the kitchen having a late lunch,” she answers.
“Thank you,” he says, his tone light but insincere. The second I hear his voice, my appetite disappears and I throw the rest of my lunch in the trash.
Unlike Vigo, I respect my mother and refuse to have this conversation with her in the other room. I push open the French doors to the backyard, stepping out just as I hear him enter the kitchen. The door clicks shut behind me, and I can feel him there, right at my back.
“How are you this afternoon, cousin?” Valentino asks, his voice laced with thinly veiled contempt.
“I’m fine,” I say as I turn slowly, keeping my expression neutral. “What brings you here? I thought you’d be busy with your company.”
“Alessia is the reason for my visit,” he snaps, crossing his arms and staring me down. “I saw you talking to her this morning.”
I meet his gaze, refusing to rise to the bait. “I dropped you off and decided to visit my parents. I can’t control who walks down the street. We exchanged a few polite words. It was nothing more than that.”
But I knew it wasn’t just nothing . It was Alessia. And it was the first time I’d spoken to her in years. The moment our eyes met, it hit me harder than I expected. I tried to keep my walls up, tried to stay detached, but seeing her again stirred up everything I’d worked to bury. I told myself it was just small talk, meaningless, but deep down, I knew it wasn’t that simple.
He takes a step closer, his eyes narrowing to slits. “You’d do well to remember Alessia’s my fiancé now.”
Alessia is only twenty-two. Their marriage wasn’t supposed to happen until she was twenty-five, but it’s no surprise her father agreed to move it up. To Draco Moretti, this union is nothing more than a business transaction. The sooner the two families are tied, the more secure he thinks his position will be.
The thought twists a knot of bitterness in my chest. Alessia deserves more than to be used as a pawn in her father’s game, more than to be tied to a man like Valentino. The idea of her with him, trapped in a marriage for power and convenience, makes my stomach turn. But I can’t let my true feelings show.
“It sounds as though congratulations are in order,” I say, a smile curling on my lips.
“Yes, they are,” Vigo replies, his tone dripping with self-satisfaction.
I nod, maintaining my neutral mask. “I do understand your concern. Alessia’s a special woman,” I say, forcing a placating smile. “But you have nothing to worry about. I respect your engagement, and I’ll be sure our men do as well.” I drop my voice, lowering my tone.
Valentino’s always been paranoid, constantly looking for betrayal even when there’s none to be found. He studies my face for any sign of deceit. “Good,” he says coldly. “Because if I catch any one near her again, you included, they won’t live long enough to regret it.”
His arrogance is insufferable, always acting like he’s above everyone, untouchable. The idea that he would threaten me over a few unimportant words makes my blood boil. Swallowing my anger, I manage, “Of course, cousin. I wouldn’t dream of overstepping.”
“And let’s be honest, Anton,” he says, his sneer deepening, his arrogance seeping through. “You gave it your best shot, but I outsmarted you and secured a future with her. Alessia needs more than you could ever give her. She needs a real man—a leader.”
The sting of his words ignites a dark fire inside me, but I don’t let it show. “You’re absolutely right, Vigo. I tried and failed,” I say, my voice calm, though the thought of Alessia being trapped with him twists something deep in my gut.
I take a step closer, clasping a hand on his shoulder. “You, though,” I add, my tone low and controlled, “are exactly the kind of man any woman would be lucky to marry.”
Lucky? I scoff, holding back a bitter laugh. Alessia’s anything but lucky being forced to marry this arrogant bastard.
“Exactly,” he agrees.
“You were born to lead,” I add the compliment bolstering his already oversized ego. “Alessia doesn’t know how lucky she is.”
“No, she fucking doesn’t,” he snaps, and I realize I hit a nerve. “She dared to leave my house without permission, using her father as her excuse.” Valentino’s rage spills out as he begins pacing across the patio. “Then, she refused to start planning our wedding.”
“When’s the big day?” I ask casually.
“Two weeks,” he says, stopping briefly before resuming his relentless pacing.
The timing blindsides me, but I quickly steady myself.
“Our wedding will be a statement to the other Famiglias, showing them who truly holds the wealth and power.”
“A wedding fitting for our future Capo and his wife,” I reply.
“Yes,” he agrees, puffing out his chest.
“How do you plan on making her cooperate?”
Valentino laughs, a harsh, grating sound. “Alessia will learn her place. She’ll realize her resistance is futile and that her only option is to submit to my demands,” he says, his eyes gleaming with something sinister.
I force a smile, masking the disgust churning in my gut. “And if she doesn’t?”
“Then I’ll have the pleasure of teaching her.” He shrugs, his casual indifference chilling. “There are many ways to break a person’s spirit.”
I can only imagine the brutal things he has planned for her. He’ll start with something subtle, like isolating her to break her spirit. When that doesn’t work, it’ll turn physical. He’ll pull out his whip or his knife, anything to scar her body, all while masking his abuse as discipline. Valentino will savor every scream and tear as he shatters her will, leaving her too broken to fight back.
The thought of Alessia being forced to endure his twisted methods sickens me. But I can’t let my emotions betray me. “Yes, you could go that route,” I say thoughtfully, lowering myself onto the outdoor sofa. “Or you might want to try something different.” I dangle the thought in front of him, hoping it’s enough to shift his focus and that I can spare Alessia some pain.
Valentino stops pacing and turns to face me. “Incentives?” he repeats, clearly confused.
I gesture to the chair across from me. “Come sit,” I say calmly. Once he's settled, I continue, “To make someone like Alessia comply, it’s not just about lessons and discipline. You need to balance it with kindness and affection.”
“Why would I do that?” he asks, still puzzled.
“To confuse her,” I reply, my voice steady. “You need to make her question her defiance by showing her what a good life she’ll have if she does things your way. Make it seem like it’s her choice to be compliant.”
A slow grin spreads across his face. “All I have to do is promise her the moon and the stars.”
“You’ve got it,” I agree, continuing to bolster his ego. “She’ll be the perfect donna , and she’ll reinforce your image as our future leader.”
“And it’ll prove to my father that I’m ready to take my rightful place,” he says, his eyes widening in excitement.
“Exactly,” I say, sitting back and crossing one leg over another, hoping I did enough to spare Alessia some pain.
Vigo stands abruptly. “I hope you don’t mind if I rush out. I’ve got some things I need to take care of,” he says, already moving toward the door. “I know I can always count on you to be there for me.”
I rise to my feet, offering him a slight nod. “I’ll always have your back.” The words rolling off my tongue effortlessly.
As he hurries away, I call after him. “Enjoy the rest of your day, cousin.”
Valentino’s putty in my hands. He’s so easy to manipulate. A smile, a subtle suggestion, and he’s convinced it’s his idea—that he’s the one calling the shots. He trusts me completely, oblivious to the fact that it’s his biggest mistake.