Chapter Thirteen #2
Rationally, everything Emma is saying makes sense. She should get the chance to experience her own freedom. But that would mean letting her go and I’m not ready for that.
“You did something most people don’t do. You killed your own father. You’re not thinking straight. Take some time and we’ll discuss this more.” I leave her room before she can say anything to make me change my mind.
I am not letting Emma go for anything.
Gabriel and I are at our club, dealing with more business. After Alessandro shot it up, we haven’t been able to reopen it yet. Going over paperwork is boring but it’s part of the job.
One of the security guards knocks on the door to the private office. “Mr. Romano. Mr. Detti. There’s a man here to speak with you two.”
“Who is it?” Gabriel asks.
“Says his name is Matteo Marani. Says he worked with Mr. Greco.”
“Which one?” I ask.
“Both of them.”
Gabriel nods. “Let him in.”
The guard leaves and a moment later, a young man enters the room. Around a similar age as Gabriel and I. Has money judging from his designer suit. Slicked back dark hair. A perfect five o’clock shadow.
“We haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet,” Matteo says, extending his hand to both of us. Gabriel and I get to our feet. This man is dangerous. I can sense it in my gut. “I’m Matteo Marani. A close associate of Giovanni’s and Alessandro’s.”
Neither I nor Gabriel shake his hand.
Matteo chuckles, lowering his hand to his side. “Fair enough. My associates have caused a lot of problems for you, judging by this club. It’s been a few weeks now and it still hasn’t opened up.”
“What do you want?” I snap.
“Leo,” Gabriel warns. “I apologize for my friend’s tone but he has a good point. What do you want?”
“I know you killed Giovanni. Everyone knows it. But Alessandro has been missing for a few days. His last known location was at your house, Mr. Detti. I can only assume he’s dead and that you killed him.”
I don’t say a word. Impulsivity is my weakness but even I know to keep my mouth shut in this moment.
Matteo huffs. “That’s all the confirmation I need.
You see, I’ve worked with Alessandro for years.
His brother, Giovanni, was a harsher pill to swallow.
I never cared for him. But Alessandro was a good friend and now that he’s gone missing, I can’t stand back and not do anything about it.
I can make your lives hell or we can make a deal.
I am sensible. I am willing to become partners with you two. I would prefer that than going to war.”
Gabriel and I exchange a look.
“You want to work with us?” Gabriel asks. “We don’t know you. We don’t trust you.”
“Then let’s build trust. Arranged marriages are common. Great ways to forge bonds. I will marry whoever you choose to show that you can trust me. This seems much more reasonable than shooting at each other.”
“There’s no one,” I snap. “Why would we give a woman to you? I don’t know you.”
“There is someone,” Gabriel says. “Alessandro’s daughter. Emma.”
My head whips around to stare at Gabriel. What the fuck is he doing?
“I heard you had taken his daughter,” Matteo says.
“Yes. We’ll give her to you as a sign of good faith. You get Alessandro’s daughter and we get peace.”
“She’s my wife,” I growl. “You can’t just give her to this man.”
“Divorces can be easily remedied,” Matteo says. “I like this deal, Mr. Romano. It’s only fair that Alessandro’s daughter go to one of his most trusted men. I will marry her as a sign of good faith. No war has to happen.”
“Let’s talk more,” Gabriel says, extending his hand to Matteo this time. They shake on it.
Matteo holds his hand out to me but I don’t move a muscle. With a smirk, Matteo walks out of the office.
“What the fuck?” I hiss at Gabriel. “Emma is my wife. You can’t just give her away like that. I purposely married her to prevent anyone from taking her.”
“You never should have married her in the first place. She wasn’t yours to claim. Now she will be used to help prevent another war from happening.”
“Emma doesn’t deserved to be used her entire life like this. I promised her that she wouldn’t be hurt. I promised her that she was no longer a prisoner. Forcing her into another marriage isn’t what’s best for her.”
“Maybe not,” Gabriel says in a cold tone. “But it’s what’s best for us. We didn’t know what to do with Emma before but now we do. She can be returned to her side of the family. Be made to make peace for us.”
“I won’t let you use Emma as another pawn.”
“It’s her fate in this world, Leo. Accept it. She was the daughter of our enemy. Nothing more.”
“You can be a cold, fucking bastard sometimes, you know that?”
“I didn’t get to the top without being one. You know this better than anyone else. You’re my closest friend.”
“Give another woman to him. Rocco’s daughter. Luciana. She’s an adult now. She can be used to build trust. But not Emma.”
“Rocco will not go for that and you know it.”
I huff. “You care more about your friendship to Rocco than you do me? Emma is my wife.”
“And Luciana is Rocco’s daughter, who he has raised and loves. Emma was just a woman you stole to get revenge on her father. She is just a woman you married to upset her father. She is not a woman you love. So you can give her up for peace.”
“I am not giving Emma up for anything,” I growl.
“So don’t even try to take her from me. Find another girl to give Matteo or kill him.
I don’t fucking care. But you are not taking Emma.
” I storm out of the office before Gabriel can say anything else.
As my best friend, Gabriel and I have been through a lot together but sometimes, he is good at pissing me off and this moment is one of those times.
I will fight to keep Emma with me even if I have to hurt my best friend.