Chapter 8
Massimo
Ican feel the weight of my father’s presence beside me.
His posture, rigid, calculating. My mother, silent but observant, sitting across from him.
My Uncle Lorenzo sat to his right, arms crossed, the air around him thick with unspoken tension.
When we got the phone call, my father called his brother, because we had a feeling this was going to be something he needed to agree on too.
We aren’t in the Messina house. We’re in his house, Father Dominic’s home. The priest. The man who holds more power than people realize.
And standing in the far corner, quiet, hands folded neatly in front of her, is Maria.
The girl who kissed me back, who had trembled beneath my touch but hadn’t pulled away. The girl who now looks at me like she doesn’t know if she’s about to lose herself or everything else.
Her uncle clears his throat, bringing my attention back to him.
“I won’t waste your time,” he starts, his voice even, but I can hear the strain in it. “I come with a proposal. One that under different circumstances should have been discussed much sooner.”
My father doesn’t move, doesn’t blink, and neither do I.
“My niece is to be married,” Father Dominic continues. “An arrangement was made with the O’Brien’s long ago. A marriage that by all accounts will keep the peace for me.” His jaw clenches. “But my niece does not wish to marry Liam O'Brien.”
Silence. A long, heavy silence.
The one question roaming in my head: why would Maria marrying into the O’Brien family bring peace for him? The church is in our town, they can’t touch it.
The air shifts, I can feel the weight of my father’s gaze on me. I can feel my uncle’s tension beside me.
“She doesn’t wish to marry Liam,” my father repeats slowly.
Father Dominic nods. “No. She has come to me, expressing her feelings. She believes she would be happier with someone else.” His gaze flickers to me, just for a second. “She wants to marry Massimo.”
My father exhales slowly, his hands steepling beneath his chin. He turns to my mother, then to my uncle, before finally settling on me.
The way he looks at me is the same look he gave me when I told him I was ready to step into the family business. When I proved myself, showing him I’m capable of handling blood on my hands.
“Do you understand what you are asking of us?” my father questions. His voice isn’t raised, but it doesn't need to be. “You’re asking us to go against the Irish.”
Maria’s uncle nods, his expression unreadable. “I know.”
“You are asking us to break an arrangement that has been in place for years, by your family,” my father continues.
“An arrangement that, once broken, could lead to retaliation.” My father had the same conversation with me, but he also told me that the family will stick together if Maria’s uncle agrees to this marriage.
“I know,” Father Dominic says again, his voice firm.
“And you’re asking for our protection.”
This time, he hesitates.
Maria’s eyes dart toward me, just for a second. I can see it, the worry, the flicker of doubt, the weight of what this means, for her uncle.
But I can also see something else. Determination.
She doesn’t want Liam. She wants me.
My father leans back, exhaling through his nose. He turns his gaze toward me once more, as if studying me.
“Maria,” his voice quieter now, more controlled. “Is this truly what you want?”
She swallows hard, her eyes darting between me and my father, but she nods. “Yes.”
He regards her for a long moment before shifting his attention back to her uncle. “And what will the Irish do when they find out?”
Maria’s uncle hesitates before answering. “They will be angry. I won’t pretend otherwise.” He exhales. “But Maria is the only family have left, and I will not force her into something that will make her miserable. I will find a way to handle the O’Brien’s.”
I can almost feel my father’s smirk, though he doesn’t show it outright.
“You will find a way,” he repeats. “And if that fails?”
I already know the answer. If it fails, it will be a war.
Maria’s uncle straightens. “Then I will trust in God to guide me through it.”
My father hums, his fingers tapping against the table. “God,” he murmurs. “Yes. I’m sure he’ll be very helpful.” I almost laugh at my father’s reply.
But I don’t.
Instead, I keep my eyes on Maria. She isn’t looking at me anymore, she’s watching my father, waiting for his answer.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity, my father exhales, nodding once.
“We will discuss this privately,” my father says. “But if we agree, understand that Maria will become one of us.” His gaze flickers toward her now, eyes dark, assessing. “She will be protected. She will be mine to keep safe. But she will also be mine to discipline if needed.”
Maria’s body tenses, staring at her father.
Her uncle’s jaw tightens, but still he nods. “I understand, but there is something else I need to tell you about Maria and the O’Brien’s and the arrangement which was made before all of this.”
My father leans forward slightly. “Then let’s discuss how we’re going to handle the Irish.”
The conversation has ended, but the tension in the room still presses against my skin. My father and Maria’s uncle have agreed to discuss things further, but I already know how this will go.
When Father Dominic told us about the arrangement for Maria, I wanted to punch something. It made it very clear why he wanted our protection, and for good reason, and my father and I have vowed to protect them both, but no matter what she chose me, that's all that matters.
The moment my father and her uncle leave the room, she stays behind. Her breathing is uneven, and for the first time since this conversation started, she isn't looking at her uncle, she’s watching me.
I don’t move at first, just study her. She looks nervous. Maybe even a little unsure.
“You got what you wanted, Angel,” I murmur, stepping closer.
She sucks in a breath but doesn’t step back. “You think this is what I wanted?” she asks softly.
“You told your father you wouldn’t marry Liam. You told him you had feelings for me.” I tilt my head slightly. “Was that a lie?”
Her lips part slightly, but she doesn’t answer. I lift a hand, tracing my knuckles over her cheek. “Tell me, Maria. Did you mean it?
She swallows hard. “I—” She pauses, then straightens her shoulders. “Yes. I meant it.”
“Then why do you look so unsure?”
Her brows furrow, and she glances toward the door, making sure we’re alone before answering.
“Because this isn’t just about us,” she whispers.
“You know that. The O’Brien’s aren’t going to let this happen easily.
I fear for my uncle, because I’ve put my feelings above his safety.
” She blinks and tears escape her beautiful eyes.
“I put him in danger…for a kiss. For a feeling I still don’t fully understand. ”
I wipe the tears aways, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Let them try to hurt him.”
“Massimo-” my name escapes softly from her lips, and it sounds so sweet it jolts my dick. “My uncle is all I have and I’m scared.”
She peeks up, her eyes searching mine for something. I don’t know what she expects to find. Maybe a promise that everything will be okay. But I never make promises like that, because we know in our life no one is safe.
Instead, I tell her, “You’re mine now, Maria. They’ll have to go through me.”
She leans her head on my chest. I know she wants to cry but is holding herself together, which tells me one thing. She’s strong enough for my life.
We arrived back home later than we thought, the tension still thick between us. My father sits at the head of the dining table, my mother beside him, my uncle across from her. Camilla and my younger brother sit toward the end, both watching with interest.
I didn’t want to leave Maria while she was still feeling so crappy about the situation we’re in, but I know we have to have a family meeting about this. It’s not just her family we’re putting in danger, it’s my family too.
My father leans back in his chair, drumming his fingers against the table. “So,” he says slowly, eyes on me. “We’re really doing this.”
My mother is glancing at me now, always the loving soft expression on her face. “You understand what this means, don’t you?” she asks gently.
“Yes.” My dad laughs at my word, and I look over to him.
“There’s hesitation in your voice, son. Why?” The question hits hard. I glance at each member of my family. I get Maria worrying about her uncle, but he’s a persistent bastard. No one’s stupid enough to kill him. Our family and the Irish will bring war without even thinking about anyone I love.
“Massimo?” my dad asks again.
“I want her, the moment I saw Maria, I knew I wanted her. But the danger I will put you all in, I don’t—”
“Massimo, I see it. The way you look at her, if you walk away from her, you will never look at anyone else the same.” My mother smiles and glances at my father.
“This family is at war with almost everyone; we know one day the war will go wrong and we can lose someone, but I can see it in my son's eyes. You’re falling in love with her.”
I let her words sit with me for a moment. Is it love when you can’t stop thinking about someone? Is it love that I’ve never even slept with her, but all I want to do is see her smile? Fuck.
Before I speak, my dad clears his throat, and I regard him steadily as he smiles at his brother then turns to me.
“Then we prepare for war.”
Word spreads fast when there is something good to talk about. By the time I got to the academy this morning, everyone knew.
I can feel the eyes on me as I walk through the halls, Maria at my side.
Jo stays close to her, throwing sharp glances at anyone who dares to whisper too loudly.
If Maria was going to have a good friend next to her, Jo is the best one to have.
She knows how to fight, she knows how to shoot a gun, so if anyone would harm Maria and I can’t be there, Jo will be.
As we walk the corridor, Liam steps in our path. He’s pissed, or should I say furious. Can’t blame him, I took his girl.
His jaw is clenched, his hands fisted at his sides, and for a brief moment, I wonder if he was actually dumb enough to try to throw a punch. He knows the rules as well as I do. I want him to try to hit me, just to give me a reason to put his ass to the ground.
Maria tenses beside me, and my grip on her hand tightens, letting her know I’m right here with her.
“Massimo,” Liam says tightly.
I raise a brow. “Liam.”
He exhales sharply, and his glare shifts to Maria for just a second before snapping back to me. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Messina.”
I tilt my head slightly. “You’ll have to be more specific.” I’m not here to play his game, and he also knows I could kill him if I wanted to.
His nostrils flare. “Don’t play dumb with me. She’s mine.”
Maria stiffens, but I just laugh. “Not anymore.”
Liam takes a step closer, lowering his voice. “You don’t know what you’re doing, Messina. You think my family is just going to let this happen?” Oh, the fucker is going to use my family name, and not mine. Now I laugh again.
“I think your family can’t do shit about it.”
His jaw tenses again. “You’re making a mistake.”
I grin, which only pisses him off more. “No, Liam. The mistake wasn’t losing her, it was thinking she was yours to begin with.” Marias hand brushes against mine, just for a second. A small movement, but I feel it.
Liam’s eyes darken, his body vibrating with anger. But he doesn't do anything. Not yet. Instead, he takes a small step back. “This isn’t over,” he says, his voice low, dangerous.
“No. It’s just beginning.”
Liam’s chest rises and falls sharply, his jaw clenching so hard I think his teeth might crack. He wants to throw a punch. Right here. Right now. I can see it in his eyes.
But we aren’t just two guys in the street. We are the next in line for something big and even though every muscle in my body aches to take this to the next level, I know there are lines we can’t cross.
At least, not in the open.
Liam takes a slow breath, forcing himself to relax, then he smiles. Not a real one. A sharp, thin stretch of his lips that means only one thing.
Trouble.
“You’re right,” he says smoothly. His gaze flicks to the stairs. “Not here, down there, where rules don’t reach. We can’t fight here.”
I raise a brow, waiting.
“Tonight,” Liam states flatly. “Under Blackstone.”
A slow smirk curls at my lips. Interesting. I tilt my head slightly. “Are you sure about that?” I have to ask, because I’m confident I can kill him down there.
“Are you?”
Maria tenses beside me, her fingers clenching slightly around my hand, but she doesn't say a word. I let a short silence stretch between us before finally nodding.
“Fine,” I say, my voice steady, deliberate. “Tonight.”
Liam’s grin widens just a fraction before he turns and walks away, his posture stiff, his fists still tight.
Maria exhales beside me, and when I glance at her, her eyes are locked on mine.
“You don’t have to fight him,” she says quietly.
I lift a hand, brushing a knuckle against her jaw. “It’s not about need, it’s about proving no one touches what’s mine.” She will learn how our families work, and how you can never back down from a fight. Never.
She inhales sharply but doesn’t argue. She knows this isn’t just about us anymore. It’s about everything. Our families, ownership of the town, everything.
And tonight, under Blackstone, I ‘m going to prove exactly who it all, to include her, belongs to.