Chapter Four #2
“Dante De Luca is a killer with delusions of legitimacy!” Papa’s control was slipping now.
His volume rose slightly, passion breaking through the ice.
“The De Lucas are feared because they’re violent.
Because they’re unpredictable. Because they’ve built their empire on brutality rather than strategy.
You think marrying into that family makes you safer?
It makes you a target. It makes this entire family a target. ”
“The Vitales are weak --”
“The Vitales are established! They have history, connections, legitimacy that the De Lucas will never have. Marco might be rough around the edges, but he comes from good stock. His family understands tradition, respects hierarchy. They won’t challenge my authority or try to absorb our territory the way the De Lucas would. ”
I stood then. Couldn’t sit anymore while he loomed over me like a judge passing sentence. “You mean they won’t challenge your control over me.”
In normal circumstances, once I married, my papa wouldn’t be able to tell me what to do anymore. But I knew him better than anyone. The man was a control freak to his very marrow. No way he’d gladly hand me off to someone and still not expect me to obey his every word.
Papa’s expression went flat. Dangerous. “Sit. Down.”
“No.” The word came out stronger than I expected. “I’m not a child anymore, Papa. I’m twenty-one years old and I’m telling you that Dante De Luca is the better choice. For me. For this family. For our future.”
“The only thing you’re telling me is that you’ve forgotten your place.
” He moved around the desk, closing the distance between us with steps that were deliberately slow.
Deliberately intimidating. “You’ve forgotten that your loyalty is to this family.
That your duty is to obey. That your only value is in the connections you bring through marriage. ”
Each word landed like a blow. I felt them physically, felt the way they were designed to cut and diminish and remind me exactly how little power I actually had.
But I’d already made my choice. Already signed my deal with Dante. There was no going back now.
“My loyalty is to this family,” I said, meeting his eyes even though it took everything in me. “Which is why I’m bringing you the De Luca alliance. Take it or don’t. But I’m not marrying Marco Vitale. That’s non-negotiable.”
Papa’s hand came up and for one frozen moment I thought he was going to hit me. His palm hovered in the air between us, trembling with barely controlled rage. Antonio moved forward slightly, his expression finally showing something -- concern, maybe, or calculation.
Luca stood from his chair, his voice cutting through the tension. “Papa --”
“Get out.” Papa’s words were directed at me, his hand dropping back to his side. “Get out of my sight before I do something we’ll both regret.”
I didn’t move. “The De Luca alliance --”
“Is not happening. You’ll marry Marco as planned. That’s your only option. Now get the fuck out of my study.”
I held his gaze for three more heartbeats. Let him see that I wasn’t backing down. Wasn’t accepting his decree.
Then I turned and walked toward the door, my spine straight, my head high, even though my hands were shaking and my heart was hammering so hard I thought everyone in the room could hear it.
I’d expected the rejection. Had planned for it.
But hearing it still felt like being gutted.
My hand had just closed around the doorknob when Antonio’s voice cut through the silence behind me.
“Giuseppe.” Not loud. Not commanding. Just firm enough to make me pause, my fingers frozen on the cool brass. “A moment.”
I didn’t turn around. Didn’t dare hope that Antonio’s intervention meant anything other than more lectures about duty and obedience. But I didn’t open the door either. Just stood there, my back to the room, trying to control my breathing while my heart continued its frantic hammering.
I heard movement. The soft whisper of expensive shoes against carpet, then Antonio’s voice again, quieter now. Close enough to Papa that I shouldn’t have been able to hear, but the study’s acoustics carried sound in strange ways. Fragments reached me despite the deliberate low volume.
“… strategic advantage we can’t ignore…”
Papa’s response was too quiet to make out, but the tone was sharp. Angry. Dismissive.
Antonio continued, unperturbed. “… De Luca territory spans three regions. Their reach into the northern territories alone…”
More from Papa, his voice rising slightly. I caught “disrespect” and “undermining” before it dropped again.
I turned slightly, just enough to see them in my peripheral vision without making it obvious I was listening.
Antonio had moved closer to Papa, one hand resting on my father’s shoulder in a gesture that looked supportive but was probably restraining.
The consigliere’s other hand gestured at something on the desk.
Papers, maybe, or the ledger Papa kept with family finances.
“The Vitale alliance brings us two million in immediate assets,” Antonio was saying, his voice just audible now.
He tapped the desk for emphasis. “Marco’s family controls four territories, yes, but three of them are contested.
The Castellanos have been pushing into their eastern holdings for six months.
By this time next year, the Vitales might control half what they do now. ”
“Marco’s family has connections --”
“Connections the De Lucas also have.” Antonio’s interruption was smooth, deferential enough not to be insulting but firm enough to keep control of the conversation.
“Plus territory that isn’t contested, and a reputation that makes other families think twice before challenging anyone associated with them.
Giuseppe, I understand your anger at Caterina’s methods.
Her approach was disrespectful and should be addressed.
But the alliance itself? We’d be fools not to consider it. ”
I felt something flutter in my chest. Hope, maybe. Or shock that Antonio was actually arguing my case. The consigliere wasn’t known for his sentimentality. If he was pushing this, it was because the numbers genuinely favored the De Luca deal.
Papa was silent for a long moment. I could see his profile from where I stood, could see the way his jaw worked as he ground his teeth. The vein at his temple was still visible, still pulsing with barely contained rage.
But his hands had come up to the desk again. Not slamming this time. Just resting there, fingers drumming against the wood in thought.
Antonio pressed his advantage, leaning down to point at something in the ledger.
“The De Luca family controls the northern ports. All shipping from those territories goes through their people. An alliance gives us access to trade routes that would take us years to establish independently. We’d see returns within the first quarter. ”
“At what cost?” Papa’s voice was still hard, but the volume had dropped. The volcanic rage cooling into something more dangerous -- cold calculation. “The De Lucas don’t make deals without extracting their pound of flesh. What does Dante want in return for this generous alliance?”
“Ask him.” Antonio straightened, removing his hand from Papa’s shoulder.
“Bring him here. Negotiate terms. See if the deal is as advantageous as your daughter claims. If it’s not, then proceed with the Vitale arrangement.
But Giuseppe --” He paused, making sure he had my father’s full attention.
“If it is as good as it looks on paper, walking away from it would be the kind of mistake that costs us deeply.”
The silence stretched. I kept my hand on the doorknob, kept my position at the door, but inside I was screaming. Say yes. Say you’ll consider it. Say something other than no.
Papa’s fingers stopped drumming. He looked down at the ledger, his expression unreadable. When he finally spoke, his voice was flat. Emotionless. “The De Luca boy better be worth twice what Marco offered.”
My breath caught. That wasn’t a yes. But it wasn’t a no either.
“Set up a meeting,” Papa continued, his gaze still on the numbers Antonio had been indicating.
“I want to see Dante De Luca face-to-face. I want terms presented formally. I want everything in writing before any announcements are made.” He finally looked up, his gaze landing on me with the weight of a physical blow.
“And if this falls through, Caterina, you’ll marry Marco without another word of complaint. Understood?”
I turned fully now, meeting his eyes. Letting him see that I understood perfectly.
“Good.” He sat back in his chair, his posture somehow more rigid than before.
“Antonio will reach out to the De Lucas to arrange a meeting. You will be present. You will behave appropriately. You will not embarrass this family again.” Each sentence came out clipped, controlled.
“This is a business decision, not acceptance of your rebellion. Don’t mistake my pragmatism for approval. ”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” I kept my voice level, neutral, giving him nothing that could be interpreted as triumph or satisfaction.
But inside, I was celebrating. Screaming. Doing mental backflips of victory.
Papa wasn’t happy. Was probably already planning how to make me pay for the disrespect of going behind his back. But he was agreeing to meet with Dante. Was considering the alliance. That was more than I’d dared hope for when I’d walked into this study.
Antonio nodded once, his expression returning to its usual neutral state. “I’ll contact the De Lucas today. We should have a meeting scheduled within forty-eight hours.”
“Fine.” Papa waved a hand dismissively. “Caterina, you’re dismissed. Luca, stay. We have other business to discuss.”
I didn’t wait to be told twice. I turned back to the door, pulled it open with hands that were somehow steady despite the adrenaline flooding my system, and stepped into the hallway.
The door clicked shut behind me, and I sagged against the wall for just a moment. Long enough to take one deep breath. Two. To feel the victory settle into my bones alongside the fear of what came next.
I’d done it. Not perfectly, not cleanly, but I’d done it. Now I just had to make sure Dante played his part perfectly when they met.
I pushed away from the wall and started down the hallway, my heels tapping against marble with a rhythm that finally matched something other than panic. Each step felt lighter than before. Each breath came easier. I’d made it three steps when I heard the study door open again behind me.
“Caterina.”
Luca’s voice. I turned to find my brother in the doorway, his expression tight with concern. How had he gotten away from Papa? I had a feeling he’d pay for it later.
“You okay?” he asked quietly.
“I’m fine.”
He stepped into the hallway, letting the study door close behind him. Moved closer, his gaze searching my face for I don’t know what. Truth, maybe. Or confirmation that I hadn’t completely lost my mind.
“That was insane,” he said finally. “Going to the De Lucas without Papa’s approval. Do you have any idea how much danger you just put yourself in?”
“Less than I’d be in married to Marco.”
“Maybe.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, a gesture that made him look younger than his nineteen years. “But Dante De Luca? Caterina, his reputation… the things people say about him…”
“I know what they say.” I reached out and squeezed his arm briefly. “I also know he’s my best chance at something that doesn’t end with me in a hospital. Or worse.”
Luca’s jaw tightened. “If he hurts you --”
“He won’t.” The lie came easily. I had no idea if Dante would hurt me or not. But I knew Marco would. That was enough. “Trust me, okay? I know what I’m doing.”
Another lie. But Luca seemed to accept it or at least accept that arguing wouldn’t change anything.
“Just… be careful.” He glanced back at the study door, then back to me. “Papa’s furious. He’s going to find ways to punish you, even if the alliance goes through.”
“Let him.” I straightened my spine, lifted my chin. “I can handle Papa.”
Luca’s expression said he wasn’t sure about that, but he didn’t argue. Just pulled me into a quick hug -- brief enough not to seem weak, tight enough that I felt his worry in it -- then released me and headed back toward the study. I watched him go, then turned and continued down the hallway.
My hands were shaking again. Now that the immediate confrontation was over, now that the adrenaline was fading, the full weight of what I’d just done was settling in.
I’d defied Papa directly. Had gone behind his back to arrange an alliance without permission. Had stood in his study and refused to back down even when he’d been seconds away from physically removing me.
And somehow, impossibly, I’d won. Not completely. Not cleanly. But enough.
Papa was meeting with Dante. Was considering the alliance. Was weighing the benefits against his wounded pride and need for control.
Antonio had made that happen. The consigliere’s pragmatism had overridden Papa’s rage, had forced my father to see past his anger to the actual value of what I was offering.
I’d have to remember that. Remember that Antonio responded to numbers and strategy, not emotion. If I needed to maneuver around Papa in the future -- and I probably would -- going through Antonio might be the way to do it.
But that was planning for later. Right now, I needed to get to my room before my legs gave out completely.
I made it to the staircase, started climbing. Each step required conscious effort. My body wanted to collapse, to release all the tension I’d been holding since I’d entered that study.
I’d won. For now. The battle, if not the war.
But Luca was right about one thing. Papa would find ways to punish me. Would make sure I understood that defying him came with consequences, alliance or not.
I just had to hope those consequences were worth it.
Worth Dante’s terms. Worth whatever came next.
Worth the look I’d seen in my father’s eyes when he’d realized I wasn’t backing down.
I reached the top of the stairs and headed toward my wing of the house, each step taking me farther from Papa’s study and the confrontation I’d somehow survived.
Only time would tell if surviving it had been the right choice.