When She Falls (The Fallen, #3)(57)

“Vince has made it abundantly clear he has no interest in running the business in New York.”

No, that’s not true. Everyone knows that when the time comes, Vince will come back. That’s a given. He might be enjoying his time in Europe, but it was never meant to be a permanent thing.

He won’t let Papà take away his birthright just like that.

The room spins.

“Does Vince know about this?” I force past my dry throat.

Papà straightens his cuffs. “He’s aware.”

“And what was his reaction?”

Papà’s hard gaze lands on me. “Like I already said, he’s shown no interest in this job. Your brother has done nothing to prove to me that he can lead our people.”

Bullshit. Vince has been working abroad for the clan this whole time. He’s managing most of our money. They’re stealing his birthright from him.

Cleo points at Rafaele. “He’s not even related to us. How can he lead the Garzolos when he’s not one himself?”

For once, my sister and I are on the exact same wavelength. She’s voicing my thoughts.

Why Rafaele? Why not someone else?

“What about our uncles?” I demand. Even on the off chance that what Papà’s saying about Vince is true, one of our uncles would step up. I’m sure some of them are itching for an opportunity like this.

“None of the ones that are left are fit for the job,” Papà says. “You know as well as I do that the Riccis thinned our highest ranks.”

Cleo slams her fists on the table. “Are you kidding me? So make them fit! Why would you choose him of all people?”

“Rafaele’s about to become a part of our family. He’s marrying Gemma, and no one will dare call him an outsider once he’s my son-in-law. Rafaele’s already proven himself to be a capable don. He’s become my closest ally in the past six months, and he’s the best man for the job,” Papà says. “It’s as simple as that.”

Nothing about this is simple. I sit back in my chair, utterly shocked. I refuse to believe Vince is on board with this. Why didn’t he say something to me about this when we spoke in Ibiza?

Papà must have been planning this with Rafaele for far longer than that, so he’s pulling the rug from under Vince. That’s the only explanation.

What if Vince is already on his way back to New York?

My blood runs cold. Is he in danger?

Rafaele is ruthless when it comes to getting rid of his enemies. Will Vince join the ranks of them if he doesn’t fall in line?

Papà reaches across the table and clasps Mamma’s hand. It’s a rare show of affection meant to convey to Cleo and I that they’re a united front on this. “I’m not planning to retire for another few years, so the changes won’t go into effect for a while.”

“And you expect everyone to be all right with this?” I ask, my shock morphing into prickling anxiety. “Do the rest of the Garzolos know?”

“They will soon.”

Cleo shakes her head, still in disbelief. “This makes no sense.”

She’s right. It doesn’t.

Papà is proud.

Territorial.

For him, there’s always been an “us” and a “them”.

Rafaele will marry me, but he doesn’t share any blood with Papà. As far as I know, we’ve never warred with the Messeros, but we haven’t been allied for long either.

Why would Papà put so much trust in him? Why would he give Rafaele the key to his kingdom? The kingdom our great-great-grandfather started when he first immigrated to the United States?

Is Papà this desperate for an ally?

I force myself to breathe slowly and move my attention to my fiancé. “You’re charging a steep price to stand behind the Garzolos in case our enemies move against us. That’s all we’re getting from you in exchange for all of this, isn’t it?”

Rafaele gives me a strange look. Beside him, Nero purses his lips as if he’s making a conscious effort to keep his mouth shut.

I squeeze the armrests with my fingers as cold foreboding slides down my spine. “What is it?”

The room is quiet until Papà clears his throat. “I understand this is a lot to take in.”

I shake my head, my conviction growing. “There’s something else. Something you’re not telling us.”

“Gemma, enough,” Mamma snaps. “Your father has said everything he’s going to say on the subject.”

“I deserve to know,” I hiss. “Have you forgotten that you’re giving me to this man? Sounds like our marriage is what’s giving him the legitimacy he needs to become your successor. I want to know under what terms I was sold,” I say, my voice breaking.

My lungs are frozen as I wait for Papà to give me an answer, but it’s Rafaele who finally speaks.

“The Feds are building a case against your father,” he says in a voice that’s steady and impartial. “If he gets arrested, I’m the only one with the ability to get him out.”

I blink. There’s a whooshing sound inside my ears as things start to slowly, tragically fall into place. “Papà is that true?”

I want to hear confirmation from Papà’s mouth.