“Why did you do it?” Dad asked in a very low voice, turning to me once more. Mom’s expression would have reflected disappointment in such a case but Dad was furious.
“It was to prove a point.”
“And what point would that be?”
“That she had no right to judge Marci. She called her a slut.”
“You acted like a fucking idiot. You should have thought about the consequences,” Matteo muttered.
“Give her father money and more soldiers, I’m sure he’ll take it gladly.”
Matteo chuckled. Dad didn’t look amused and his answering smile was predatory. “There’s only one thing he’ll accept as compensation. Marriage.”
It took a moment for me to understand what Dad meant. I laughed. “Right.”
Dad shook his head as if he didn’t know me. “This isn’t a joke. I told him I’d consider a marriage between you and Cressida.”
My face fell. “You can’t be serious. No way in hell am I going to marry that bitch.”
Dad hit the locker again. It was the third one he’d dented so badly, I doubted anyone would get their stuff out of it ever again. “The Antonacis are well connected among the Traditionalists. I abolished the goddamn bloody sheets which caused an uproar and almost a revolt. Do you realize what would happen if I allowed you to dishonor a Captain’s daughter without you putting a ring on her finger?”
“So what? We’ll make a bloody statement and force them to follow our command. We’re Vitiellos, we don’t bow to anyone’s whims.”
“You want me to kill loyal men, the core of our Famiglia, because you couldn’t keep it in your pants? I’ve been way too lenient with you. For once you’ll have to carry the burden of your actions.”
I had underestimated Cressida and her ambition. I’d wanted to make her eat her words. But she’d turned things around, and now I was stuck with her.
“There has to be a way around it,” I muttered.
Dad took a deep breath, running his hand through his dark hair. “The Traditionalists feel cheated as it is. Marcella’s bond with a biker, the bloody sheets, and our bond with the Camorra, they were a lot to stomach for them. This would be the tipping point. I won’t weaken the Famiglia with a bloody statement only because you can’t stand your future bride. Cressida will be your wife. You have years to get used to the idea, and you fucking will, or I swear you’ll feel my full wrath.”
I glowered at my father. “Yes, Capo.”
On our way home, we didn’t speak. I was trying to figure a way out of the mess. Like Dad had said, I still had years before I had to marry. Until then I’d have to find a fucking solution out of this. The idea of being with Cressida for the rest of my life was too harsh a punishment for a few lousy fucks.
When we entered our mansion in the Upper East Side, Mom was in the living room with Valerio, helping him with his homework. One look at her face told me she knew what was going on.
Dad motioned at Valerio to leave. He grumbled but obeyed. “You’re in big trouble,” he muttered as he passed me.
Thanks for the heads up… I tried to ruffle his unruly blond hair but he dodged the attempt. His reflexes were getting better.
Mom wrung her hands as Dad headed her way. He kissed her briefly and they exchanged a few quiet words. Mom nodded, but I could tell she wasn’t happy.
Mom barely reached Dad’s chest, but she was his rock nonetheless. She stood by his side and his decisions, even if she disapproved of them. At least in front of others, even us kids, it had always been like that.
She would never contradict Dad’s decision but her face when she looked at me spoke of her concern. She was worried for me. She’d always wanted me to marry for love.
Dad shook his head once more, then headed out, obviously still too pissed to be in a room with me for long. Mom followed him with her eyes before she looked at me once more. She let out a quiet sigh and headed toward me. Stopping in front of me, she touched my cheek, peering up at me with worry-clouded eyes. “Will you be okay?”
“With marrying Cressida?”
“Yes.”
“Sure. I always knew I’d marry for tactical purposes, not love,” I lied. For some reason I couldn’t bring myself to use her as a way out of this. She was the only force on this planet that could change Dad’s mind if he was hellbent on something, but I admired their marriage too much to drive a wedge between them. “Love is for dreamers or weaklings. I’m neither.”