Dad, like probably the rest of them, thought Amo had set his eyes on me and was trying to manipulate me into becoming his wife. They couldn’t imagine that I had fallen for him.
I glanced at Amo’s door. I wasn’t sure if the truth would improve Amo’s situation.
“He’s engaged,” Alessio said. “He’s probably just trying to have some fun before marriage.”
Dad’s eyes flashed. “Did he touch you?”
“Remo,” Mom said softly, seeing my expression. She took my hand and pulled me aside. “Greta, you know you can tell me anything.”
“Nothing happened between us. We only talked. We enjoyed each other’s company, that’s all.”
I couldn’t share our kiss with anyone.
Dad looked at Amo’s door. I stepped in front of it out of reflex.
“So that’s the side you’re picking?” Alessio asked, his eyebrows rising in challenge.
“I’m not picking a side, because I don’t have to. I’ve always been and will always be a Falcone. Las Vegas is my home. There’s nothing between Amo and me and there won’t ever be. I’m just making sure we won’t declare war to the Famiglia.”
Dad cupped my face, searching my eyes. “You swear that Amo didn’t do anything?”
“He didn’t do anything except ask me to become his wife. He wants to strengthen the Famiglia I suppose and he doesn’t like Cressida very much.”
Dad looked at me a bit longer but seemed unable to detect the lie, maybe because for once, I’d wrapped it up in truths.
“Nevio attacked a future Capo in our territory,” Nino said. “Luca won’t be impressed. If we don’t want war, we need to consider our options.”
“If Amo dies under surgery, there’ll be war no matter what we do,” Dad said.
My heart squeezed tightly. I couldn’t even imagine Amo’s death without feeling like following him into the dark as well.
“Amo won’t die,” I said simply. “Nor will Nevio. They’ll both live.”
Mom took my hand, running her thumb over my knuckles in a way that had always calmed me, but even that wasn’t working in my current state.
Dad glanced at Nino. I could see that they thought war was inevitable. Tension had been rising for years. Mainly because Nevio and Amo couldn’t stand each other. Everyone expected war to break out once they both came to power.
“I’m scared, Mom,” I whispered when Dad, Nino, Massimo and Alessio had walked away to discuss strategies.
“Nevio is strong. He won’t die.”
“I know,” I said. “Neither of them will die. I’m scared of my heart, of the havoc it can wreak.”
“What happened?”
“Nothing. Nevio attacked before anything could happen, but Amo was going to kiss me and I would have let him.”
Mom couldn’t hide her surprise. “Okay. You and him?”
Was there Amo and me? It felt like we were over before we could ever happen. “We can’t be.”
“Because he’s engaged.”
“Because I’m Greta Falcone and he’s Amo Vitiello.”
Mom smiled sadly. “Your brother wanted to kill him because he doesn’t want you and Amo to be together.”
If Nevio had really intended on killing Amo, Amo would be dead. He would have aimed for his heart or throat. The attack was a last warning. And Nevio wasn’t dead because Amo had held back for me. Next time neither would be so lucky. “Nevio thinks I belong in Las Vegas. He thinks I won’t be safe anywhere else.”
“And what do you think?”
“Las Vegas is my home. This family is my safe haven. I don’t belong in New York. I wasn’t born to be at a Capo’s side.” And Amo was meant to be Capo. I didn’t want him to give this up for me.
Mom considered that. “You can be whatever you want to be.”
I gave her a grateful smile even if she was biased as my mother. “I know my limitations. And I can’t leave Nevio.”
“Nevio will be fine.” At the doubtful look on my face, she added, “Eventually. Nevio battles his very own demons even you are not equipped to fight. If you really love Amo, you shouldn’t let him go too quickly.”
What I felt for Amo was magnificent and new, but that was also the problem. I hadn’t had time to process everything. Too much was on the line for a spur of the moment decision. For the decision ahead of us absolute certainty was necessary. I couldn’t ask Amo to give up everything as long as I wasn’t absolutely sure about my feelings. What if I decided in six months that the novelty had worn off and that while I’d briefly fallen in love, I didn’t love him. He couldn’t undo what had happened by then. He’d lose too much. I didn’t want that burden on my shoulders. I couldn’t carry it. I had no experience with love, so how could I make an informed decision with minimal risks, especially if the consequences could be dire?