Scuderi nodded and opened the door further. Gianna was practically pressed up against my side as we walked past him. Protectiveness burned through my veins. Maybe she didn’t realize it but that she sought my closeness when she was scared was all the confirmation I needed for her feelings for me, even if she wasn’t aware of them yet.

“How can you even touch her after what she’s done? After what you saw her doing. I’d be disgusted,” Scuderi said as he closed the door. He obviously didn’t expect a reply because he turned to Luca. “If my wife had done something like that, I would have killed her, and I have a feeling you would have done the same, Luca.”

Aria shot Luca a shocked look but he was busy staring Scuderi down. “I’m not here to discuss what-ifs with you. I want to have this settled once and for all. You promised us something and I expect you to deliver.”

“What I promised isn’t available anymore.” Scuderi nodded toward Gianna. “But if you want damaged goods, I’m sure we can come to an agreement. Dante is waiting in the living room for us. This is foremost Outfit business, and Dante will have the last word on the matter.”

Luca met my gaze, warning clear in his eyes. “Then let’s go. I have better things to do than chitchat with you. And I’m sure we can come to an understanding that will benefit all of us.”

I didn’t give a damn about Dante or Scuderi. I was taking Gianna back to New York with me, even if I had to gut every single Outfit asshole in the process.

Gianna

I was trying very hard to keep a neutral expression but it was incredibly hard. To my embarrassment, Matteo’s hand on my back really helped me focus. His expression on the other hand only fueled my own anxiety. He looked like a man out for blood. I chanced a look at Luca and my father, who weren’t bothering to dish out pleasantries either.

Things had taken a definite turn for the worse since I’d left. If Luca was acting barely civil toward my father, relations between the Outfit and New York couldn’t be good right now.

Aria gently touched my arm, eyes full of worry. I forced a smile, but it must have been off because she only frowned in return. Damn it. Matteo nudged me forward. Father and Luca were already heading toward the living room, but at the sound of hurried footsteps I froze, my eyes darting to the staircase. Lily and Fabi were storming toward me, their faces alight with happiness. Tears sprang into my eyes as my little brother tackled me, burying his head against my sternum. God, he’d grown since I’d last seen him. How was that even possible? I’d been gone for only six months. And then Lily threw her arms around me as well. “We missed you so much,” she whispered tearfully. Fabi’s hold on me was making breathing difficult but I didn’t care.

I hugged them back just as tightly. While I’d been on the run, I’d barely dared thinking about my family because it had felt like a chasm was ripped into my chest every time I did.

“Didn’t I tell you to keep them upstairs?” Father hissed, causing me to look up and find Mother coming down the staircase hastily.

“I’m sorry. They were too quick,” she said in a meek voice. Her eyes flitted over to me briefly before she returned her gaze to Father without a word to me.

I swallowed. So this was it? Because I hadn’t done what they wanted I was dead to them? I’d known Father would condemn me but I’d hoped at least Mother would be happy to have me back.

“Lily, Fabi, back to your rooms.”

“But Father, we haven’t seen Gianna in forever,” Fabi grumbled. Father crossed the distance between us in two quick strides and wrenched my brother and sister away before shoving them toward Mother. “Upstairs now.”

Fabi jutted his chin out, and even Lily didn’t move. Father’s face was turning red in anger. “It’s okay,” I told them. “We can talk later.”

“No, you can’t. I won’t have you around them. You are no longer my daughter, and I don’t want your rottenness to rub off on Liliana,” Father said, eyes hard.

I wasn’t even sure what to say to that. He didn’t want me to see my own sister and brother anymore.

“That’s bullshit,” Matteo said.

“Matteo,” Luca warned. He was already gripping Aria’s wrist to keep her from interfering. “This isn’t our business.”

Father glared. “That’s right. This is my family, and Gianna is still subject to my rule, don’t you ever forget that.”

“I thought I wasn’t your daughter anymore, so why do I have to listen to a word you say?”

Matteo gripped my waist tightly. What? He could provoke my father but I wasn’t allowed to?

“Careful,” Father said. “You are still part of the Outfit.”

“We shouldn’t let Dante wait any longer,” Luca said.

This time we actually moved into the living room without incident. Dante Cavallaro was waiting in front of the window, talking on the phone. He hung up and turned to us. I had to suppress a shiver when his cold eyes settled on me. The ice man indeed. Suddenly I was really scared. This was serious.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so horribly helpless.

“Luca, Matteo, Aria,” Dante Cavallaro said in his emotionless voice. “Gianna.”

I jumped in surprise. I’d figured he’d pretend I was beneath a greeting like my father had done. “Sir,” I said, bowing my head slightly. I hated doing it but I knew what was good for me.

“You realize that what you did was betrayal?” Dante asked.

I wasn’t sure what to say. If I agreed I’d be screwed, and if I didn’t I’d infuriate the man who could decide to have me killed.

“Gianna is my fiancée, and if she hadn’t run she’d be my wife by now. I think it should fall upon my brother as Capo of New York to determine if she deserves punishment.”

My eyes flew from Matteo to Luca whose hard eyes sent another shiver down my back.

“That’s ridiculous,” Father muttered.

Dante didn’t look offended though. “I take it you still want to go through with the wedding?”

“Yes,” Matteo said without hesitation.

Nobody bothered to ask what I wanted of course, but I knew better than to open my mouth. Not when things could end really badly for me.

Dante gestured Father closer and they talked quietly for a moment. Father didn’t look pleased in the least.

“I won’t make this an official Outfit matter. I won’t stop you from going through with the wedding. If you don’t, however, I won’t have a choice but to punish you,” Dante said to me. He nodded toward Matteo before turning to my father once again. “I’ll hand this over to you since Gianna is your family, and I hope at the end of this day there’ll be an agreement that allows us to work together peacefully.” With that he stepped back and motioned for Father to take over.

“Can you really afford to welcome someone like Gianna to New York? As a new Capo your people expect you to protect traditions and treat traitors without mercy,” Father said to Luca.

“My men accept my decisions,” Luca said, but there was a hint of warning in his voice. “Whatever that decision will be.”

Suddenly I wondered if Luca would really burden himself with me. It wasn’t like I wanted to become part of the Cosa Nostra, but if the choice was between staying in my father’s territory and living in New York with Aria, then I knew what I’d choose.