Chapter 4 A Deal Sealed in Blood

ALINA

"They're waiting for you in the living room," Pietro said.

The Costa mansion was huge, like a giant, bigger even than Luca's home. Big and cold.

It had always felt that way to me. More a place of power than a home. I walked up the steps with my father's right hand man, Pietro at my side.

He was sixty years old. Strong and stocky.

"I didn't ask to see them today." I snapped, pressing a finger into my forehead. I had a headache

"They didn't ask for your permission, Al." Pietro had called me Al as long as I could remember. "They don't need your permission to visit their brother's house."

I had told him everything in the car. About the two dead men and my fear of Luca. He had told me my uncles were waiting inside the house.

I nodded, my chest tightening. No, they didn't.

The house was quiet as I hurried to the living room.

I stepped into the living room and stopped to pull in a deep breathe. I needed patience for this. Either of these men could have killed my father.

I suspected Angelo more than Roberto.

My uncles, Angelo and Roberto, sat stiffly on the sofa, their eyes sharp and angry. My mother sat across from them, her hands folded in her lap, her face a mask.

Everyone knew better than to spill blood with sharks in the water.

Valentina, my older sister, sat beside her, wringing her hands. Adraino, my brother, only thirteen, was at the edge of the room, his small body almost swallowed by the oversized chair.

"Alina," Angelo said, his voice sharp. "Come in."

I stepped inside, holding my head high. He had commanded me into my own home. I could already feel anger heating my blood.

"Do you want to explain yourself?" Roberto asked. His voice was louder, rougher.

I crossed my arms. "What exactly do you want me to explain?"

"Don't play games," Angelo snapped. "You went to Luca Marino. Why?"

I had known they would hate this decision, which was exactly the reason I hadn't informed them. "Because I had to."

Roberto stood up, pointing a finger at me. His hands were shaking with anger, spit almost drooling from his lips. "You had no right! You didn't consult us. You didn't consult anyone!"

"I didn't need to," I said. "My father left me the Mafia."

"You didn't need to?" Angelo repeated, standing now as well. He looked disgusted. "Do you understand what you've done? What kind of man he is? And since when does the Mafia belong to one person? A woman at that?"

"I know exactly what kind of man he is," I said, my heart running too fast.

My mother's voice broke then. She never would have spoken if my father was in the room. "Then why, Alina? Why would you go to him?"

I took a breath. "Because someone had to do something. If we keep waiting, this family will fall apart. Luca is strong enough to protect us."

Angelo let out a bitter laugh. "Protect us? By making us his? You think he'll stop at marriage? He'll own everything! He'll take you, then he'll take us."

"Better him than you," I said before I could stop myself. "Than either of you."

The room went silent. I had made enemies of my uncles.

"What did you say?" Roberto growled, stepping forward and slapping me hard across the face. Pietro walked in beside me and glared at Roberto, who didn't step back.

"You heard me," I said, my voice shaking, my eyes bright with stars and pain from the slap. "Do you think I don't know what you've been planning? Both of you would tear this family apart if it meant taking control. You'd let us die if my father's men were loyal to you. I won't let that happen."

Roberto stepped closer again. His fists clenched. "Careful, Alina."

"Stop it!" Valentina said, standing up. She was weeping softly. Adraino was watching wide-eyed. His childhood was ruined before it had even started. "All of you, stop it!"

Angelo looked at me, his face cold. "You're making a mistake, Alina. A mistake that will cost all of us."

"Maybe," I said. "But it's my mistake to make."

I turned and walked out of the room, my legs shaking with every step.

By the time I reached my father's office, my hands were shaking too. I pushed the door open and sat down behind his desk, trying and failing to stop the tears in my eyes from flowing out.

A knock came at the door. I sat up and cleaned my eyes.

"Alina?" My mother's voice was soft outside the door.

"Come in," I said.

She stepped inside, closing the door gently. She didn't sit down, just stood there, looking at me.

"Are you sure about this?" she asked. Mother was beautiful. Stunning even. She looked like a model even though she was almost fifty.

"Yes," I said. "I am."

Her shoulders sagged a little, and for the first time, I saw the worry in her eyes. "You don't have to do this, Alina. We can find another way."

"There is no other way," I said, my voice breaking. "Luca is our best chance. He's the only one strong enough to keep us safe. You saw Roberto just slap me. He will kill us all if he can."

She walked over to me, reaching for my hand. "Do you even know what you're getting yourself into? What he's capable of?"

"I know," I said. "And I'm ready. I saw two dead men today, mother. I know."

She squeezed my hand, her eyes filling with tears. "Alina, I love you. I love you so much. But you have to be ready for what comes next. Once you make this choice, there's no going back."

"I know," I said again, my voice barely above a whisper.

She wiped her eyes and straightened. "If you do this, you'll have to deal with the consequences."

I nodded.

The phone in my pocket rang before I could think of what to say, making me jump. I pulled it out, my hands trembling as I saw Luca's name on the screen.

I answered, my voice shaking. "Hello?"

"Alina," his deep voice rumbled through the line. "I've made my decision."

My heart stopped.

"I'll marry you."

He ended the call before I could respond.

I lowered the phone slowly, my hands shaking for completely different reasons now. His cold voice had calmed me.

My mother was watching me. "Was that him?"

"Yes," I said, my voice shaky.

She closed her eyes and sighed. "Then it's done."

I sat there, staring at the desk, my heart pounding. I'd won.

But at what cost?