“We won’t let you fall, Lily. I’ll convince Luca to change his mind. You are my sister. I won’t let you be miserable for the rest of your life. If Luca loves me, he’ll help you.”
“He says he doesn’t want to risk war. Does he think Dante will really start a war if I don’t marry Benito?”
“If you run off to be with Romero, then Father will take that as an attack from the Famiglia and will convince Dante to retaliate. There will be war. Both Luca and Dante have to show strength. Their men expect it from them. Despite years of cooperation, New York and Chicago still don’t like each other.”
“If Romero decides to act on his own and take me away from Chicago, what would Luca do?”
“I don’t know. He’s really determined to avoid war with Chicago. To do that he would have to call Romero a traitor who acted without the permission of his Capo and in order to keep the Outfit happy, he’d have to hunt Romero and…” She trailed off.
“And kill him,” I finished for her. “Could he do it? Could he really kill Romero?”
“I don’t think he would do it,” Aria said. “But he might hand him over to the Outfit.”
“That would also mean Romero’s death.”
“I’ll talk to Luca. If he loves me, he won’t do it. Gianna will talk to Matteo as well. We will help you, Lily, no matter what it takes. I don’t care if it means war.”
“Fabi will soon be part of the Outfit. He might have to fight against Romero, Luca, and Matteo. Many will die, and the Russians might use their chance and kill even more of us.”
“I don’t care if the Russians take over parts of the city. This is all about money. I want us all to be happy.”
“But could we be happy? What if Dante and the Outfit try to assassinate Luca? It’s happened before when New York and Chicago were at war.”
Aria was silent. She loved Luca. “It won’t come to that.”
“You don’t know that.” We were silent.
“Do you want me to give Romero the phone again?” Aria asked after a while.
“Yes.” I could hear her move and then Romero was back on the other end.
“So have you and Aria talked everything through?”
“We did. Aria is going to talk to Luca again.”
“He won’t change his mind. And he’s right to remain firm. He needs to think of the Famiglia,” he said.
“I don’t care about the Famiglia, but I care about you.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll gladly die if it means saving you from Benito Brasci.”
That was exactly what I feared. “Don’t say that. My life isn’t worth more than yours. Marrying him isn’t a death sentence.”
“Do you want to marry him now?” Romero asked tersely. He was so on edge. I wished I could touch him and calm him down.
“Of course not, but I don’t want you to risk your life.”
“There’s no other way, Lily. But don’t worry. I’ve done it before.”
I knew he had, but this was different. We talked a couple more minutes before I promised to call him the next day for detailed plans about my escape.
When I’d hung up, I stared at the white wall across from my bed for a very long time as if it could give me the answers I needed.
The people I loved the most would risk everything to keep me safe, to save me from a loveless marriage, but at what cost?
Romero had sounded as if he didn’t care at all that he might lose everything. I knew he loved the Famiglia, was proud to be a part of it. He loved this life, but he’d have to leave it behind if he helped me escape this marriage. Luca wouldn’t risk war. His people would mutiny. He’d have no choice but to give up Romero and hand him over to the Outfit. Aria might destroy her marriage if she tried to blackmail Luca into helping me. He’d forgiven her once for betraying him, but would he do it again?
Could I risk everyone’s happiness for my own?
Someone hammered against my door and then Father stepped in without warning. I stood immediately. His expression was thunderous. “What did you tell your sister? Why are she and Luca trying to get involved in our family? Did you really think they could make me change my mind about your wedding?”
“They want to help because they’re worried about me.”
“I don’t care!” he roared. “You are going to marry Benito, end of story.”
“I can’t,” I said desperately.
“You can and you will.”
“I’m not a virgin anymore. If you don’t want people to find out you can’t let me marry Benito!” I blurted.
Father stormed toward me, gripped my arms and pushed me against the wall. The back of my head rang from the impact.
“What did you say?” he snarled.
I gaped up into his menacing face.
He shook me hard until my vision turned blurry. Suddenly Fabi raced into the room. He tore at Father’s arm, trying to free me, but Father lashed out. Fabi landed on the floor, his face flashing with pain.
“Go back to your room, boy. Now, or I swear I’ll make you regret it.”
My arms hurt from Father’s grip, but I gave Fabi a small nod. I wanted him to leave. He didn’t need to get into trouble because of me. Fabi struggled to his feet and after a moment of hesitation, he limped out of my room. When he was out of view, Father turned back around to me.
I quivered.
“Tell me the truth.”
I couldn’t talk. I regretted ever having mentioned anything. Father really looked as if he wanted to kill me.
He slapped me hard across the face but didn’t release me. “Who was it? Who turned you into a little whore? Someone from the Famiglia, wasn’t it?”
Tears burned in my eyes but I didn’t cry. I couldn’t tell Father the truth. “No,” I said quickly. “I met him in a club,
