Ten minutes later, Serafina’s father Pietro Mione, her brother Samuel, and our Capo Dante Cavallaro met with me in the office of the Mione mansion to settle the matter of the broken wedding bond. The matter would cause a riptide of rumors regardless of what we decided today. It was too late for damage control.
I released a sigh. “My father insists that I marry someone from your family,” I said emotionlessly, even as my insides burned with rage and guilt. “A bond between our families is necessary, especially at this time.”
Pietro sighed and slumped in his chair. Samuel shook his head and glared at me. “Serafina won’t marry. She needs time to heal.”
I’d have given her the time she needed like I’d told her, but she didn’t want to marry me anymore.
“There are other options,” Dante drawled.
The rage that burned inside me spilled free. “What options? I won’t accept the daughter of any other Underboss. My city is important. I won’t settle for less than was promised!”
More than that, I didn’t want to return to my dying father and already-grieving mother to tell them about yet another blow for our family. We’d gone through enough. They had all gone through enough. It was up to me to protect them.
Dante scowled. “Watch your tone, Danilo. I realize this is a difficult situation, but I expect respect nonetheless.”
Samuel looked as if he wanted to attack me. “You can’t have Fina!”
“You can’t have Anna, either,” Dante said.
I’d never considered his daughter as an option. If I married her, it would only cause me problems. I doubted Dante wouldn’t shove his nose into my business if it concerned his offspring. “You need my support in this war. You need a strong family at your back.”
“Is that a threat?”
“That’s a fact, Dante. I think you’re a good Capo, but I insist I get what my family deserves. I won’t settle for less.”
“I won’t force Fina into a marriage, not after what she went through,” Pietro said.
Dante nodded. “I agree.”
I understood their reasoning. Serafina didn’t want to marry me, and I wouldn’t force her into a bond when she’d already suffered a loss of control recently. “We’re at an impasse, then.”
There was only one option. It was one I wished to avoid but couldn’t. Father had immediately suggested my ex-fiancée’s younger sister as a substitute. A ridiculous idea, but the only viable option.
Dante and Pietro looked at each other, probably considering exactly that option.
Pietro closed his eyes. “Is that what you ask of me, Dante?”
“Pietro, if we follow the rules, Danilo could demand to marry Serafina. They were engaged.”
I waited for them to settle whatever they had to. There was only one solution to our problem.
When Pietro opened his eyes, they were hard, full of warning. “I will give you Sofia.”
My father had been right.
Sofia. She was a child. Ten years younger than me. I’d never even spared her a glance. “She’s what, eleven?” Even though it was the only option, a new wave of anger rose in me. Anger for the situation and absolute rage toward Remo Falcone.
“Twelve in April,” Samuel corrected, scowling at me. His hands were curled into fists, but I had a feeling his anger wasn’t directed only at me.
“I’m ten years older than her. I was promised a wife now.”
“You’ll be busy with this war and establishing your reign over Indianapolis. A later wedding would be advantageous,” Dante said.
Ten fucking years younger than me. I couldn’t even think of her as a woman, let alone as my future wife. Just trying to imagine Sofia as a grownup made me feel like a fucking pervert. Serafina hadn’t been that much older when she’d been promised to me, but we were close in age. I’d wanted her even back then because she was the ice princess, because she was so beautiful that everyone wanted her.
I couldn’t imagine wanting Sofia like that, couldn’t imagine wanting her at all. She was a child. She wasn’t Serafina.
I was going to kill Remo Falcone for stealing my fiancée, for breaking her in ways that made it impossible for her to marry me. I was going to destroy everything that mattered to him. I wouldn’t rest until I’d ruined his life like he had ruined mine.
“Danilo?” Dante asked carefully, and I realized I’d zoned out.
It didn’t matter what I wanted. This bond would save Emma. That was all I could hope for at this point.
“I have one condition.”
“What condition?” Dante’s voice was clipped. His patience was running dry. These last few months had tested us all.
My eyes slanted to Samuel. He was watching me with narrowed eyes. Did I trust him with my sister? More than any of the other prospects. Father would marry Emma off at some point, and nobody of worth wanted her. She’d be cast off to someone who hoped to improve his position, someone who didn’t deserve her.
“He marries my sister Emma,” I said.
Samuel’s face twisted with shock. “She’s in a—”
He stopped short. Good for him because I wanted to kill him.
“In a wheelchair, yes. Which is why nobody of worth wants her. My sister deserves only the best, and you are the heir to the Minneapolis Outfit. If you all want this bond, Samuel will marry my sister, then I’ll marry Sofia.”
“Fuck,” Samuel muttered. “What kind of twisted deal is that?”
“Why? Your father has been testing the waters for possible brides, and my sister is a Mancini. She’s a good match.”
Samuel took a deep breath before nodding. “I’ll marry your sister.”
I bared my teeth at his tone.
“Then it’s settled?” Pietro asked. “You’ll marry Sofia and accept the cancelation of the engagement with Fina?”
I gave a sharp nod. “It’s not what I want, but it’ll have to
