Page 136 of Vicious Intentions
To my surprise, that single touch snaps him out of whatever furious daze he was just in.
“I don’t have to hurt them. Not tonight or any other night. Not if it will bring you pain.”
“Does that mean you won’t kill them?” I ask suspiciously. “Ever?”
“It’s like I said. You hold all the power here. You, and only you, can stop this war from even happening.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I am a man of my word. The Outfit can keep its empire. All I want is New York.”
So that’s what he wants. He wants to use me as a bargaining chip to force my father to leave his beloved city alone.
I’m not sure Matteo gave much thought to his plan, though. Even if my father agrees to his terms and returns New York to theCosa Nostra, Matteo and everyone else involved in my kidnapping will still need to be brought to justice.
AsCapo dei Capiof the Outfit, he would have no choice but to demand his pound of flesh.
As my father… he’d personally see to it that Matteo and Raffaele died by his hand.
Matteo’s plan of restoring theCosa Nostrato its former glory has more holes than a bullet-riddled body after a mob hit. Much like his will look like after my fathers and siblings are done with him.
Still, Matteo is not my concern here. My family is.
“What will I have to do? What can I do to make sure that my family remains safe?”
Matteo smiles, even if he does look a bit sad.
“To ensure peace,” he says, running his thumb over my chin, “a sacrifice must be made.”
“And what sacrifice is that? How can I end a war before it even starts?”
“With marriage vows.” I swallow hard as his words settle in my chest.
“Marriage vows? As in…” I swallow again, unable to form the words.
“As in you marrying me, yes.”
Matteo’s certifiable. That’s the only explanation I have.
Matteo is out-of-his-mind insane.
But then it hits me. He’s not insane. He’s a devious genius.
By marrying me, my father would have no grounds to seek revenge on Matteo. Yes, I was taken against my will, but the moment I agree to marry into the Donato family, the hows and whys of how I got there become irrelevant. I would no longer be an Outfitprincipessa, but aCosa Nostraqueen. And in our world, that difference means something. No, not just something… it means everything.
If my father attempts to even raise his hand against Matteo, he’d be in the wrong. And the whole world would know it.
That means any alliance the Outfit has with other mob-affiliated families would be in jeopardy. None of the otherfamigliaswould back my father in his pursuit of bringing me home.
That would leave the Outfit to wage war with New York all on their own, in Matteo’s home turf no less.
Though I’m unaware of how evenly matched the rival families are in terms of manpower, I’m pretty sure Matteo hasthe upper hand, knowing the ins and outs of his own city better than my father ever could.
All I see is carnage. Carnage and wedding rings.
“You don’t have to give me an answer right now,” he says, releasing my chin, only to brush his knuckles gently along my cheek. “Let me prove to you that I meant everything I said tonight. That no Romano will be hurt under my watch during this meeting.” Fear has me clutching the lapels of his suit jacket as he leans down to press a soft kiss to my temple. “Just think about my proposal. I’ll be home in a few hours. Hopefully, you’ll have an answer for me then.” And with that, he leaves.
For the next four hours, I pace the room back and forth, like a madwoman, until the space no longer feels big enough to contain me. Where before I was adamant about staying in my room, tonight I need space to gather my thoughts.
