Page 132 of The Mafia King's Reign
I soften beneath her touch.
"I'll always choose you," I tell her. "Even when it costs me. Even when it goes against every instinct I have."
She leans her head against my shoulder, and we ride the rest of the way home like that.
* * *
When we get home, I watch her walk up the stairs toward her room. She doesn't invite me. Doesn't look back.
But she doesn't close the door either.
I start to follow when I see my brothers emerging from the shadows.
I walk out onto the compound so Valentina doesn’t have to hear whatever this conversation is about.
"That was quite a show," Matteo says, lighting a cigar.
"Not now."
"No, I think now is perfect." He exhales smoke into the night air. "You just threatened to kill a Calabrese heir in front of half the city's power structure. Over a shoulder touch."
Elio lights up a cigarette, standing there, waiting for my response.
"He disrespected her."
"He was testing you," Raffaele corrects, his voice flat. "Seeing how far he could push before you snapped. And you gave him exactly what he wanted, proof that she's your weakness."
The words land like a punch. "She's not a weakness."
"Then what is she?" Elio asks, stepping forward. "Because from where we're standing, she's the one thing that can makeyou lose control. That can make you forget strategy, forget politics, forget everything Father taught us about never showing our hand."
"Elio—"
"He's right," Matteo interrupts. "And you know it. The old families are all watching now. They've seen that if they want to get to you, they go through her."
My hands curl into fists. "Then they die."
"I like the way you think brother. But, you can't kill everyone who looks at her wrong," Raffaele says. "That's not sustainable. That's not strategic."
"I don't give a fuck about strategy when it comes to her safety."
"And that," Matteo says quietly, "is exactly what we're talking about.
We were all there. No one would’ve dared touch us, and with Shadow still at large? That would’ve been a death wish and every man there was, including that little fucker. He was testing you and you took the bait. You lost control, brother.”
My brothers exchange looks, some unspoken conversation happening that I'm not part of.
"Don’t get quiet now. Speak." I finally demand.
"We think you should postpone the wedding," Matteo says like he’s lost his fucking mind.
"Excuse me?"
"Just for a few months," Elio adds quickly. "Give things time to settle. Let the other families see that she's not some impulsive decision. That you're still in control."
"No."
"Sal—"
