Page 23 of The Mafia King's Reign
"Your father, Vincent Castellano, served my father loyally for years. His most trusted advisor. The man who saw angles before they existed."
“I know what my father was.”
“Your father died.” The words come out sharp, brutal. “My father executed Vincent Castellano for failing to deliver on his promise. Shot his own consigliere in front of the entire family because of his daughter’s actions… your actions, Isabella.”
Maria’s face crumbles. Tears stream down her cheeks.
“I know,” she sobs. “I know what it cost. I’ve lived with that guilt every day for forty years.”
“Good.” I return to my seat. “But guilt doesn’t pay debts, Maria. Your family owes mine a bride.”
“So now you’re taking my daughter.” Her voice is hollow. “Making her pay for my choice.”
“I’m giving her the opportunity.” I pour myself a whiskey and take a slow sip. “Valentina will marry into this family. Will take the Vitale name. The debt will finally be settled.”
“She’s not part of this world.”
“Nonsense. She’s Vincent Castellano’s granddaughter.” I interrupt. “She has his blood. His intelligence. His strategic mind. She’s exactly what this family needs.”
Maria stands, trembling with emotion. “Please. Please don’t do this. Take me instead. I’ll do it. I’ll marry your uncle, your older brother, anyone. Please leave my daughter alone.”
The offer is pathetic.
And completely unacceptable.
“You?” I almost laugh. “You’re used goods, Maria. You spent years running from everything you were supposed to be. What possible use would we have for you?” I realize the harshness of my words and lower my tone to a more respectable level.
“You made your decision. You chose mediocrity over power, fear over courage, hiding over claiming what was yours.”
I set down my glass.
“But your daughter…” I move closer. “Valentina is young. Intelligent. Beautiful. Strong. She hasn’t been corrupted by weakness yet. She can still become what you were meant to be.”
“You’re going to destroy her,” Maria whispers.
“No, I’m giving her a crown, even if she hates the throne,” I murmur.
“She won’t go through with it. My daughter is not weak. She’ll never submit to you.”
“I don’t know how much you know about me, but I would never seek a weak woman. But for your daughter’s sake, you better hope she does.”
Maria sinks back into her chair, defeated. All the fight has gone out of her.
“What can I do? Please, let me help save my family. What can I do?” she asks quietly.
“Tell her the truth.” I return to my seat and pick up my whiskey again. “Tell her about her grandfather. About the arrangement. About why you ran and what it cost. Tell her about the debt her family owes.”
“So she can hate me too?”
“So she can understand.” I take a sip, let the whiskey burn. “Right now, Valentina thinks she’s a victim. An innocent caughtin her father’s mess. But she needs to know the truth. She’s not paying for Marco’s debts. She’s paying for yours.”
“That’s cruel.”
“That’s honest.” I hold her gaze. “You want to help your daughter? Tell her the truth. Give her the information she needs to survive in this world. Because like it or not, she will be my wife.”
Maria is quiet for a long moment, staring at her hands twisted in her lap.
Then: “I will. But… Please, don’t hurt my girl.”
