Bound by Hatred (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles #3)(35)

I hugged them back just as tightly. While I’d been on the run, I’d barely dared thinking about my family because it had felt like a chasm was ripped into my chest every time I did.

“Didn’t I tell you to keep them upstairs?” Father hissed, causing me to look up and find Mother coming down the staircase hastily.

“I’m sorry. They were too quick,” she said in a meek voice. Her eyes flitted over to me briefly before she returned her gaze to Father without a word to me.

I swallowed. So this was it? Because I hadn’t done what they wanted I was dead to them? I’d known Father would condemn me but I’d hoped at least Mother would be happy to have me back.

“Lily, Fabi, back to your rooms.”

“But Father, we haven’t seen Gianna in forever,” Fabi grumbled. Father crossed the distance between us in two quick strides and wrenched my brother and sister away before shoving them toward Mother. “Upstairs now.”

Fabi jutted his chin out, and even Lily didn’t move. Father’s face was turning red in anger. “It’s okay,” I told them. “We can talk later.”

“No, you can’t. I won’t have you around them. You are no longer my daughter, and I don’t want your rottenness to rub off on Liliana,” Father said, eyes hard.

I wasn’t even sure what to say to that. He didn’t want me to see my own sister and brother anymore.

“That’s bullshit,” Matteo said.

“Matteo,” Luca warned. He was already gripping Aria’s wrist to keep her from interfering. “This isn’t our business.”

Father glared. “That’s right. This is my family, and Gianna is still subject to my rule, don’t you ever forget that.”

“I thought I wasn’t your daughter anymore, so why do I have to listen to a word you say?”

Matteo gripped my waist tightly. What? He could provoke my father but I wasn’t allowed to?

“Careful,” Father said. “You are still part of the Outfit.”

“We shouldn’t let Dante wait any longer,” Luca said.

This time we actually moved into the living room without incident. Dante Cavallaro was waiting in front of the window, talking on the phone. He hung up and turned to us. I had to suppress a shiver when his cold eyes settled on me. The ice man indeed. Suddenly I was really scared. This was serious.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so horribly helpless.

“Luca, Matteo, Aria,” Dante Cavallaro said in his emotionless voice. “Gianna.”

I jumped in surprise. I’d figured he’d pretend I was beneath a greeting like my father had done. “Sir,” I said, bowing my head slightly. I hated doing it but I knew what was good for me.

“You realize that what you did was betrayal?” Dante asked.

I wasn’t sure what to say. If I agreed I’d be screwed, and if I didn’t I’d infuriate the man who could decide to have me killed.

“Gianna is my fiancée, and if she hadn’t run she’d be my wife by now. I think it should fall upon my brother as Capo of New York to determine if she deserves punishment.”

My eyes flew from Matteo to Luca whose hard eyes sent another shiver down my back.

“That’s ridiculous,” Father muttered.

Dante didn’t look offended though. “I take it you still want to go through with the wedding?”

“Yes,” Matteo said without hesitation.

Nobody bothered to ask what I wanted of course, but I knew better than to open my mouth. Not when things could end really badly for me.

Dante gestured Father closer and they talked quietly for a moment. Father didn’t look pleased in the least.

“I won’t make this an official Outfit matter. I won’t stop you from going through with the wedding. If you don’t, however, I won’t have a choice but to punish you,” Dante said to me. He nodded toward Matteo before turning to my father once again. “I’ll hand this over to you since Gianna is your family, and I hope at the end of this day there’ll be an agreement that allows us to work together peacefully.” With that he stepped back and motioned for Father to take over.

“Can you really afford to welcome someone like Gianna to New York? As a new Capo your people expect you to protect traditions and treat traitors without mercy,” Father said to Luca.

“My men accept my decisions,” Luca said, but there was a hint of warning in his voice. “Whatever that decision will be.”

Suddenly I wondered if Luca would really burden himself with me. It wasn’t like I wanted to become part of the Cosa Nostra, but if the choice was between staying in my father’s territory and living in New York with Aria, then I knew what I’d choose.

Looking like he was on the verge of pulling his knives, Matteo walked over to Luca to discuss something quietly and Aria used the moment to join me. I gave her a grateful smile.

“My brother will take your daughter off your hands, despite her transgressions. I think that’s a very generous offer on our part. You should be glad that you don’t have to look for a new husband for her.”

Father scoffed. “As if I’d find someone. I wouldn’t waste my precious time like that.”

My blood was boiling, not only because of Father’s words, but Luca’s offer didn’t sit well with me either. They acted like I was a piece of scum. Listening to them made me realize I had been right to run. This world was majorly messed up.