By Fate I Conquer (Sins of the Fathers #4)(93)

Luca hung up and his expression was frightful. “Amo told Cressida that he wants a divorce.”

Valerio let out a low whistle.

Relief filled me, followed by shock at my own reaction. I’d never liked Cressida. She’d used Amo for her purposes. I’d always wanted love for Amo but with her it wasn’t possible.

Luca shook his head. “Don’t look so pleased. This is a goddamn debacle. Do you know what the Traditionalists will do if our son divorces his wife?”

“They’ve always been against the changes you implemented. They are stuck in the past.”

“Fuck. I can’t believe he did this. He’s going to take his words back and apologize to Cressida. I don’t care if he has to get drunk to go through with it.”

“He won’t, Luca. If he really met Greta all these months despite the war and if he went to Cressida and asked for a divorce, then he’s made up his mind, and I doubt anything can change it.”

“He’ll change his mind, believe me. I’ll make him. He went too far. I’m still Capo and if he doesn’t get a grip on his rampant hormones, he won’t follow in my footsteps.”

“I’ll go practice my best Capo looks then,” Valerio said with a smirk.

“This isn’t the moment for your fucking jokes!” Luca snarled.

Valerio shrugged and walked out of the living room, leaving me alone with Luca. Valerio had a canny talent to brush off Luca’s outbursts.

I touched Luca’s chest, tilting my head back to look him in the eyes. The rage in them didn’t scare me. It had in the beginning but I knew Luca’s love for me and our children trumped any darkness he harbored. “If you try to force him, we’ll lose him, Luca.”

“Damn right, because I’ll kill him if he doesn’t obey my orders.”

“Don’t say something like that, Luca. Not even in rage. Please.”

Luca cupped my cheeks. “Aria, this could divide the Famiglia for good. We’re at war at three fronts. We’ll be torn apart.”

“Maybe not. If Amo really loves Greta, that could lead to peace with the Camorra.”

“It led to war in the first place.”

“Because you chose war.”

Luca stepped back, his jaw tensing. I could see the conflict in his eyes. “Amo can’t have Greta. He couldn’t have her back then and he can’t have her now. The Falcones won’t ever allow it. I did it for Amo, so he wouldn’t let a crush ruin his life.”

“He was never happy with Cressida.”

“You sound as if their marriage is already over.”

“It is, no matter what you say.”

Amo’s and Valerio’s voices drifted over to us from the lobby.

“We’ll see about that,” Luca growled.

“Luca, please. Just stop and consider Amo’s feelings for a moment. What if he feels for Greta what you feel for me?”

Luca walked past me without another word and I rushed after him into the lobby where Amo and Valerio were still chatting. The difference between the brothers always amazed me. Amo was like Luca, in character and appearance, which made them butt heads so often, but it also gave me hope for this confrontation. Valerio was a potent mix of Fabiano and Matteo.

Luca didn’t slow as he stalked toward Amo who didn’t back down, not even when Luca grabbed his throat and shoved him against the wall. I tensed, my heart jerking hard in my chest.

“Luca!”

Valerio touched Luca’s arm. “Dad—”

“You stay out of this!”

Amo gave his brother a tight smile. “It’s okay.”

His voice was raspy from lack of air.

“Luca,” I said more firmly.

“You’ll go back to Cressida right this moment and apologize.”

Amo chuckled despite his skin turning increasingly red. “I won’t, and nothing you do will convince me. I’m going to divorce her and then marry Greta.”

The way he said ‘Greta’—gentle, loving, protective—told me all I needed to know. Vitiello men had high walls around their hearts but once they fell for a woman, they fell hard, and Amo was utterly in love with Greta.

Luca shoved him against the wall again. I couldn’t watch anymore. I grabbed Luca’s arm but neither Luca nor Amo paid me any attention.

“You know the punishment for betrayal and for disobedience.”

“If you think I should die for loving someone as much as you love Mom, then go ahead and try to kill me, Dad.”

Try to kill me. I could see that Amo was willing to fight Luca over this. Amo had always respected his father too much to fight back, but Greta meant too much to him. I could see my family falling apart right before my eyes and I couldn’t bear it.

Luca released Amo and took a step back. “You know full well that I would never kill you even if it would be the right thing to do!”

Amo rubbed his throat. I moved in front of him and touched the red skin. I swallowed hard. I knew this world was harsh. I knew Luca had to make sure Amo was ready for the tasks ahead but this was a lot to stomach for me as a mother.

“I’ll follow my heart, Dad. You can accept it or not, but the outcome will be the same. Greta will be my wife.”

“Once you kill Remo and Nevio and all the other crazy fuckers?”