By Fate I Conquer (Sins of the Fathers #4)(95)

Tears ran down my cheeks. He reached up and jerked the shard out, causing a rivulet of blood to trail down his face.

“So you’re choosing him over me, over us, over our family.”

My mouth became dry and my heart began pounding, my hands becoming clammy.

“If you’re leaving Vegas to be with Vitiello you’re saying you don’t give a fuck about me.”

I couldn’t believe what he said. It wasn’t true, and he knew it, but he still managed to make me feel guilty.

I’d felt guilty from the first moment I’d considered being with Amo, because I’d known what it would mean. I’d have to leave Nevio, something I’d never thought possible. I was the calm to Nevio’s rage, and I was terrified that without me by his side, the darkness would win. His actions just now fired up my worries.

His rage was potent, it washed over me like an avalanche taking my breath away. The door to the ballet studio ripped open and Dad, Nino, Alessio and Massimo filtered in with drawn guns.

They all froze when they saw us.

I ignored their inquiring stares. This was between Nevio and me.

“Don’t you want me to be happy?” I asked softly.

“What the fuck is going on here?” Dad snarled.

Nevio stepped toward me, glaring down at me. “Weren’t you happy with us? With the people you belong to?”

I swallowed. “I was. I never thought I’d want for more than I had, but then…then I met Amo, and I tried to fight it. I hoped it would pass, but it didn’t.”

I could see the confusion on the others’ faces.

Nevio shook his head, looking away. “We’re at war. You can’t have both. If you choose him, you’re ditching us. End of story.”

“There can be peace again.”

“Would someone explain to me what the fuck is going on?” Dad stepped between us, his furious gaze darting between Nevio and me.

“Not if I kill Amo, then Luca won’t ever agree to peace again.” His grin was full of darkness. It was the smile he carried at night. It wasn’t a smile he showed me.

“You’d do that to me?”

Nevio’s eyes remained indifferent. “I’d do it for you even if you can’t see it.”

Other people’s lives meant nothing to him. Very few people mattered to Nevio, but these select few were his whole world, and he would do anything to protect them, and to keep them close. He would stop at nothing. I knew that better than anyone. Nobody knew Nevio better than me.

Nevio loved to see the world burn but so far he’d always made sure the flames didn’t touch me.

I shook my head. “No, you’d do it for yourself. You’re being selfish.”

“You would know all about being selfish.” Nevio turned to Dad. “Greta has been fucking Vitiello these last few months. She’s a fucking traitor.” Nevio stormed off, followed by Massimo and Alessio.

I was trembling, from sadness, anger and shock. When Dad’s incredulous gaze hit me my legs almost buckled. Even Nino’s analyzing presence didn’t help.

“Explain,” Nino said.

Dad only stared at me as if he was on the verge of finishing the remaining mirrors with his gun.

I pleaded them with my eyes to understand as I told them the truth. The words rushed out of me, my voice breaking.

“Do you realize the danger you put yourself in by meeting the enemy?” Nino asked.

Dad still hadn’t said anything.

“I trust Amo.”

“Then you obviously can’t be trusted,” Dad growled. “He could have killed you.”

“He wouldn’t.”

Dad grabbed my arm and pulled me closer, his eyes full of rage. “You lied. You risked your life and the safety of everyone who loves you.”

“I don’t want to lie anymore. That’s why I told Nevio. But I knew how you’d react when I told you and I was right.”

“What do you expect? I made my standpoint about Amo very clear and that was before there was even war.”

I closed my eyes and more tears slid out. “Dad, I know you’re angry, but please try to understand. I love Amo. It hurts to be apart from him. Please allow me to be with Amo.”

“He’s married and we’re at war, Greta,” Nino said as if I might have forgotten.

“He’s going to divorce Cressida for me, and he’ll convince his father to negotiate another truce, if you’re willing to do so as well.”

Dad shook his head. “Mia cara, this is something I can’t allow you. I won’t agree to a marriage with Amo Vitiello. You won’t leave for New York, and most certainly not be subjected to the old-fashioned traditions in the Famiglia. There won’t be peace with the Famiglia, not as long as I’m Capo and given Nevio’s reaction, there won’t be under his rule either.”

I stepped close to Dad, frowning. “You taught me that my opinion matters, that you respect my choices, and now you don’t allow me to marry the man I want?”

Dad’s face was stone but his eyes they burnt me with the fierceness of their emotions. He cupped my cheeks. “Greta, in the Camorra you are safer than you’ll be anywhere else. My word is the law. No harm can ever come to you here, but there it’s Luca’s word and later Amo’s. You’ll fall under their fucking jurisdiction, and you know as well as I do that they handle things differently from us. I can’t protect you the same way if you’re in New York than when you’re here. I’d still tear down their fucking city if you needed me but until then you’d be at their mercy.”