"You wouldn't have understood the necessity?—"
"Try me."
"The Costellos are pushing for war. They're demanding a replacement for you. An alliance through marriage was the cleanest solution."
"For who?" Rina's voice climbs. "Clean for you, maybe. What about Sofia? What about what she wants?"
"What she wants is irrelevant when it comes to family survival."
The casual dismissal in his tone makes something snap inside me. A laugh bubbles up from my chest, dark and bitter. Both of them turn to stare at me.
"Something funny, Dante?" Rina asks.
"Yeah, actually." I can't stop the laughter now, even though there's nothing remotely amusing about any of this. "Family survival. That's rich, coming from the man who was ready to throw his wife's sister to the wolves."
"Dante," Vito warns.
"No, he's right." Rina turns back to her husband. "You talk about family, but you were willing to sacrifice Sofia without a second thought. Without even asking me."
"Because I knew you'd react exactly like this."
"Like someone who gives a damn about her sister? Yeah, Vito. That's exactly how I'd react."
The fight goes out of me as suddenly as it came, replaced by something deeper, more honest. "I love her, Rina."
Both of them stop arguing and look at me. Rina's expression softens slightly.
"I know you do," she says quietly.
"I'd do anything for her." The words feel like a confession, like something I'm admitting to myself as much as to them. "I'd burn this whole fucking world down if it meant keeping her safe."
Vito makes a disgusted sound. "This is infatuation, not love."
"Don't." I step closer to him, my voice dropping to a growl. "Don't you dare tell me what I feel. I've spent fifteen years of my life following your orders, doing your dirty work, being your perfect little soldier. But this? This is mine. She's mine."
"She's my family," Vito counters.
"And now she's mine too." I meet his stare without flinching. "The difference is, I'd actually die for her instead of trading her away for a peace treaty."
Rina watches this exchange with calculating eyes, and I can practically see the wheels turning in her head.
Finally, she turns to her husband. "You're going to let him go after her."
"Absolutely not?—"
"Vito." Her voice carries a warning that makes him stop mid-sentence. "You kept this from me. You made decisions about my family without consulting me. You've put Sofia in danger because of your pride and your politics." She steps closer to him,her voice dropping to something deadly quiet. "So now you're going to fix it. You're going to let Dante do whatever it takes to bring her home."
"Rina, you don't understand the implications?—"
"I understand perfectly. You've been treating Sofia like a chess piece instead of a person. Well, congratulations. You've lost the game." She crosses her arms again. "The question is, are you going to help us win it back, or are you going to keep playing politics while my sister suffers?"
Vito looks between us, his jaw working silently. I can see the internal battle playing out across his face—the Don who's used to absolute control warring with the husband who's just been called out by the woman he loves.
Before he can answer, there's a sharp knock on the door.
"Boss?" Marco's voice carries through the wood. "Sorry to interrupt, but we've got a situation."
Rina opens the door, and Marco's face is grim as he looks between the three of us.
