"—but," he continues. "Much like I told Rafa, Marco, Dante, and your sister—we will not be handing you over to them. We will find someone else to meet the demands."
His words give me pause. I look to the other faces in the room to gauge possible dishonesty from him. Not that it does me any good, they're all unreadable, blank slates. The only one showing any semblance of an emotion is Rina, and frankly she just looks pissed she was dragged out of bed in the middle of the night. I hadn't overheard them discuss any other solutions to satisfy Kieran's demands, and I don't know that these men are trustworthy enough for me to believe them now.
Slowly, I shake my head. "That's all you care about, isn't it? Meeting demands and having your own demands met. You know what else I heard, Vito? The two people that check all the boxes are me and your sister."
Rina's head whips around to face her husband, whose ears turn a deep crimson again.
"Oh, did he not tell you? Well, I suppose that's not entirely true. Elena's name was brought into the mix as well, but we all know she doesn't exactly fit Kieran's criteria."
"Like I said," Vito's tone hardens to match his stone-faced expression. "We are looking for someone else. Finding a virgin who won't be overly combative to an arranged marriage isn't something that can be worked out over one afternoon."
"And how many afternoons do I have left before you feel like finding someone else is too much of a hassle?" I counter, calculating and direct. I've learned that with Vito, the best strategy is to name the threat aloud.
Vito doesn't answer my question; instead, he pivots the conversation. "It is too dangerous for you to be sneaking around, period. What if they attacked the club tonight?"
"What if?" I counter. "Would you have tried to bargain for my return, Vito? Or would you have written it off as their demands being met? Don't pretend to care about my safety when all you care about is keeping your businesses operational."
"Sofia Gallo," Rina snaps. "Business or not, you do not speak to my husband like that."
Her words hit me like a slap in the face; I can't help but flinch and lean back in my chair, defeated. After everything we've been through, after all the times she protected me from our father's hand, I never thought my sister would side with the man who murdered our father over me. Betrayal burns in my chest, making me feel more alone than I've ever felt. Unshed tears burn my eyes as I force myself to meet my sister's gaze. Regret is clear in her own dark, glassy eyes, but it's too late. She chose a side, and it isn't mine.
"After everything with Papà…after everything with him," I point at Vito. "I can't believe this is where our sisterhood ends. I am not going to let your husband use me as some means to an end. I'm not something to be traded or bartered. You're no betterthan either of them if you think I'm going to sit by and just let my future be decided for me."
"Sofia," her voice cracks, but I shake my head. I open my mouth to reply, but Dante breaks the silence he's kept since leaving the car.
"May I make a suggestion, sir?"
Vito pinches the bridge of his nose, but waves at Dante to continue.
"Given Sofia's…plans…surrounding the current demands—and much like you said letting her be out on her own alone is dangerous—I'd like to suggest enhancing her protection detail to mirror yours and that of Donna Rina's. It's clear Sofia is not one to be controlled, but uncontrollable does not have to mean unprotectable."
Vito contemplates for a moment; one hand returning to his chin while the other returns to thrumming on the table. Unable to face my sister and not wanting to give Vito the satisfaction of knowing I'm waiting on his decision, I stare at the clock ticking away on the far wall. Each tick sounds like another second of my freedom slipping away.
Nearly two whole minutes pass before Vito nods in my peripheral.
"Fine. Dante, until further notice you are reassigned to protect Sofia. She will remain safe, untouched, and under your watch twenty-four seven—are we clear? No clubs, no partying, no sex. Just home and work. Sofia is to be kept safe," he reiterates. "Under lock and key if need be."
I practically jump from my seat. "What?"
Vito all but smirks. "Dante is right. If you won't listen, the least I can do is keep you safe with whatever reckless decisions you choose to make while we work on finding someone that satisfies all the demands. You know, actually," he stands, clapping his hands together with a mollified grin. "I'm feelinggracious and in the mood to host. You can stay in the guest room tonight. Your sister will call your mother and let her know where you are, so she doesn't panic at an empty house in the morning."
"Absolutely not. I'm going home!" I argue, but even as the words leave my mouth, I know it's useless.
"I wasn't asking. Even if I have to lock you in the room myself." Vito growls, leaning onto the table. "I'm willing to overlook the disrespect you've shown me tonight. But disrespect my wife again and Iwillentertain the option of handing you over to Kieran."
The threat hangs in the air like smoke, choking me. I want to scream at him, to tell him exactly what I think of his threats, but the cold calculation in his eyes stops me. He means it.
Warily, Rina gets to her feet. She faces her husband, but her eyes flicker to me a couple of times as she lowers her voice to speak to him. "I'm going to have Nico take me to Mamma. I'd rather tell her in person, and I'll grab some necessities for Sofia."
I refuse to give my sister a second glance. The betrayal still burns too fresh, too raw.
"I'll go with you," Vito responds, gently kissing Rina's forehead. "Dante's got it from here."
And just like that, my fate is sealed. Handed off like a responsibility no one really wants but someone has to deal with.
Marco waits until the elevator doors close Vito and Rina in, leaving us all alone before he gets up. "Well, that was certainly entertaining."
I glare at him, turning my nose up before storming toward the stairs. I hear him say something to Dante, something about congratulations and shining knights, but I don't care. I slam the guest room door behind me with enough force to rattle the frame.
