He studies me for a moment that stretches uncomfortably. "How are things progressing with Santino?"
"Fine. Everything's fine." I keep my voice neutral.
He leans back in his chair. "That's remarkably vague."
"We're getting to know each other. Spending time together. Following the tradition of the forty days."
"I heard you showed up at his poker game last night," he says casually, but I know better than to think this is casual conversation.
Of course he heard. Nothing happens in this city without Papa knowing within hours. His network of informants is extensive.
"I was looking for him," I say carefully, choosing my words.
"At a private game with the Volkov brothers." His voice remains mild, which makes it more dangerous. "That was extremely reckless behavior."
"I was worried about him—"
"You were impulsive," he cuts me off sharply. "Santino is conducting important business, Liana. You can't just interrupt whenever you feel like it. You can't burst into meetings with dangerous men."
"I understand that now."
"Do you?" He stands abruptly, walking to the window. "Because I'm not sure you understand how delicate this entire situation is. How important this alliance is for our family's future."
"I understand that you're marrying me off—" I start.
"I'm protecting you!" He turns to face me, voice rising. "That's what this is. Protection."
"I don't need protection. I need—"
"What? To run this family?" His voice rises further. "To put a target on your back that can never be removed? To give our enemies a perfect reason to come after you?"
I stand to face him. "I'm capable of handling the business."
"I know you're capable!" He's genuinely angry now, his composure cracking. "Liana, I trained you myself. I know exactly what you can do. I've seen your strategic mind at work. But this world—our world—it doesn't care about capabilityor intelligence. It cares about tradition. About power. About respect earned through fear."
"And they won't respect a woman," I finish his thought bitterly.
"No." His voice drops, becoming quieter and somehow sadder. "They won't. They'll see you as weak. As something to exploit and use against our family. They'll come after you to get to me, to undermine our power."
"So, you're marrying me off to Santino instead. Solving the problem by making me someone else's responsibility."
"I'm marrying you to someone who can protect you properly. Someone strong enough to run both families effectively. Someone who—" He stops mid-sentence, sitting back down heavily behind his desk. "Someone I trust to keep you safe when I can't anymore."
The anger drains out of me suddenly, replaced by growing concern at his words and his posture.
"Papa, are you alright? Is something wrong?"
"I'm tired, Liana." He looks older suddenly, smaller somehow, the weight of his years visible. "I'm getting old. My health isn't what it used to be."
"Your health?" My voice sharpens with worry. "What do you mean?"
"The doctors say it's nothing serious. Not yet, anyway." He waves his hand dismissively. "But I'm not immortal. And I need to know that when I'm gone, you'll be protected. That you'll be safe from our enemies."
"I could protect myself if you'd just let me. And Gia too."
"No." His voice is absolutely firm. "You couldn't. Not in this world. Not as a woman." He meets my eyes directly. "I know you hate this arrangement. I know you think I'm takingsomething precious away from you. And maybe I am. But I'm also giving you something invaluable: a future. A life beyond these walls. Safety."
"At what cost to who I am?"
