Page 13 of Mafia Mistress

Giulio regarded me with a carefully guarded expression, but said nothing as he crossed the marble floor and went toward the other side of the castle. Clamping my jaw tightly, I followed and tried to get a hold of my anger instead of shouting at him.

Once in my office, he went directly to the liquor bottles. Marco was still there, sitting in one of the armchairs from our earlier meeting. No doubt he wanted to make sure I didn’t kill Giulio for interfering tonight. I slammed the door behind me, rage burning every inch of my skin. “Sit the fuck down, Giulio.”

He did, but not until he held almost a full glass of bourbon in his right hand. “You wanted to see me, Papà?”

I poured my own drink and went behind my desk, breathing deeply to keep my head reasonably clear. As the boss, I strove to be level-headed and calm in everything. It didn’t always work, especially around Giulio. And Francesca, apparently. “Who is in charge of this family?”

“You,” my son answered.

“And who is your capo?”

“You.”

“Then will you explain why you went against my orders and released Francesca from the cell?”

He took a drink before answering me. “She is my fiancée. It’s not right for her to be locked up in the dark the minute she arrives.”

“I decide what is right in this family, Giulio. Me—not you.” I held up my injured hand. “She stabbed me with a pen in front of the men. A few hours down there wouldn’t have hurt her.”

He shook his head. “You didn’t see her, Papà. I think she’s afraid of the dark or claustrophobic. She was nearly catatonic when I found her.”

I ignored the pang in my chest that might have been guilt. I had to. I couldn’t afford weakness. So, was this Giulio’s attempt to play the hero? To make me appear the villain?

You are the villain. And she should prefer him to you, stronzo.

I don’t know why that bothered me so much. I wanted them to like each other, to find happiness in their marriage. Perhaps they would have good fortune together, more than Lucia and I ever did. And I needed grandsons. Dio, I was losing my mind.

I downed my drink and let the burn alleviate my anger. “I’m glad you helped her, then. No doubt she was grateful to you, which pleases me.”

Giulio frowned, eyes so like mine turning suspicious. “I didn’t rescue her to earn her gratitude, but now I am wondering if that’s why you put her in the dungeon. So that she’ll not fight me.”

I hadn’t been so crafty, but good he thought me capable of it. “She will not fight you. Still, I’ll give you a few weeks to get to know one another before we host the wedding.”

“I’m surprised you are waiting.”

I cleared my throat, knowing the news must be shared but unsure how he would respond. “She had a boyfriend in Toronto.”

Giulio sipped his drink, not showing any outward reaction to the news. “And?”

“And she’s not a virgin. It would be wise to ensure she isn’t carrying another man’s child before you marry her, no?”

“Are you willing to let me marry a woman who isn’t pure?”

“It’s not ideal, but she is beautiful and spirited. Her mother was one of the most famous women in Italy. Francesca will make you an excellent wife. And this settles the debt with Mancini.”

“And ensures stronger ties between Siderno and Toronto, should the Canadians ever want to break free.”

I smiled at him, pleased. “Correct. The brotherhood first, figlio mio. Always. One day you will sit in this chair and issue the orders, as all the Ravazzani men have done. We serve our ’ndrina brothers above all else.”

“I know, Papà. I know.”

I tapped my fingers on the desk while I studied him. “I’ll tell Gratteri you need lighter responsibilities in the next three weeks. This will allow you to ease Francesca into her new role.”

He sat up straighter. “That’s not necessary. We’re working on opening the new nightclub, so I’ll be out at night but home during the day. I’ll spend time with Frankie then.”

“Frankie?”

“It’s what everyone calls her. I assumed you knew.”

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