Page 10 of Vicious Union

“Get to the point,” Rocco says.

“The point is the man I marry will not be from this family. He’ll be an entirely new Mafia man, and how can we know he won’t hurt me? I don’t want to be married. Can’t you respect that?”

I’m impressed by my younger sister’s impassioned pleas. It takes a lot of courage to stand up to Rocco. Even I struggle with it sometimes.

But I also find her desire to not get married trivial. I want to tell her to just suck it up and do her duty. I have to, and I don’t even like the woman.

Gabriella grew up spoiled. As the youngest in the family and the only girl, she was pampered a lot. Now, she thinks the rules don’t apply to her, but the rules apply to everyone, even the De Lucas.

Rocco stares at her hard for a moment before answering. “No. I can’t respect that.”

Her shoulders deflate.

“Rocco,” Lara says in a soft voice.

“No. She needs to hear this,” he responds. “Gabriella, you know I would never marry you to a man who would hurt you. And if I did, I’d kill him in a heartbeat. You’re never at risk of marrying a man like our dad. You have my word. Now, if you’re done, I’d like to go home. This is my one day off, and I’d like to spend it with my wife.”

“Yeah,” Massimo says, “Ophelia and I have date plans later. So, you good, Gabi?”

The hurt on her face is palpable. “No, I’m not good. But sure. Those of you who are in happy relationships can leave. I don’t want to bore you with my boring singledom.”

Ophelia grabs Gabi’s hand. “We’re here for you. You were there for me when I really needed it. If you need us to stay, we can stay.”

Massimo looks like he wants to object, but Ophelia ignores him.

Gabriella’s eyes soften. “No, you can go on your date. Don’t let me keep you.”

Both Ophelia and Lara give her a hug before they walk away with their husbands, leaving Gabi and me behind.

“Now, it’s just us,” she mutters.

“Not for long. I have work to get to.” I start walking away.

“Don’t you care, Emilio?” she calls out to me.

I look back. “You know I love you. You’re my sister. I always will. But I think you’re being a little dramatic.”

She gasps. “Dramatic.”

“See?”

She scowls. “I’m only partially dramatic right now. You haven’t even seen me at my full dramatic.”

“I don’t want to. Just do your duty to this family, Gabi. And stop complaining. We don’t all get what we want.”

“You say that, but are you happy? Because you sure don’t sound happy about doing your duty.”

Caterina’s face flashes through my mind. Am I happy to be marrying her? Not at all. But I’ll do it because it’ll benefit our family.

“It’s not about being happy,” I tell Gabriella, then walk away.

She doesn’t stop me. When I glance back, I see her kneeling beside our mom’s grave, her shoulders shaking and tears streaming down her face.

* * *

Later that evening after work, I return to the club. I need to unwind with a drink. Even though I won’t be going home with any women because I have a duty to Caterina, I can still admire them.

I’m nursing my drink when I see a familiar face on the dance floor.

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