Page 86 of Monster in Disguise

"Men in the famiglia aren't usually as... accommodating," I add.

"There are a lot of things the famiglia and I don't agree on, and it's high time some of them changed."

"What do you mean?"

Marcello sighs. "I never wanted to become capo. I wanted out... as far away from the famiglia as possible. But now that I am here, I have a responsibility, so I might as well make the best of it. I've been trying to change a few things in how we run our businesses, but some things are so entrenched in people's mentalities..." He shakes his head.

"How do you plan on doing that?"

"By setting an example," he gives me half a smile. "That's why my wife should be privy to what's happening around us."

"That's... I don't know what to say." I'm surprised by his statement. Growing up, I'd been told countless times that I was an accessory, and that my value depended on the man I attached myself to. When I got pregnant with Claudia, I lost all my value for the famiglia. I was suddenly persona non grata.

"I don't want my sisters, or our children to conform to this anachronistic type of thinking. I don't care how much of a tradition it is for a woman to be nothing else but a stay-at-home mother. They should be their own person," he adds, and I can feel a little moisture forming in my eyes. I quickly blink it away.

"You have no idea how much that means to me. I was never seen as a person, rather as an opportunity for my family. I witnessed my sisters being sold into marriage like cattle, and then I had to wait around until it was my turn." My lip curls in distaste. "When I got pregnant..." I feel a knot forming in my throat as I recall how I'd been treated by my family. "If it weren't for Enzo back then, I would have been homeless. My father saidI'd brought shame to the family and that..." I take a deep breath. "That I was not his daughter anymore. My mother didn't dare intervene."

A whimper escapes my lips, and Marcello takes my hand in his, squeezing it in comfort.

"You can do whatever you want, you know that, right? Maybe not right now because it's so dangerous, but once that's over..."

I give a nervous laugh.

"I don't even think I'd know what to do," I muse. The thing with freedom is that it's great... until you get it. So many times I dreamed about what I would do if I were free. So many plans, and so many scenarios, and here I am. Free, but still trapped. Trapped in my head and in the endless possibilities. What if I make the wrong choice?

See... freedom is a dangerous thing.

"You'll find out," he says with a confidence I lack.

"You mentioned children," I change the subject, a little uncomfortable being put under the microscope like that. "Would you like children?"

"Would you?" he fires back.

"Yes," I say and look anywhere but at him. Having children with Marcello... I think I'd like that. Very much so, in fact. I blush at the thought.

"Then I would too."

"I haven't yet thanked you for the way you've treated Claudia. I know not all men would be as accommodating with their wife having another child and?—"

"Lina, stop."

My eyes flutter in surprise at his tone.

"She's part of you. That's enough for me."

I stare at him, unable to believe how I became this lucky. Not only is my husband handsome and powerful, but he is also sounderstanding and kind. I don't think anyone's been this nice to me...ever.

The server comes to clean the table and then he brings the soups.

"Have you heard anything about Father Guerra?"

Marcello shakes his head.

"It's odd, but so far they haven't reached out. Considering the letter they sent to Enzo, I find it a little unsettling."

"You think they're biding their time with something?" I'm a little afraid at the prospect. Not as much for myself, but for Claudia. I don't want her to become a target just to get back at me.

"Yes. And I don't like it."

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