Page 65 of The Marriage Contract

“Please, listen, Salvie,” Maria says. “I can tell you’re thinking about what Dario has said. I can tell it’s affected you. Otherwise, you wouldn’t even still be sitting here.”

“I’m sitting here because I love you, Maria, and you look like you may cry if I leave.”

“I may cry because the two people I love most are behaving like they hate each other,” she says in a shaky voice.

“I don’t hate my son,” Salvatore snaps.

“Thenlisten.”

“Fine, I’m listening.”

Dario looks at me, his eyes filled with emotion. I saw the demon in him before, the savage, but this is something else. I’m peering through the layers of mafiosi bravado at the little boy beneath. I touch his forearm, letting him know I’m here for support. Ialwayswill be.

“Your concern about Elena having a career comes from your desire to make the Family look strong, correct?”

“It’s more complicated than that.”

“If we keep with tradition, if we keep our women in line, it’s a testament to how much control we have. Don’t lie to me, Father. I know that’s what it is because that’s how every other Family has done it.”

Salvatore seems to be weakening. Mostly, it comes from his connection to Maria. He glances at her every few moments. Each time, it’s like a small brick in the wall of his uncertainty crumbles away.

“Yes, fine,” he snaps. “That’s the idea behind it.”

“How much more powerful will we look if the princess of the Moretti Family is free to pursue her dreams, and there’s not a damn thing anybody can say or do about it? How much more powerful will we look if the prince is free to choose a woman he wants, needs, and loves? Let them whisper at parties and make their snide remarks. It doesn’t matter, Father. Do you know why?”

“Enlighten me.”

The boy in Dario drifts away, replaced again by the savage. “Because they’dneversay it to our faces,” he growls. “They wouldn’t even dream of it. If anything, granting me your blessing to be with the woman I love is a big middle finger to the rats in this city who think they’re on our level.”

Salvatore’s lip twitches. A proud father emerges in his expression. I can see his anger wavering. “I’ve never thought about it like that before.”

“Because, understandably, you’ve been thinking in the old-school way, but I’m the new school. I’m ready to make a point. Ifanybody has a problem with my woman’s background or passion for acting, they can take it up with me. Realistically, Father, nobody will stop doing business with us over this. Nobody’s going to go to war with us. If they even try, I’ll crush them like I crushed the Romanos.”

Salvatore, for the first time since I met him, looks indecisive. He chews the inside of his cheek, then lays his elbows on the table. It seems to be a turning point, but I don’t let too much hope flare in me. “Elena, you need to be honest with me now. Remember, I’ve spent countless hours of my life searching for lies in the words people throw at me. I’ve become extremely effective at it.”

I sit up straight. “You can ask me anything, Mr. Moretti.”

“Did you mean what you said? If my son was poor, would you still want him?”

“Yes,” I say fiercely. “I love him, sir. I love him more than I ever thought someone could love in such a short time.”

“What if I said you could be with him, but you’d have to quit acting?”

“Father—”

“Let her answer,” Salvatore says.

“It would break my heart,” I murmur, “but Dario’s willing to sacrifice so much to be with me. I’d do the same. It would kill me, but I’d do it. He’s the most important person in my life.”

“Can’t you see, Salvie?” Maria takes his hand in both of hers. “They’re in love, just like we are. We’d be monsters to stand in their way.”

“Dammit.” Salvatore leans back, shaking his head. After a pause, he laughs ruefully. “I’m trying to find a hole in your logic, Dario. You’ve always been very intelligent, even as a boy.”

“The logic’s sound,” Dario agrees, scooting his chair close and wrapping his arm around me. “But there’s something deeper than logic here: devotion, love, dedication, andcertainty.”

“Certainty,” I repeat, tears pricking my eyes.

“There’s one last thing we must settle,” Salvatore says. “Elena, do you know what my son truly is? Has he told you?”

---