Page 17 of The Enforcer's Possession
I’d done it.Not perfectly, not cleanly, but I’d done it.Now I just had to make sure Dante played his part perfectly when they met.
I pushed away from the wall and started down the hallway, my heels tapping against marble with a rhythm that finally matched something other than panic.Each step felt lighter than before.Each breath came easier.I’d made it three steps when I heard the study door open again behind me.
“Caterina.”
Luca’s voice.I turned to find my brother in the doorway, his expression tight with concern.How had he gotten away from Papa?I had a feeling he’d pay for it later.
“You okay?”he asked quietly.
“I’m fine.”
He stepped into the hallway, letting the study door close behind him.Moved closer, his gaze searching my face for I don’t know what.Truth, maybe.Or confirmation that I hadn’t completely lost my mind.
“That was insane,” he said finally.“Going to the De Lucas without Papa’s approval.Do you have any idea how much danger you just put yourself in?”
“Less than I’d be in married to Marco.”
“Maybe.”He shoved his hands in his pockets, a gesture that made him look younger than his nineteen years.“But Dante De Luca?Caterina, his reputation… the things people say about him…”
“I know what they say.”I reached out and squeezed his arm briefly.“I also know he’s my best chance at something that doesn’t end with me in a hospital.Or worse.”
Luca’s jaw tightened.“If he hurts you --”
“He won’t.”The lie came easily.I had no idea if Dante would hurt me or not.But I knew Marco would.That was enough.“Trust me, okay?I know what I’m doing.”
Another lie.But Luca seemed to accept it or at least accept that arguing wouldn’t change anything.
“Just… be careful.”He glanced back at the study door, then back to me.“Papa’s furious.He’s going to find ways to punish you, even if the alliance goes through.”
“Let him.”I straightened my spine, lifted my chin.“I can handle Papa.”
Luca’s expression said he wasn’t sure about that, but he didn’t argue.Just pulled me into a quick hug -- brief enough not to seem weak, tight enough that I felt his worry in it -- then released me and headed back toward the study.I watched him go, then turned and continued down the hallway.
My hands were shaking again.Now that the immediate confrontation was over, now that the adrenaline was fading, the full weight of what I’d just done was settling in.
I’d defied Papa directly.Had gone behind his back to arrange an alliance without permission.Had stood in his study and refused to back down even when he’d been seconds away from physically removing me.
And somehow, impossibly, I’d won.Not completely.Not cleanly.But enough.
Papa was meeting with Dante.Was considering the alliance.Was weighing the benefits against his wounded pride and need for control.
Antonio had made that happen.The consigliere’s pragmatism had overridden Papa’s rage, had forced my father to see past his anger to the actual value of what I was offering.
I’d have to remember that.Remember that Antonio responded to numbers and strategy, not emotion.If I needed to maneuver around Papa in the future -- and I probably would -- going through Antonio might be the way to do it.
But that was planning for later.Right now, I needed to get to my room before my legs gave out completely.
I made it to the staircase, started climbing.Each step required conscious effort.My body wanted to collapse, to release all the tension I’d been holding since I’d entered that study.
I’d won.For now.The battle, if not the war.
But Luca was right about one thing.Papa would find ways to punish me.Would make sure I understood that defying him came with consequences, alliance or not.
I just had to hope those consequences were worth it.
Worth Dante’s terms.Worth whatever came next.
Worth the look I’d seen in my father’s eyes when he’d realized I wasn’t backing down.
