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“That means that I will never act on anger or fear or sadness, but …” “But never on love or affection either,”
I tilted my head. “Have you discovered that you got a faulty prize?” “Faulty?” he inquired. I motioned at myself. “Broken. I’m not what was promised. You should give me back.”
“I was promised a Vitiello woman in marriage. A woman with beauty and grace. You fulfill my requirements.”
I stared. “You think I’m beautiful?” “To think it would suggest it’s born of my imagination, but your beauty is fact. And the reason why I’m not worried about men making a move on you is because you are a Falcone now, my wife, and in Las Vegas, nobody goes against us.”
“The dark holds power over you because he came at night for you?”
“Your nights are safe. You are safe now, Kiara. Even in the dark, there’s nothing you have to fear, no one, because I am there and they will have to go through me. And no one ever has won against me. I am the most dangerous thing in the dark, but you don’t have to fear me.”
“Why don’t I have to fear you? You are a Falcone.” “I am. And my brothers and I protect each other because we are family, and we protect Fabiano because we made him family, and now we will protect you because you are my wife and that makes you family as well. That’s what family is supposed to be, don’t you think?”
“If you choose to be a Falcone, if you choose to be our family, if you choose to be mine not just on paper and because it is your duty, then we will protect you.” “What do I have to do to be family? To be yours?” “Be loyal. Be trustworthy. Forget your blood family and New York. Cut the bonds that tie you to them and become a Falcone. It’s us against the rest. It will always be like that.” “I can do that.”
“When has there ever been a day without blood in our lives?”
“I would go through fucking fire for you.”
“You already did, Remo,” I said.
“Her past stayed with her too. Killing her uncle didn’t change that.”
“Would killing our mother change things for us?” he asked quietly.
“Voicing your opinion doesn’t provoke me, Kiara. And as I said, I don’t act on anger. You don’t have to be submissive. I won’t feel attacked if you stand up to me. I’m aware of my status and power and don’t need your submission or flattery.”
“Didn’t I tell you not to get blood on the walls?”
“Man, next time call me when you’re having fun. Why did I have to babysit Adamo while you went all-out?” Luca shook his head. “Fuck, you Falcones are all bat-shit crazy.”
“What do you do with female drug dealers who steal money or betray you and sell out to the Bratva? How do you deal with whores who don’t pay for hitting your streets or women who borrow money and don’t pay it back?”
Remo stepped up to Matteo. “You deal with them as you deal with men, I assume. Or have you found a way to torture them in a female-friendly way? Have you found a way to make death less final for them?”
“We give them a choice. And what do you think they all choose?”
She was a Falcone now. She’d learn to hold her head high.
My father wasn’t a good man.” “And Fabiano is a good man?”
“God no,” Leona said with a laugh. “These men over there … they aren’t good.” She nodded toward the Falcones and Fabiano. I nodded. “But is he good to you?” Leona smiled. “He is.”
I looked up at him, trying to imagine what it must have been like back then. During the day Nino and Remo slaughtered their enemies and at night they came together in whatever dingy place they were hiding in at the time and read bedtime stories to Adamo and Savio.
“They will protect you because you are a Falcone.”
“If something my brothers and I do bothers you or if you want something, you have to say it outright. No subtle hints or secretive expressions. Neither my brothers nor I are good at female subtlety, and we lack the patience to figure it out. So speak your mind if you want to make it easy on all of us.”
“Yes. I want her to be treated like family. I want her protected. I want her safe from any threat. She is a Falcone now. She is mine.”
“She is safe, Nino.” Remo turned to face me, gripping my forearm. “You are my brother and she is yours. I will make sure everyone in this city, and beyond, realizes she’s under our protection.”
“You should probably go after her,” Adamo suggested. I frowned. “If she wants to cry in peace, she probably doesn’t want my company.” “Women,” Remo muttered, shoving another piece of pizza into his mouth. “Listen to the kid,” Fabiano said. “Go to her and console her or whatever it is you are capable of doing.” “I’ve never consoled a woman.” Fabiano sighed. “Then improvise, simulate emotions or whatever. I don’t give a fuck.” “Since you are the one who has a girlfriend and who has experience dealing with female emotions, it seems logical that you should go outside and console her.” Fabiano
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“If something bothers you, say it. If you don’t want Remo to trample all over you, you will have to stand up to him. I can protect you, but it won’t bring you the respect of my brothers. If you want to be a part of this family, you need to gain their respect. Being submissive and shying away like that doesn’t cut it, okay?”
“It’s not as hard as you make it out to be either. It’s your choice to face your fears or to let them rule over you.”
“Don’t put yourself down. You are a Falcone now.”
“Why is the fountain broken?”
“It was our father’s pride and joy. He had it made in Italy and shipped here. When my brothers and I returned, after we came into power, Remo smashed it with a sledgehammer.”
“There’s no stopping Remo when he’s murderous,”
“We hated our father. We were busy burning the painting of him and our mother.”
“Nobody’s stronger than our Capo,”
“You rule together. You do everything together.” “Remo is still Capo, and that’s good. He’s meant to rule.”
“Everyone has scars. Some are skin deep, others reach beyond that.”
“Soul deep,” she whispered.
“The skin is harder there because of the thick scar tissue. It’s less sensitive to pain and cold and heat. It’s stronger.”
“The scars he left, your body can heal them if you let it, and the result will be stronger than what was there before.”
“This is genius or insanity,” Savio said with a laugh. “Given that it’s your plan, Remo, it’s probably insanity.”
“As much attention as you deserve, Kiara. You are too beautiful to lurk in the shadows. And as my wife, you will have to get used to the spotlight.”
“Tonight people will start talking about another Falcone. The lady in red.”
“To a place in the spotlight. No hiding ever again, Kiara.”
“You realize that you can’t explore your sexuality with anyone but me.” “Is that so?” I wasn’t sure why I said that.
“It is. I won’t ever push you
past your boundaries, but just because I haven’t claimed your body with my cock yet doesn’t mean I haven’t laid claim on you. You are mine. Mine alone. And for as long as I live, no one will touch you but me.”
haven’t had your first time yet. What you had doesn’t count. What we are going to do has absolutely nothing to do with what you experienced.”
“How can you say things that make me feel better when you don’t even understand what I feel?”
