By Fate I Conquer (Sins of the Fathers, #4)

by Cora Reilly

“I talked to Greta. I assume she is the reason why you’re here.”

Again he shook his head as if he couldn’t believe how stupid I was. Hadn’t he entered a death fight with Remo once because of his feelings for a woman?

“This is probably the last peaceful drink I’ll get to enjoy in a while.”

“I’m of the impression that war might still be prevented.”

“You’re looking for a Capo’s wife, for someone to present to your soldiers, someone who’ll represent your family as your mother and sister do. You’re looking for someone who seeks the public. Greta isn’t like that. Greta can’t.

Greta prefers to stay in the background, away from attention. You’re looking for someone who blooms in the light but Greta seeks the shadows. Even if my brother would ever let her go,

He didn’t need to know that by coming here I’d most likely forfeited my position as future Capo of the Famiglia.

My mind was reeling with different scenarios of how I could run away with Greta or even kidnap her from her family.

That I had chosen to talk to them was only fo...

“Your father’s protection gets you out of here because we value our cooperation with the Famiglia. Don’t do somethi...

“I’m here because of Greta. I’m not leaving without havi...

“You stupid fucker, are you so tired of your life that you don’t know w...

I only half-listened because someone had just risen from a booth in the corner and my at...

“Give me a moment with Amo.”

That Nino had taken me here once Fabiano had called him showed me how much he trusted me and my judgment.

“The odds are against us,”

“I don’t care about the odds. I came here to ask for your hand.”

My stomach hollowed, my breathing catching in my throat. This wasn’t what I’d expected. I hadn’t even dared considering it.

“Without your dad’s approval.”

Our families were our everything.

“No, I don’t talk to her unless she doesn’t leave me a choice. But she knows my heart doesn’t belong to her.”

“She cares about becoming a Capo’s wife, not my feelings.”

“What Nino said is true you know? I won’t ever be someone who’ll stand by your side in the flashlight, who’ll give interviews to the press, who’ll smile pleasantly at a camera.”

“I know you can do it. Everyone will love you. You’ll grow with the task.”

children, nobody will expect you to be in public all the time. Then it won’t matter anymore.”

“I don’t even know if I want children.”

“Why?” “Because this world is such a harsh place, and so much is uncertain, that it seems unfair to bring a child into it.”

“I’m who I am, and that won’t change, and I can tell it’s not what you need. I’m not the person you need by your side.”

“But you’re the one I want.”

“Sometimes we can’t have what we want,” I whispered. “Not me,” Amo murmured, br...

I loved how quiet my mind got when I did, how peaceful I felt, how in control of ever...

“I don’t care about any of this, Greta. I probably won’t even become Capo anymore. My father made it very clear that I’d have to waive my...

He’d give up becoming Ca...

The realization that I’d lose this, that I’d lose Amo, ached in th...

But I couldn’t be selfish. I had to think of my family, who’d probably start a war if I followed Amo, of Nevio who’d become completely unhinged without me by his side, ...

“I won’t leave my family, Amo. I owe them everything and I love them more than anything else. If I have to choose between them and you, it’ll always be them. And if you really think about it, you’ll choose your family too.”

“You know what’s between us. Don’t pretend you don’t feel it. I see how you look at me, Greta.”

What was between Amo and me was fateful in so many ways, it was a one in a lifetime love, a miracle.

I would never love anyone as I loved him. I’d known it from the moment I’d looked into his eyes even when I hadn’t dared admitting it to myself, and it had been confirmed in ...

But our love would be our ruin. I was too logical not to see the consequences of our love. Cressida would play the victim, and most...

The Traditionalists would condemn Amo for his actions, not just for breaking an engagement, but worse, for being intimate with someone bef...

Amo and his father would torture and kill many to bring what they considered peace over the Famiglia.

And my family. Nevio would never accept me leaving Las Vegas, leaving him. I was the anchor he held onto in his eternal dark. Without me, Nevio would give in to darkness,

he’d embrace it wholly, would let it swallow him, and his actions in the night would become all that there was to him.

Dad knew it. That he’d lose not only me but Nevio if I ev...

He knew what that would me...

Dad would burn down New York before he’d allow ...

Movement in my peripheral vision caught my attention but I was too late to call out a warning, and Amo was too focused on me.

My lips parted, a scream ripping out but everything happened so fast.

Nevio slammed his knife into Amo’s side. Everything seemed to stand still for a moment before Amo pushed me back and impaled h...