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

by Cora Reilly

Dad was on me before I knew what ...

“Trust me, she didn’t act honorable at all. And the way she threw herself at me, I really wouldn’t call it taking. She practically begged me to relieve her of that burden.”

“Have you had too many hits to the head over the years, or are you playing dumb on purpose?”

“That she had no right to judge Marci. She called her a slut.”

“You acted like a fucking idiot. You should have thought about the consequences,”

“There’s only one thing he’ll accept as compensation. Marriage.”

“You can’t be serious. No way in hell am I going to marry that bitch.”

I’ve been way too lenient with you. For once you’ll have to carry the burden of your actions.”

Cressida will be your wife. You have years to get used to the idea, and you fucking will, or I swear you’ll feel my full wrath.”

“Yes, Capo.”

The idea of being with Cressida for the rest of my life was too harsh a punishment for a few lousy fucks.

Mom was in the living room with Valerio, helping him with his homework. One look at her face told me she knew what was going on.

Dad motioned at Valerio to leave. He grumbled but obeyed. “You’re in big trouble,” he...

Mom barely reached Dad’s chest, but she was his rock nonetheless. She stood by his side and his decisions, even if she disapproved of them. At least in front of others, even us kids, it had always been like that.

She would never contradict Dad’s decision but her face when she looked at me spoke of her concern. She was worried for me.

She was the only force on this planet that could change Dad’s mind if he was hellbent on something, but I admired their marriage too much to drive a wedge between them.

I was pretty sure the easy-going boy had been the impostor in the first place.

“I told you to stay away from Cressida.”

“And I told you that you’d get yourself in trouble. You realize she’s probably gloating like crazy right now because she’ll be your wife, a future Capo’s wife. Paying with her virginity for it was a small price for a lifetime of everyone worshipping the ground she walks on.

If I think about it, thanks to you I’ll now have to be nice to her, so you really did me disservice, not just yourself.”

“Says the girl who brought a biker home with her.”

She got up and punched my shoulder. But she knew I was right. Nothing I could do could possibly cause a bigger scandal than the one she had caused.

She was probably banging Maddox on his bike while I had to bear Cressida’s smug face.

“Cut the act. You know I can’t stand you. Do you really want to base a marriage on that?”

“I don’t care. You’ll change your mind about me once you get to know me better.”

“Find a guy who buys into your bullshit and who worships the ground you walk on because that’s not going to be me.”

“I gave you a gift, my virginity, doesn’t that count for something?”

“I’d give it back if I could,”

“But you can’t. You dishonored me. You’re lucky nobody but my family knows yet. It would cast a bad light on you.”

She’d make me the greatest fucking gift of all time if she let a guy fuck her before I officially put my ring on her. Then I’d be free of her.

Even Mom didn’t like her, and Mom was the kindest person I knew and gave everyone a chance.

Dad utterly despised her. I could see it in his eyes whenever she was close, and yet he insisted on this ridiculous bond.

pull up in front of the huge steel gates to the Falcone mansion.

An obnoxious F crowned the thing in addition to dozens of razor-sharp thorns.

“Judging by your pissed off look, that was Cressida. This meeting is important. We need to make sure we regain control of our drug routes. With the current mood in the Famiglia, we can’t risk earning less money. Even the Tradionalists are less l...

“I’m not a hotheaded teen anymore. You don’t have to remind me. Today’s about business, nothing else.”

He and I had worked well together these last few years despite our occasional disagreements. Maybe it was a matter of age that made Dad more cautious and reluctant to dish out violence.

When he’d been my age, he would probably have ripped Antonaci’s throat out for demanding anything. He should consider himself lucky my father had abolished the bloody sheets tradition or Cressida would leave a very bad impression the morning after our wedding night.

Of course, they’d known about us because of their numerous security cameras the moment we’d pulled up.

“We want something from Remo and he invited us to his home. Refusing him would have set the wrong tone.”

“We’re outnumbered, true, but the house is full of people Remo wants to protect. That puts him at a disadvantage not us.”

“Power plays as always. I’m sure the women and children of the family are well hidden and protected.”

In recent years peace had become harder to maintain. To think that not too long ago, our bond had been strong enough that Remo had allowed his brother Adamo to spend a year with us in New York…

Remo, Nino and Nevio appeared at the top ...

“Fuck, tell me that crazy bastard isn’t going to join...

“He’s the future Capo. You and him will have to figure out a way to tolerate each other.”

“We both know war will break out the moment Nevio and I become Capos. No need to pretend otherwise.”

I came face to face with Nevio Falcone, the little shit that gave new glory to the name Madmen of Las Vegas.

He wasn’t the little shit I’d last seen a few years ago. Now at almost nineteen we were almost at eye level while I’d always towered over him a couple of inches in the past.

His smile pulled wide, baring white teeth, his dark eyes gleaming with a promise I gladly r...