Chapter 31

Marco "Absolutely not!" My father yells from his brown leather chair. Deno and I are seated on the two front chairs, studying the man who raised us from afar after my mother's death. In the last hour, we have explained the situation to him. I told my father about Amariya, who has gone AWOL. Deno informed him about Lucca, who's now actively looking for Mischa. And lastly, a possible marriage between Aliyana and myself happening in the near future. And like we predicted; he wasn't surprised Amariya was gone. He lost his shit about Lucca, calling him an ungrateful brat and banged his hands on the table. And now, he has refused my marriage to Aliyana. My father is predictable and a hard-headed man. "We had an agreement when you came in this door 6-years-ago with the same story about that fucking woman you met. What was her name?" "Jane Doe," Deno answers, with a smile as I glare at him. She was a hot woman, and I met her once. Once was all it took then to have me hooked even though I never did get the woman's name. "I told you, give me a fucking grandson. Then you can marry whoever the fuck you want. Now you are what? 34, still no grandkids. I am an old man, I want fuckin' grandkids. Deno is already plotting the death of his fucking wife. Leonardo is a sick fuck, and Anya, my precious daughter, is more dangerous than my toughest soldier. Also refusing to marry so she can run her fucking shops. What kind of kids have I ended up with?" "I'm sure Leonardo will give you grandkids, soon," Deno states in mocking sarcasm. "Mischa is part DeMarco and Catelli. Her blood is our blood. We'll protect her like we promised." My father rubs his hand down his face. I should feel some remorse right now that he lost a son, and his other son wants to marry his ‘enemy's' daughter, but I can't find any for him. He started this shit with Sartini when he gave the man's daughter away to prevent a war. Now, I am asking to marry Sartini's other daughter to start one. "You say that like you know something we don't," Deno voices, "Because right now, as we sit here with you old man, we know that Lucca has got a fuckin' number on Amariya's head. She's gone so deep in hiding I can't even fuckin' find her, and it all comes down to Mischa. He wasn't sure that his baby survived, but whoever is feeding him shit has made him fucking sure now." "What does Stephano say about it?" My father asks, becoming alert. "Whether he wants to acknowledge it or not, Mischa is his only fuckin' heir. I want her to have what is due to her," I tell him. "Gabriel can become head of the family when he's older by all means, but by law, Mischa will inherit Stephano's fuckin' money, businesses, and his soldiers that comes with it. Lucca is not getting that," Deno responds. "No, he can't have so much power," My father says in a agreement. "So, if going to war is what we need to do, then so be it. The eye of assassins is a tempting reason for Marco to marry Camilla, but Dante is wasting our time. Aliyana marrying Marco means he has access to the Shadows, then that is what we need to do. The shadows are unrivalled and feared by everyone in the state." "But, she will still control them, not you. With Camilla, the assassins answer to you." My father points out something I took into account, and the reason I kept Aliyana as a second option. "Camilla is heir to a bigger army, but not stronger. Dante is wasting time we don't have. If Lucca finds out Mischa is his daughter, and we've been hiding her, he will attack. He has a fuckload of allies and ruthless ones at that." Deno's reasoning makes it all sound logical, but we both know that logic got fuck all to do with my sudden reason to marry Aliyana. My father studies Deno, and I see the flicker of pride in his gaze. He faces me, and I know the circumspection and fear he hides as he stares. I don't mask the truth on my face, I let him see it. My father, for all his faults- foolishness and stupidity, is something he has zero of. It takes him a minute to see the truth my brother has attempted to cover since we walked in the door. Marcello Catelli is no fool, and I am his son. He frowns as his gaze hardens, and lips tighten. "You care for Sartini's daughter. Fuck, Marco, why!" It is not a question but an accusation. "Sometimes, we have no choice," I say quietly, knowing he understands too well the words I speak and the honesty behind it. He gets up from his chair, his tall form, and broad shoulders, the two things I inherited of my fathers. My mother's eyes will always be what holds me. I am the flaw in my father's secret and my mother's betrayal. The fault of their love. It is why he doesn't stare too long. Unlike Deno and Anya. I am the image of my mother's bloodline. I am also the true heir to the DeMarco name. The eldest son of the eldest child. And as of three years ago, when I stepped forward, I am the future Capo Dei Capi, The Boss of All Bosses. And right now, the most powerful person in this room. I, Marco Catelli, am the bastard son of my father and my mother. In the Famiglia, I am considered a nothing, but in The 5th State, I am powerful enough to rule over all of them. And as the eldest son, and product of two influential families, I have proved myself more worthy than just my name. A curse, a gift, and all for love. I am not as different to my father as I would like to be. My father takes a moment to answer a call. I use the time to get myself and my brother a drink. Leaning against my father's desk as Deno runs his hand across the books on the dark wooden bookshelf. I enjoy the glide of the amber liquid going down my throat. "If father agrees, how are you going to get Sartini to say yes?" Deno asks as he lifts up a picture of us, from the bookshelf. I haven't considered it, but my conversation with Aliyana earlier comes to mind, and I smile as I take another sip of my drink. "I thought I'll start with a more direct approach first." "Seriously? Just mentioning Aliyana's name will have the man in a shouting fit." "I know, which is why I'm going to ask him after he agrees to something else." Deno turns to face me, and we stare at one another. The door to my father's office opens, and we both move toward our seats. Our conversation on hold for the moment. "Mi dispiace. Dante Moretti has accepted the marriage to his granddaughter. 'Till death do you part, were his words. I agreed. Camilla is on her way." His words take a full 5 seconds to register. He has accepted, 'till death. She is coming? I frown in confusion. I was confident he was going to refuse. Six months and nothing. Now all of a sudden, I get this? So, what changed his mind? No, this can't be. "I will marry Camilla," Deno says in a rush. Dante's warning rings in the room and, like my brother, always ready to be the one to sacrifice. "If she comes to Seattle and I don't marry her, it will be a direct insult to the Moretti's, and a big fuck up we don't need with Lucca's shit to deal with and Lorenzo's death, plus the fucking docks." "I'll make her choose me," Deno says again. And subject his life to torture and the possibility of someone finding out the things that shade him? I am the eldest son. "I was the one who asked for her hand all those months ago and continued to press it." I am also my brother's protector, whether he wants it or not. A promise I made to my mother more times than I could count. She made me promise that I will keep him safe, and always choose him even if it meant I had to sacrifice myself. It was a promise I made to her, a living one. The one promise in my life I won't break. "I am many things, but I won't go back on my word." I will have to go along with it for my brother's sake. "You would choose honor over all you can have? Do you know what you agree to?" I can feel my brother staring at me as I look at the empty brown leather chair that belongs to my father. My mind empty, afraid of all the thoughts it will bring up if I allowed it free for even a second. But as much as it kills me, I lie.