“It means there is no place for love when you’re the capo’s daughter. Least of all with a lowly soldier.”
“I didn’t mean to fall in love with him. It just happened.”
Vittoria opened her mouth when Mother once again appeared in the doorway. “Now, Andrea,” she commanded.
Nodding, I crossed the bedroom to her side. Appearing like she didn’t trust me to make it to Father’s study, she walked beside me down the stairs. When we appeared before his door, she jerked her chin at me. I dutifully responded by knocking.
“Enter.”
Drawing in a ragged breath, my sweaty, shaky hand fumbled on the doorknob. Once I finally twisted it, I flung open the door. Father appeared as an imposing figure sitting at his enormous mahogany desk.
He waved a hand at one of the studded, leather chairs in front of him. “Sit, Andrea.”
Since I couldn’t find my voice, I merely nodded. Once I was seated, I clasped my hands in my lap and stared at him.
“I’m sure you are curious as to why I summoned you here.”
“Yes, sir.”
Father took a long drag on his cigar. “As my oldest daughter, I’ve always intended for you to be given in marriage to nothing less than a capo.”
In our world, a capo was like the Vice President.Their power was only second to the boss who reigned over all the family.
A plume of smoke curled from his lips as he narrowed his eyes at me. “Anything less would be a disgrace to our family name.”
Shifting in my chair, I swallowed hard. “Yes, sir.”
He cocked his brows in challenge. “So you do agree that sullying your body with the hands of anyone but a capo is a disgrace to our family name?”
Every molecule in my body shuddered to a stop. As air wheezed out of my lungs, I fought to catch my breath.He knows. He knows. He knows. “Yes, sir,” I echoed, but this time in a whisper.
When a knock came at the door, I jumped in my seat like a gun had gone off. My hand came to clutch the fabric of my dress over my heart.
“Enter,” Father commanded.
Oh God. Was I about to meet my future husband today? Was Father going to send me away today because he’d discovered my affair with Marco? I didn’t think I could face having to interact with the man who stood in the way of my happiness with Marco.
When the door flung open, my heart dropped to the floor at the sight of Marco in the doorway. Although his face was a mask of indifference at the sight of me, I didn’t miss the flicker of fear in his eyes.
“You requested to see me, Mr. Caruso?” Marco asked.
With a flick of his wrist, Father beckoned him inside. Each footstep across the floor felt like the lash of a whip. I didn’t know when I’d ever experienced so much dread in all my life.
“Sit down,” Father instructed.
Marco eased down in the chair beside me. I didn’t dare look at him. Instead, I kept my gaze on my lap.
“You’ve always been a loyal soldier of mine, have you not?”
“It’s been my honor to serve you, sir.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“I have always given everything I had to this family.”
A mirthless laugh rumbled through Father’s chest. “Oh, I’d say you’ve been giving more than enough to my daughter.”
I was right. He did know.