Chapter 1 THE ULTIMATUM

LUCA.

"Is this a joke?!" I snap at the man sitting on the leather arm chest with an expressionless face, as if he hasn't just told me to ruin my life. "After everything? Now you mention your old pact?! What do you take me for?!"

"I take you to be my son who would do anything to ensure that our family remains at the top," he responds.

"You are asking me to throw my life away! To marry a woman I have never even met!" I snap back.

"I am asking you to ensure the continuity of two bloodlines, ensuring that the power of the Romano family, our family, will not dwindle. Listen, Luca. Rocco, is an old friend of mine, we built this town and our empires side by side. It is unfortunate that he has only been blessed with a daughter but that has worked in our favor! He has promised to hand over his entire fortune to her on her wedding day, to you, to our family? Do you have any idea what that means?!"

"Dammit!" I snarl as I whirl around. "And fuck you for doing this to me," I say again as I turn back to him, anger flooding through my veins. "Now of all days. You could have told me about this when I was busy proving myself to you all these years,you could have prepared me!"

"It didn't seem to be the right time."

"Didn't seem to be - Fuck! Fuck. Fuck. Fuck! Fuck you!" I snap as I whirl away, slamming the door behind me.

Unbelievable.

Just unbelievable.

I had done everything.

Every bloody thing he had asked.

I had infiltrated our rival family from the ground up, despite how risky it was I did it.

I crippled them.

Go to another country and set up a fraudulent scheme.

No worries.

Train in one of the most deadly assassin's sects for three years?

No problem.

On and on it went, for eighteen years I have carried out impossible trials and instructions and succeeded at everything.

All so that I can be worthy to one day step in his shoes, first becoming the consigliere and then the Don.

And now, today that should be one of celebrating my promotion, he tells me I have one final instruction.

To get married.

And not just to any woman, no, to the daughter of Rocco Bertelli, a girl that is rumored to have absolutely no inclinations or sympathies with the Mafia world.

"How the hell am I supposed to convince her?" I snarl to myself as I walk into the hall only to be startled by a champagne cork nearly taking off my head.

I am still catching myself when the deafening cheers of the crowd reaches my ears.

Right.

This is a celebration night.

"Congratulations, Luca!" Enzo, my close friend and right hand man, cheers as he pats me on the back. "Now, Signore(Mr.) Romano won't have any reason to delay you any further."

I scoff as I reach for a champagne flute.

"You would think so," I mutter as I gulp the contents down all at once.

"Oh no," he says as he takes in my countenance. "What did he say this time? I mean, you were brilliant! Playing the French government like that and leaving them no recourse but to let you go is a sign of pure genius, surely even he has to admit that."

"Oh, he admitted it alright," I reply as I turn to face him."Then what is the issue?" "The issue is that now, I am to get married."

"Shit," he says in a wince. "To who?"

"Isabella Bertelli."

"Bertelli... Bertelli... Rocco Bertelli?!" he exclaims before reducing his voice at the curious looks thrown our way. "Rocco Bertelli?" he asks again.

"Si."

"Hmm, that is not so bad but isn't she all the way in the USA? I heard a rumor that she had a fight with Rocco about his affiliations and left, swearing to never return."

"The very same."

"Maledetto!" he curses as he turns in agitation. "What about Giulia?"

"Giulia," I whisper in despair before giving in and reaching for another drink. A brandy this time.

Giulia has been a rock to me all these years. She as well as Enzo have been by mode all through it, supporting me, helping me... we are a team.

She is strong, smart, vicious, everything you would want in a Mafia wife.

So, it had made perfect sense for me to ask her out.

A fact that my father knew and still said nothing about.

If he knew about Rocco's condition, if he knew he wanted me to end up with Isabella, why didn't he say anything?

Why wait till now?

How am I supposed to break this to Giulia?

How can I look her in the eye and tell her that I am going to have to marry someone else.

For the family.

The same family that she had sacrificed for, had given the best of her life to.

How do I betray her like that?

"Maybe you can refuse," Enzo says after some minutes of silence. "You don't need the Bertelli fortune, you can take us to greater heights without them."

"Actually, I can't."

"What do you mean? You are the consigliere."

"According to my father, I am not. Not until I have tied the knot with Isabella."

"No offense, Luca. But your father is an asshole."

"I agree."

"So, what now? What is our play? Are you going to talk to Giulia?"

"No. Not now at least. Not before I talk to Rocco first."

"What do you plan on doing?" he asks as he falls in step with me.

"I don't know. But I am going to try to get out of this... unwanted ultimatum. If he agrees, then father can get off my case."

"What are the chances he will give in?"

"Slim to none."

"Hmm, that has never stopped you from achieving your goals before."

"No, it hasn't."