Capo Dei Capi (Secrets of the Famiglia Part 1) novel Chapter 54

"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.

"Yes. Divorce is off the table. Aliyana is a half-blood, you said so yourself. Camilla is a good choice, for Mischa and our family. A big army is what we need to protect Mischa, and Camilla comes with just that. A small price to pay."

"You are making a bad decision, a mistake. Aliyana can give you more than just an army, fuck Marco. You know what I'm talking about, you have spent time with her."

I look at my brother, his cold gaze stuck in the past he will never come out of. I'll turn this world upside down and burn every fucker whoever takes his choices from him again. Myself included.

"If she is so great, why don't you marry her? This conversation is over. I won't have you question me on this. My choice."

"You are making the wrong choice," Deno barks.

"I will sleep with my wrong choices." My phone rings as my brother breaks my eye stare.

I'm aware the conversation isn't over.

I don't expect anything less from Deno, but his reasoning will not change my decision. Not on this.

My body hardens, as my mind goes to war with itself. Mario Moretti's threat is no small matter, and my want for Aliyana is not worth the lives I'll lose if I refuse.

I slip my phone out of my suit pocket, 'VINCENT' flashes on my screen.

"Who died now," I say in all calmness when dealing with my cousin.

"The Bratva is going to be soon if we don't talk with Aleksei."

"What happened?" I am already dreading whatever it is he is going to say.

"They kidnapped my brother, Jace, from his school trip. I think it's about that fuckin' biker girl Lorenzo was fuckin'."

I close my eyes, and a heavier weight falls on my shoulders.

This is not good because I have a feeling Vincent is correct. They have been asking about Diamond, by name.

"Did you call anyone else?"

"No, why?"

"Because it's a sensitive matter. I'll handle it."

My cousin Vincent Vasatti is a Mezzosangue. His mother's short affair with Victor Stone produced my cousin. We accepted him as a Made-Man because Victor is a quarter Italian, which meant my cousin wasn't totally a half-breed.

Over the years, when I was away, it was Deno and Vincent who held our territory, did all my father's dirty work. While Deno did his share, our name protected him, but Vincent didn't get such luck. His family is strong, but like most of our clan, they're tied to Catelli's through marriage.

He had to earn his stripes in blood and war. Power was something he took. And my respect is something he still needs to earn if he wants to become part of my circle when I take over.

"The Stones were looking. Hold on, it’s my dad.”

I hang on the line for Vincent. A minute goes by, “My father said Diamond is going to give herself up." Fuck.

"I’m on my way." I signal Deno that we have to move. I don't bid my father farewell as I walk out of his office. Deno follows close behind.

Dante Moretti has twisted my hand, and my father had accepted it when he agreed to Dante's condition 'till death. I asked for this, but one thing my mother taught me is seeds grow silent. The power of that seed is the thickness of its branches and the stubbornness of its roots.

I am Marco DeMarco Catelli. Heir to The 5th State, and it is time I sent a message to all those who will answer to me.