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His eyes move between mine and Isaak’s, and I feel the weight of his words before they are even uttered.
“Now that you know where I stand,” the Don says. “Know this: I will marry your daughter, and I will make her my wife, Isaak.”
My heart skips a beat at his words, and I see that Isaak has the same reaction too.
But it is not just him—it is his sons too. There is a flicker of disbelief in their eyes, hearing the Don speaking so freely about their sister like this, like she is nothing but a pawn in this complicated game of ours.
This is no small declaration.
The Don is not simply talking about the woman he desires.
He is making a statement.
A promise.
A challenge.
“This alliance between us will become a relationship. I don’t want to hear anything else about Italians or Russians, or this history we all share, unless there is more good news to come, understand? A wedding, maybe?”
The last part of his words is directed at the twins.
It hits me like a blow to the stomach.
Their jaws are clenched, the muscles in their necks strained as they fight to maintain composure. I see the conflict clearly in their eyes, the disbelief, and the determination there too.
“Chiara is ours!” Mikhail growls. “She iseverythingto us.”
The Don does not so much as flinch.
I look away, unable to meet his gaze. A knot forms in my stomach, because I know exactly what he is alluding to. He is not just talking about a marriage of convenience, but something more, something deeper. And the implications of it weigh heavy on my chest.
Glancing down at Chiara, I swallow hard, pressing the back of my hand to her cheek. Her face is flushed, her skin feels a little clammy too, but she is still breathing.
That is all that matters.
I hope she will wake up soon—God knows when that doctor will be here to check in on my daughter—and I hope I will have her in my arms once more.
Stroking her hair gently, I feel the tightness in my chest easing a little. The deep ache still remains for the life she has endured. She has been through so much already, and I can only hope that despite everything, my daughter will be able to find happiness one day.
But I cannot shake the fear that things will never be the same again.
The moment has shifted.
And there’s no going back now.
“Isaak.” I say in a quiet voice. “Let Chiara wake up first before we make any other decisions.”
He does not reply at first.
He just stands there, assessing the scene before him. His expression is unreadable, and I can sense his internal struggle.
There is a fire in him, a drive that I can respect, but I also know that he is troubled by everything that has happened tonight; what has been revealed, and what the Don has just promised.
Isaak’s gaze softens slightly as he looks down at Chiara, a look that is unmistakably fatherly.
“Will will figure this out in time, Francesco. For now, we will let her rest.”
I take heavy breaths, not knowing what the future holds for us all.