Page 60 of Broken Mafia Prince (His to Break #1)

GIULIA

I glance up from the book I’ve had my head buried in all day when I hear Papa bark at someone for the hundredth time in the space of a minute. I adjust uneasily on the couch, trying and failing to go back to the book. I shut it with a sigh of frustration, my concentration shot to hell.

I don’t know what’s so different about this new shipment, but Papa has been acting like it contains the holy grail. Though I doubt he would be excited to find the holy grail. If I had to guess, I’d say it’s another new drug prototype that he’s sure will take to the streets like an epidemic.

“There are three guards at the north side already,” someone reports.

“Three?” Papa screeches like he’s just been told that his entire shipment has just sunk to the bottom of the ocean. “That’s not enough.”

“The rest of the men have already been stationed at other points. The north side is the least likely to be attacked because of the proximity to the law enforcement station at the docks. We should concentrate most of the men closer to the loading bay.”

“Get five more men to the north side,” Papa announces callously.

The other man sputters. “Um, boss, we’re out of men.”

“Get anybody off the streets who needs money and can fire a gun,” he replies. “I don’t care how you do it, but I need at least eight men in the north side. You know what, get as many people as you can off the streets. This shipment is important, and we can’t afford any mistakes.”

“Yes, boss.” I hear the sound of footsteps, and I start to pick up my book again.

“Get my daughter to see me in my study. Now,” Papa orders.

I roll my eyes, wondering what he wants this time around. I’ve been doing my best to stay out of his way since Senator Barlowe’s wedding, where I evaded all his efforts to matchmake and went to bed early instead of joining the senator and his new wife for a few drinks.

The man peeks his head into the library and opens his mouth to relay Papa’s demand. I hold my hand up in the air. “Loud and clear. I’ll be right there.”

I take my time standing up and stretching, because unlike what he thinks, I’m neither one of his men nor a dog that comes running when he calls. I make my way to his office, wondering what he wants now or if he’s just itching for a fight to burn off all the agitation this new cargo is giving him.

“You called for me,” I say, barging in without knocking.

His eyes harden as they land on me, disapproval written over his face as he takes in my gray sweatpants and the oversized maroon T-shirt slipping off one shoulder. If only he knew whose wardrobe I’d pilfered the outfit from, he’d definitely have a conniption.

“What is that?” he snaps.

“Clothes,” I say curtly, dropping into a chair. “You wanted to see me.”

I refuse to let my father use me as his punching bag today. This incoming shipment has got his briefs in a bunch, and honestly, it’s none of my business. In a few days, I’ll be far, far away from here. Raffaele and I will be each other’s family, and I’ll never have to beg to be noticed again.

“You’ve probably heard me mention an incoming shipment,” he begins, steepling his fingers together under his jaw.

A time or one thousand , I think.

“What you don’t know is that this is the most critical move I’ve ever made as the head of this family,” he scoffs. “What am I saying? It may just be the most ballsy move anyone in the mafia has ever made or heard about.”

I nod slowly, waiting for him to get to the point.

“Everything we need for our survival is on that ship, headed to us. And if something happens to fuck it up—like for example, someone leaking information about it to the enemy—we’ll be ruined. Completely.”

I freeze, blinking at him. Does he know something? Have I been too careless about this relationship with Raffaele? Did he discover us that day at the wedding? A bead of sweat rolls down my back, and my hands suddenly feel clammy.

“I’ve taken care to eliminate every loose end, and I believe this will be a smooth operation.” His face hardens. “I’ve also put measures in place so that anyone who tries to sabotage our success will regret it. I dare those Gagliardi pigs to come for me.”

My heart starts to beat at a normal pace again. He doesn’t know about us. We are safe, at least for now.

But we won’t be truly safe here unless the rivalry between our families ends, or we put them in our rearview mirror.

“None of this would have been necessary if we just made peace with them. The wedding was the perfect opportunity to have a civil conversation and iron out our differences. Maybe the Gagliardis aren’t so?—”

“Enough!” He brings his fist down on the table, staring at me with disappointment, anger, and disgust. My stomach turns at the look in his eyes, and I reflexively hunch in the chair, trying to make myself smaller.

“You know nothing about them,” he says bitterly.

I snort. “Neither do you.”

“I know enough,” he argues. “I know that they took everything from me. They’ve turned this family into a laughingstock, made us mute in the presence of fellow men.”

I stare at him in surprise. “That sick bastard Luca Cozzoli, who, if I may add, you brought into our lives, has done more harm to us than the Gagliardis have ever done. He shot you, almost killed you! Or have you conveniently forgotten that part, the same way you tend to conveniently forget that the Echelon Syndicate took Mama and Val from us?”

“I’ve had enough of you defending that good-for-nothing family.

This will be the last time you dare to speak about making peace with them in my presence.

” The words hit me like a freight train.

“Do you hear me, Giulia? The fucking last time! The only thing that family deserves is death and destruction, and I’ll bring it right to their doorstep. ”

A part of me has always known that the only hope for us is to elope, but Papa’s harsh words now bring the realization home fully that there’s nothing left for us here.

This isn’t a fairy tale where the power of our love will heal the rift between our families.

This is real life, and the thirst for blood and revenge will always keep the families apart.

Our future lies somewhere where we can have a clean slate.

“He really said that?” Isa gapes at me as I recount the conversation with my father.

I nod, flopping back onto my bed with an exhausted sigh. A pounding headache has plagued me all day. It started from a small point at my temple and gradually spread until my entire skull feels like someone’s used it to play soccer. I’ve popped some pain relief, but none of it has worked.

I just want to crawl into my fiancé’s arms and forget about everything else but him for a few hours. Unfortunately, he’s been occupied all day. I’ve barely even heard from him, and even though it’s only been four hours since he called me, I miss him desperately.

“I can’t wait to marry Raffaele,” I tell her quietly.

She stretches out beside me on the bed. “I hate to bring it up again, but are you sure about this? You can have a new life that doesn’t involve him.

You know that, right? Just you and me, doing whatever the hell we want and meeting normal people for a change.

Maybe a college athlete with floppy golden-brown hair, kind brown eyes, and goofy golden-retriever energy. ”

I giggle, thinking about what that life would look like.

“Maybe,” I finally say. “Maybe if I’d never met him, I could have considered a life like that.”

But he’s changed everything. How can I ever settle for normal when I can have everything instead? It’s like choosing to eat raw flour when you’ve had cake.

And not just any kind of cake, but the most delicious, exquisite chocolate cake.

“You do know he’ll bring danger right to you?” She raises an eyebrow. “If you think for one second that your new life will be all flowers and roses, then you’d better think again. The danger isn’t Chicago; it’s men like him in it, and no matter how far you two run, it’ll forever cling to him.”

I squeeze my eyes shut. “He loves me. He’ll never let anything happen to me.”

“I still can’t believe you casually mention Raffaele and love in the same sentence. How crazy.” She sounds incredulous.

“He really does,” I reply.

“He probably fucked the entire population of this city when you were gone. How is that love? He didn’t even think to wait for you. I’m sorry, but that feels a little one-sided.”

“I don’t want to continue talking about this,” I snap, shooting her a hard look. I’m immediately apologetic when she flinches, looking chastised, but I press my mouth into a firm line to keep my apology locked in.

It’s high time I start standing up for Raffaele, too. “I don’t care what he’s done in the past. None of it matters. And maybe this makes me sound childish and naive, but it’s what’s ahead that matters. Our future together matters more than any of the bullshit from the past.”

My cousin watches me warily, and I offer her a small smile, clutching her hand firmly in mine. “I don’t mean this as a threat, but I want you to be part of my new life, and I don’t know how that will work if you’re still so suspicious of him.”

“I’m just looking out for you,” she argues.

“I know that,” I assure her. “Which is why you’re going to be at my wedding. I want you to be my maid of honor—what am I saying, it’s not like I have a line of bridesmaids.”

She stares at me wide-eyed. “R-really?”

“Of course. You’re my best friend, Isa. One of the most important people in my life. I want you at my wedding.”

“Oh. Thank you, Giulia.”

I laugh at how startled she seems by the whole thing. Did she really think I’d get married without her being involved in some way? As much as I love Raffaele, I can’t think of her not being there on such a momentous day.

“You’re welcome.” I grin at her.

“Have you decided what to wear?” She switches the topic. “Or a venue. And how do you two plan to do this? Are you thinking of getting married here and then disappearing right after?”

I shrug. “I’m not sure. And about an outfit, I was thinking any regular dress.”

“No way! I’m not letting you wear anything but a big, beautiful dress.”

I stare up at the ceiling, smiling as she tells me all about the Vera Wang dress she saw a few days ago.

I don’t care if the dress has intricate lace made by fairies; I don’t even care if I have to wear jeans and sneakers.

What matters is that I’ll be saying “I do” to spending the rest of my life with a man I love.

The thought leaves me giddy with hope and excitement, and the smile stays on my face for the rest of the night.