Page 75 of Damon

Yes, I understand exactly what it means."

"Do you? Because from where I'm sitting, it looks like you've just signed your death warrant."

I think about my conversation with Bosco, about the historical precedents he found, about the one scenario where everyone not only survives but thrives.

"There might be a way through this," I say. "What if instead of viewing this as a problem, we see it as an opportunity?"

Uncle Sal laughs bitterly. "An opportunity? You've dishonored Roberto's virgin daughter. The only opportunity here is choosing how you want to die."

"Not necessarily."

I pull out my phone and show them the notes I took during Bosco's call. The historical cases, the precedents, the one scenario that turns enemies into allies.

"Bosco researched traditional customs around this exact situation," I explain. "In most cases, yes, it ends badly. But there's one exception."

My father takes the phone, scanning the information. "A male heir?"

"Right. A child who carries both bloodlines, who makes war between our families impossible because any violence risks harm to their shared blood."

"This is only theoretical," Uncle Sal says. "Historical cases from decades ago."

"Historical cases that worked. The Rossi and Benedetto families ended a fifty-year feud this way. The Marino and Costello families did the same thing."

"And if there's no child?"

"Then we're back to the original three options. But if there is a chance."

My father sets down the phone and studies my face. "You think she's pregnant?"

"It’s a possibility. Enough that we should consider how to handle it if she is."

Uncle Sal leans back in his chair. "Let me understand this. You're suggesting we approach Roberto Bonacci and tell him that instead of being angry about you dishonoring his daughter, he should be grateful because you might have given him a grandson?"

"I'm suggesting we present him with an opportunity to turn a potential disaster into a strategic advantage."

"By doing what?"

"By formalizing a real alliance. Our families working together instead of against each other."

My father is quiet for a long moment, processing this. "The child would be legitimate?"

"If we handle this right, yes. Marriage makes everything legitimate."

"You’re suggesting a marriage to Roberto's daughter."

Uncle Sal picks up one of the photos again. "You really think Roberto's going to see this as an opportunity instead of an insult? I can’t imagine him feeling anything except murderous rage towards you."

"Roberto's a smart man who understands that combining resources is more profitable than fighting over them."

"And if he doesn't see it that way?"

"Then we're no worse off than we were before."

"Yes, we are," my father corrects. "Before, we had an alliance built on mutual benefit. Now we have a situation that demands either marriage or bloodshed."

"That’s why we choose marriage."

"It's not that simple." My father stands up, moving to the window that looks out over the restaurant's parking lot. "Because marriage means you leave our family and join his. Because it means our heir becomes part of the Bonacci organization. Because it means everything we've built gets absorbed into their empire."