Page 11 of Shattered King

Fiorella

I keep looking down at my finger. I swear, the ring weighs like twenty pounds. I can’t stop thinking about it every time I move.

“Would you stop playing with that thing?” Elisa whispers to me as Raf and Luca walk together through my family’s house.

Papa’s office is tucked in the back of the first floor.

We live in a spacious Victorian home in the heart of the organization’s territory out on the fringes of the city in a place called Germantown.

It’s still technically Philadelphia, though barely.

There’s more space in the suburbs for garages.

Most of the cars stolen in the city make their way out here sooner or later.

“Just keep thinking how weird this is.” I glance at my little sister. She seems too young to me sometimes. I know I did the right thing, marrying Luca, because it means she’ll have a chance to live her own life. I’d do it again a thousand more times if I had to.

Especially since she’d never run away if she were in my place.

“Weird but also kind of good?” She slows slightly and lets the men get further ahead. “What do you think of your husband?” She’s got a mischievous little smile on her face.

“I don’t think anything of him.” I give her a hard stare in return. “He’s just some guy.”

“Just some extremely attractive guy.”

“Elisa.” I elbow her lightly. “Don’t start this.”

“What? I’m just saying. You two are married now, right? So you can—” Her eyebrows waggle dramatically.

“There won’t be any—” I do the eyebrow thing, but exaggerated. “Okay? Can you stop with that? We’re not ten years old.”

“Right, sorry, forgot you were so mature. I’ll call it sexual intercourse from now on.”

“That’s somehow worse.”

“I’m just saying, he’s hot, you’re hot, why not get involved?”

I cover my face with my hand—and feel the cold metal of the ring against my nose. “Why does my sister insist on talking about my sex life? It’s a little weird.”

“I’m living vicariously through you. Also, we have no boundaries. You know that.”

“Maybe we should get some,” I mumble.

She slips her hand through my arm. “Why bother starting now? Seriously, Fio, I love you. I just want you to be happy. And sometimes you need a little push in the right direction.”

“There’s no right direction with this guy, okay? There’s no future with him.”

She shoots me a quick look. “Don’t talk like that.”

“I’m just saying?—”

“Well, don’t, okay? We’re in this together. There’s always a future.”

“For me and you, always,” I say very softly, staring up ahead at Luca’s broad shoulders as he and Raf reach the office door. “But I’m not sure about him.”

“Give it a try anyway. Who knows? Maybe you’ll enjoy the intercourse.”

I groan but don’t have time to say anything. Luca looks back at us, lips pulled into a curious frown. Elisa gives him a cute little wave, waggling her fingers, and I feel my cheeks burning.

“You should wait out here,” Raf says to Elisa.

“Fio’s just going to tell me everything you say.” She slips her hand away from me. I wish she’d stay.

“I know that, but let’s all pretend anyway, okay?” He rubs his forehead as my sister walks away with a flippant wave.

Inside the office, Papa’s sitting on his little couch with a book in his lap.

Despite the warm afternoon, he’s got a fire going.

It’s hot, but not too uncomfortable. Papa’s in slacks and a sweater, looking smaller and thinner than he did just a few days earlier.

I walk over and stoop down to kiss his cheek.

“I hear congratulations are in order,” he says. His voice is a papery whisper. His skin is clammy and cold. “I hope you weren’t too much trouble.”

“Never, Papa.”

He gives me a tight smile as he holds my hands in his. He glances at the ring, lips pressing together. “Not never . You wouldn’t be you if it were never . Just… maybe a little less.”

“Did you call us here to lecture me on my bad attitude?”

“I wish.” He looks sad as he pats my hand and releases me.

“No, we have more important things to speak about.” He gestures at two waiting armchairs.

I take the one on the right, which is softer and more comfortable, sticking Luca with the one that creaks when you move around too much.

He frowns as it groans under his weight, and I try not to smile. Petty victories feel good sometimes.

“You’re looking well, Don Serrano,” Luca says, inclining his head respectfully.

“Please, call me Thomas. You’re my son-in-law now.” He glances over at where Raf’s standing near the desk, arms crossed over his chest. “I always thought my daughters would have big weddings. I never imagined a half-hour trip to the courthouse.”

“Life is strange sometimes,” Luca says.

“Yes, it very much is.” Papa struggles to sit up with a soft grunt.

I frown and have to resist the urge to go help him.

If we were alone, I’d be sitting by his side, but since Luca is here, this is a more formal occasion.

Still, I hate seeing my father like this.

“That’s why I wanted to speak with the two of you.

I have mixed news to share. Since I don’t know how to say it any other way, I’ll just be blunt.

My cancer is much worse than the doctors initially thought. ”

I go very still. My fingers begin to tingle and I’m sitting forward, my back very straight. “What are you talking about? I thought?—”

“The scans were bad, bambina mia . I was waiting to tell you, and now’s the time.”

I shake my head. Tears spring to my eyes and I struggle against them. “That can’t be right. You’re taking the treatment. We have months still.” I look over at Raf, but he’s grim. “We still have months, don’t we?”

My brother doesn’t react. His eyes slip to the floor, and that tells me everything.

“The doctors think it’s more like two months at best.” Papa’s voice is resigned. It can’t be easy talking about his own death like this. “I suspect it’s less than that.”

“I’m very sorry, Don Serrano,” Luca murmurs, his expression neutral.

“Papa.” I get up and go to him. “Tell me that’s not right.”

“I’m so sorry, bambina mia . I really wish it were otherwise, but I’ll be leaving you soon.

” He pats my leg soothingly. This is wrong, all wrong.

How is he the one trying to make me feel better when he’s the one dying?

But this is how it’s always been. Papa’s gentle and protective, and I’ve tried my hardest to be strong for him.

But now, suddenly facing down the prospect of life without him much sooner than I’d been prepared for, I feel my armor slipping away.

He’s a good father. He always was. There were mistakes—terrible, awful mistakes—and our family’s business makes everything difficult and everyone hard.

But Papa still loved us and doted on us throughout the years.

Maybe out of guilt for what happened when we were younger, but still.

Most men in his position would never let their eldest daughters rebuild classic cars.

Papa always encouraged me, even when my hobbies weren’t exactly what he would’ve liked.

I love him fiercely. And now I’m going to lose him.

“There has to be something we can do. I’ll call your doctor. Let me speak with him, maybe?—”

“There’s nothing, Fiorella, you know that. There’s nothing. It’s going to be okay.”

I hug him tightly. He pats my back. I somehow manage to keep the tears inside when I pull away.

“Is that all you wanted? Just to tell us you’re dying?”

He shakes his head. “I’m officially making Raf my heir. I’m telling the pair of you now, before I make the announcement.”

I nod slightly. I knew that was going to happen. Papa’s been grooming Raf for years. Nobody expected otherwise, though there will be some anger.

“Perhaps this should be a private family moment,” Luca murmurs, starting to get up.

Part of me is happy he’s leaving. The man is a stranger, and I don’t want to get all emotional in front of him.

But another, less rational part of me desperately needs him to stay.

He can protect me from this. He can make me forget this pain if I let him.

“This part involves you,” Papa says, waving a hand at him.

“We all know someone is trying to hurt my daughter. You guessed correctly when you said they were trying to keep you and Fiorella apart.” Papa glances at me.

I sit back, hands folded in my lap nervously, struggling to stay balanced while feeling like I’m dangling over a cliff’s edge.

“You know who it is.” Luca glances at Raf and back again. “You both know.”

“We have a guess,” Raf says quickly.

“There are people within our organization who are unhappy about my succession plans.” Papa’s smile is bitter and tinged with anger. “Your marriage to my daughter is a problem for them.”

“He’s talking about Uncle Corrado,” Raf cuts in, sounding angry. “That fucking lying cock-sucking?—”

“Raf, enough.” Papa speaks sharply. I catch a glimpse of the Don he used to be, full of life and power.

But it quickly fades again. “Your union represents a solution to my organization’s problem.

But I believe a certain faction wishes to stop it if they can.

The chaos is good for them. If our finances get worse, the Famiglia will have no choice but to turn away from me and my chosen successor. There will be a power vacuum.”

“One Uncle Corrado’s fat ass will happily fit,” Raf says, sounding ugly and angry.

Luca’s head tilts sharply. “Are you sure it’s your brother?” he asks.

“I’m not. My son thinks he is.” Papa glares at Raf.

“I don’t like to think my own brother would stoop to hurting his niece and sabotaging the Famiglia all to gain power, but he makes the most sense.

He has the most to gain. There are already some rumblings that he should’ve been chosen to take over after I pass. ”

“Traitors and cowards.” Raf slams a fist down against the desk. “They have no respect?—”

“Another outburst and I will ask you to leave.” Papa stares fire at Raf. My brother’s fists tighten, but he keeps his mouth shut.

“Then your passing will be a difficult moment,” Luca murmurs thoughtfully. He leans back in the chair, head tilted to the side, looking at me like he’s seeing me for the first time. “They won’t stop coming for her. Not until my family wipes out your debts and Raf is firmly in control.”

“That’s what I believe as well. I’m sorry it has to be like this.” Papa glances at me. “I never wanted to put you in danger, bambina mia . I know how hard you’ve worked to stay out of family politics until now.”

“It isn’t your fault.” Although we both know it is. He’s the one that asked this of me and all but blackmailed me into it. Still, it’s hard to be really mad, knowing he’s going to die soon. “What can we do about it?”

“Nothing for now. We keep moving forward. But, Luca, it will be your job to protect my daughter. Nothing can happen to her. Support Raf when I’m gone.

Keep the Serrano name alive. Keep the business going.

” He leans forward, a dangerous glint in his eye.

“And if we catch Corrado’s scheming—” He shakes a fist, tightening it like he’s choking a man.

Then he slumps back against the couch. “For now, we wait.”

Luca slowly stands. He looks down at my father, then at me. His eyes stay locked on mine. “I’ll do my best to support your family. It’s my family too. I know Don Marino takes this partnership seriously… and now it’s everything to me.”

“Thank you, Luca,” Papa says.

I shiver under my husband’s stare. Does he seriously mean that? It’s everything to him? I’m just some girl he fucked one time on a desk. A girl that doesn’t even particularly like him. A girl planning to run at the first chance I get.

I can’t imagine he means that.

Not a guy like him.

But there’s something in his gaze. It’s determination, but it’s also something else. A possessive longing… like he can’t help but stare at me.

I’ve never been looked at like that before.

We finish the meeting. I leave with Luca, and he puts an arm across my shoulders as we step into the hallway. Raf remains behind in the office with my father, and Elisa’s probably up in her room. We’re alone for a moment.

“I’m sorry about your father,” he says very gently, tightening his grip.

I have to take a moment before I can answer. I’m flooded with emotions. “It’s fine. We knew it was coming. This is just… faster than I wanted.”

“It’s never easy. Believe me. I’ll be here for you.”

I stare at him, not sure what to say. Why would he want anything to do with some random grieving woman? Just because I wear his ring doesn’t mean he owes me that.

But it’s kind of him, and I’ve been enough of a dick lately. “Thank you. But don’t be surprised if I don’t take you up on that.”

“I figured that’s what you’d say.” He smiles sadly and hugs me one more time. “But you can change your mind.”

I slip out of his grip and swallow against the tears. I’m not getting emotional just because this guy’s being kind to me. I can handle my father’s sickness without his help.

Still, there’s a tenderness I didn’t expect from Luca.

I have to walk ahead of him with my arms hugging my middle so he doesn’t see the tears in my eyes.