Chapter 9 – By Fate I Conquer Cora Reilly Read Online Free
Dad, however, looked as if he was about ready to hunt Giovanni down. “What happened?” His words, even if they were the same as Mom’s, held a very different meaning. I could see that he was already imagining all the horrible things Giovanni might have done to upset me, and how to make him pay tenfold for his transgression. “What did he do?”
“Nothing,” I said firmly. That was the problem. I couldn’t tell Dad the exact reasons why I had broken up with Giovanni, especially because they were the reasons why Dad probably would have chosen him. They were most definitely the reasons why Dad had allowed me to date Giovanni in the first place. Dad could read people and he’d probably smelled from a mile away that Giovanni was too cowardly to ever touch me.
Dad looked at Amo as if he hoped my brother would prove my words wrong, but Amo only shrugged as if he didn’t have the slightest clue and would rather die than suffer another moment of his hangover.
Mom’s eyes softened further. “Maybe you and Giovanni can fix it?”
“No,” I said immediately. If I returned to Giovanni, that would only happen out of habit and because I hated the prospect of an uncertain future, but those weren’t good enough reasons to continue a relationship. “I just realized I don’t love him. I don’t want to settle for less than what you have.”
Mom smiled softly. “Sometimes love takes time. Your father and I weren’t in love when we married.”
“I know. You didn’t even choose to marry but it didn’t take you years to love each other. Giovanni and I have been together for more than two years, but I don’t love him, and I never have.”
Dad finally rose from the chair as well. “There must have been an event that made you realize this.”
“There wasn’t, Dad. Honestly. I’ve realized it a while ago but I didn’t want to give up too quickly, especially knowing that it might reflect badly on you and Mom if I break off the relationship and worse, our engagement. The Famiglia is still stuck in the Middle Ages in some regards.”
Mom nodded but Dad still eyed me as if he expected me to give him a more satisfying answer to his question. “I’m going to have a word with Giovanni.”
My eyes widened in alarm, and Mom warned, “Luca, that’s Marcella’s decision.”
“It is her decision but I should still talk to Giovanni and see what he has to say.”
“In his defense, you mean,” I added angrily. I loved my dad and his protectiveness, but sometimes it went too far.
“It’s my job to make sure you don’t get harmed.”
I lost it. “But you are the reason why it didn’t work out in the first place! So if you want to find an answer to your question then you have to look in the mirror.”
“Watch your tone,” Dad said firmly, then he frowned. “Now explain. I supported your relationship with Giovanni. Didn’t I?” he asked, turning to Mom.
“After your initial resentments, you were in favor of the relationship, yes,” Mom said neutrally.
Amo stifled a grin, but I was far from being amused.
“You were in favor of Giovanni because of how easily you could control him. He was always eager for your approval. You could be sure he’d never do anything you didn’t want.”
“I don’t see a problem.”
“Of course, you don’t. But what I want should matter in a relationship and not your wishes!”
“I am who I am, Marcella. My reputation carries even beyond our circles. Few men have the bravery to disregard my wishes. That’s something you’ll have to accept. I’m giving you more freedoms than most girls have, far more freedoms than your mother ever had, but you’ll always be bound by certain rules.”
“I guess then I’ll just have to find someone who has the balls to stand up to you,” I gritted out.
“Language,” Mom said.
I shook my head and stalked off.
“Breakfast isn’t finished,” Dad reminded me, but I ignored him.
I headed straight for my room and flung myself on my bed, letting out a frustrated cry. Who would have the guts to go against Dad’s wishes? Giovanni and all the other Famiglia soldiers even tried to anticipate Dad’s unvoiced wishes.
A man like that would never make me happy. But the normal guys I met in college were even worse. They barely glanced my way because they worried Dad would chase them Al Capone style. They didn’t know any real facts about the Famiglia but even their imagination was bad enough to keep them at arms’ length. If they really knew what Dad was capable of, they’d run away crying. No, I could never respect a man like that.
I stared up at the ceiling blankly. Maybe someone from another mob family. But I had absolutely no intention to move to the West Coast, nor to become a part of the Camorra. They were too crazy for my taste. And someone from the Outfit? I might as well just put a bullet in Dad’s heart.
I guess I’d have to stay single indefinitely.
A soft knock sounded, and Mom came in. “Can I talk to you?”
I nodded and sat up. I didn’t want to mope around on the bed like a five-year-old. Mom perched on the mattress beside me and gave me an understanding smile. She was always understanding. I supposed she’d learned that behavior in her marriage with Dad.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes,” I said. I wasn’t sad about losing Giovanni, not really. “I’m just sad I didn’t end things sooner.”
Mom tilted her head. “Is there anything you want to tell me that you couldn’t say in front of your dad?”
I laughed. “Giovanni didn’t do anything so I don’t have to protect him. Dad would probably give him accolades for being such a perfect gentleman.”
Mom bit her lip, obviously fighting amusement.
“Go ahead, laugh. I feel like a laughingstock anyway,” I muttered. “Is it so wrong to want it all? Love, passion, and someone that Dad likes… or at least tolerates?”
“Maybe things would improve after your wedding.”
I shook my head. “Giovanni will always try to please Dad with everything he does.”
“I suppose that’s true.”
“You were so lucky that you got Dad. He is the one everyone fears. He’d never try to please anyone. He takes what he wants.”
“I didn’t see it that way at first. I was terrified of your father. Love and passion required some work on both parts.”
“No matter how hard I try I can’t imagine you being scared of Dad. You are like yin and yang, you complement each other.”
“Someday, you’ll find that special someone.”
“Where?”
“Where you least expect it.”
Gunnar and I waited in the van, smoke filling the inside. Since we’d left the clubhouse, I had smoked pretty much non-stop. Today was the day. I had to admit I was nervous like a virgin before her cherry got popped. We’d been trailing Marcella for weeks now, waiting for the perfect moment to abduct her.
Unfortunately, the safety measures Vitiello had put in place for her were almost impenetrable. Earl was losing patience, but a risky maneuver would only alert Vitiello and not get us anywhere. Maybe this was our only chance. I wouldn’t mess up.
“Maybe she left through another door,” Gunnar said. His shoulder-length gray hair had fallen almost completely out of his ponytail because of his constant fretting. I’d never seen him so nervous.
“Nah,” I said. “The cars are still here. Let me check the area.”
I hopped out of the van and squashed my cigarette under my boot before I strolled along the pavement. I felt naked without my cut, but wearing anything that linked me to Tartarus would have been stupid and pretty much suicide. Even in civilian clothes, the risk of being spotted by one of Marcella’s bodyguards was still high, but I could feel it in my blood that today was the day.
Eventually, I spotted the spoiled princess. She talked to an older man in loafers and a mustard-yellow suit coat, probably a professor. I hadn’t even finished high school so I didn’t have much experience with these things but he looked like someone who spent too much time with his nose in books.
Her bodyguards kept a respectful distance but were still too close for us to grab her. We had enough ammo and guns to conquer the entire college, but we wanted to keep things as low-key as possible. We didn’t want the police on our backs. Having Vitiello and the Famiglia lighting fire under our asses was more than enough. Not to mention that Vitiello paid half the cops, so they’d probably hand us right over to him and then we’d be pulp.
I trailed Marcella at a safe distance on campus. I’d even grabbed a couple of books in the library to look my part. She studied business and marketing or pretended to do so. I bet her daddy bought her degree for her. Not that she needed a college education, she’d marry that sappy fiancé and become a trophy wife like all the mob women.
I hadn’t seen Marcella and her boy toy together in over a week, which was unusual, but today he trailed her again like a lost puppy. He didn’t know much about women if he couldn’t see how annoyed she was by his simpering begging. But his whining eventually worked and she followed him to his car for a conversation. Of course, the posh boy had a fancy Mercedes Cabriolet. The Famiglia just swam in money.
She ordered her bodyguards away and they stayed back at the stairs to the main building.
I straightened and grabbed my phone to send Gunnar a text. Keeping an eye on Marcella and her boy toy, I jogged over to the old van and got into the passenger seat where I dropped the books on the floorboard. Slowly, Gunnar steered the car toward the parking lot where Marcella and her fiancé seemed caught in an argument in front of his sleek car.
By Fate I Conquer Cora Reilly Read Online PDF Free Download