Amo chuckled despite his skin turning increasingly red. “I won’t, and nothing you do will convince me. I’m going to divorce her and then marry Greta.”
The way he said‘Greta’—gentle, loving, protective—told me all I needed to know. Vitiello men had high walls around their hearts but once they fell for a woman, they fell hard, and Amo was utterly in love with Greta.
Luca shoved him against the wall again. I couldn’t watch anymore. I grabbed Luca’s arm but neither Luca nor Amo paid me any attention.
“You know the punishment for betrayal and for disobedience.”
“If you think I should die for loving someone as much as you love Mom, then go ahead and try to kill me, Dad.”
Try to kill me. I could see that Amo was willing to fight Luca over this. Amo had always respected his father too much to fight back, but Greta meant too much to him. I could see my family falling apart right before my eyes and I couldn’t bear it.
Luca released Amo and took a step back. “You know full well that I would never kill you even if it would be the right thing to do!”
Amo rubbed his throat. I moved in front of him and touched the red skin. I swallowed hard. I knew this world was harsh. I knew Luca had to make sure Amo was ready for the tasks ahead but this was a lot to stomach for me as a mother.
“I’ll follow my heart, Dad. You can accept it or not, but the outcome will be the same. Greta will be my wife.”
“Once you kill Remo and Nevio and all the other crazy fuckers?”
“If that’s what it takes.”
Amo couldn’t be serious. I didn’t know Greta well but she’d seemed to have a good relationship with her family. I couldn’t imagine her forgiving him if he hurt them.
“I suppose then I can start preparing Valerio for the position as Capo?”
Luca crossed his arms in front of his chest.
Amo shrugged but I knew him. I knew how much he wanted to become Capo like his father, and I knew how proud Luca had always been that Amo would take over one day. What was happening here was breaking my heart.
“I don’t want to be Capo,” Valerio said, no humor in his tone for once. I gave him a smile. “I never wanted that. It’s Amo’s job.”
“One son doesn’t want a position thousands of soldiers would kill for and the other doesn’t respect that it takes sacrifice to become Capo.”
“I’m willing to sacrifice a lot for the Famiglia and this family, Dad. I’ll be a good Capo like you, but have you ever considered that you are a good Capo because Mom has your back? You have her by your side when the carnage and bullshit get too much. Without her, where would you be today?”
Luca looked at me and tears welled in my eyes. “I’d be in a very dark place and probably a worse Capo than my father had been.”
I didn’t believe that. Luca had always been better than his father, but it meant a lot that he thought I had helped him be a good Capo.
“I need Greta by my side to be Capo. I love her. I always admired what you and Mom have, but I never thought I could have it because it’s so fucking rare in our world.”
Luca regarded Amo with narrowed eyes. “And you think you have it with Greta?”
“I know it.”
I walked over to Luca and linked our hands. He gave me a tired look before he turned to Amo once more. “This will cause a major scandal, fuck, possibly a revolt. We’ll have to spill blood to shut up Antonaci’s supporters. Lots of blood if we can’t bribe him into silence somehow, which I doubt.”
“I’m willing to spill as much blood as it takes.”
Luca released a long breath. “If you think she’s worth it—”
“She is.”
“Then I stand by your side and spill as much blood as it takes. I’ve spilled blood for far less.”
I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore and Valerio wrapped his arms around my neck from behind, his chin on top of my head. “Blood spill, in time for Christmas. What a jolly message. Born in Blood, Sworn in Blood indeed.”
I choked on a laugh and slapped his hand. The prospect of a major conflict within the Famiglia terrified me but at the same time I knew it was unavoidable to give Amo the happiness he deserved, which was all I wanted for him. If blood was the price that we all had to pay, then so be it.