Page 74 of Of Oaths and Secrets

My father nearly chokes on his drink. “What?”

“Nora. Mywife,” I say, emphasizing the words. “I’m taking her to Tuscany. I owe her a honeymoon.”

He scoffs, setting his glass down hard on the table. “Since when do you owe a woman anything?”

“Since she’s my wife,” I repeat, keeping my voice steady.

His eyes narrow, the lines on his face deepening as he scrutinizes me. “Since when do you do honeymoons? You’re a sociopath, Rafaele.”

I don’t flinch at the accusation, though a part of me wants to argue. I’m not a sociopath. I thought I was, feeling so little for so long, but now… God, I feel. “Since I got married.”

“What the hell are you doing? What are you trying to pull? You’ve been married for what? Three months? Do you really think this is the time for vacations?” His voice rises with frustration.

I lean back in my chair, feigning nonchalance. “Tell me, father, why did you marry my mother?”

His lip curls in disgust. “Your mother was a whore.”

I flinch inwardly, the magnitude of hatred for this man becoming harder to suppress. “Before she was a whore,” I reply, my voice cool, the mask of indifference firmly in place.

“She was from a powerful family. I needed their support. And as a capo, I couldn’t just disappear for a honeymoon. I had to stay and rule. Like I expect you to do.”

“But I’m not the capo, am I? You are. You always say you rule with perfection. A week or two without me won’t bring the empire crumbling down.”

He presses his lips together, clearly aware that he’d be lost without me. I’ve ensured that I’m irreplaceable. But the truth is, I don’t just want this trip for power. I want it for her. I can already picture it: Nora in the Tuscan countryside, walking through fields of sunflowers, picking figs from an orchard. Maybe there, I could shed the skin of The Reaper, even if just for a little while. I could be the man she sees when she looks at me. The Rafaele I want to be, even if only for her.

“That’s what this is about?” my father snaps, his voice filled with suspicion. “You want me to step down?”

Yes. “Not particularly,” I say instead, a slight smirk tugging at my lips. “I’ve just found a new toy, and I’m enjoying her a lot more than I expected.”

He gives a curt nod. “Make sure that’s all she is. A toy for your pleasure, an obedient hostess, and a breeder for your children.”

Disgust coils in my gut, but I glance at my watch to mask the revulsion crawling up my throat. I can't let him see it. Not now.

“I can’t believe Leo didn’t notice he had a traitor under his nose at the club.” My father spits the words out, his face hardening with that familiar look of disappointment and accusation.

I shrug, keeping my expression neutral. “Well, it’s hard to believe you didn’t notice and sent a traitor to spy on my brother.” I meet his gaze, the challenge clear in my voice. “But what do I know? I've been too busy to even look into any of it.”

He stiffens but doesn’t respond. The tension between us hangs heavy, unspoken but palpable. Finally, I stand, smoothing down my jacket, signaling the end of this tedious conversation. “I need to get to the club now. Best of luck with your meeting with Rodrigo.”

“Do you think you’d be a better capo than me?” he asks just as my hand reaches for the door.

I pause, halfway turned toward him. “Why do you ask?”

“Because you’re always judging,” he says in a low, accusatory voice. “Always defending your brother. You’re my sottocapo, Rafaele. You owe me your loyalty.”

Loyalty is earned,I think to myself, but I keep that thought buried. I turn back fully, locking eyes with him. “You know how crucial loyalty is to me, Father. You have it.”

“Do I?” His voice sharpens with suspicion.

I sigh, my patience thinning. “I don’t have time for these games. What is it you really want to say?”

“Leo is up to something,” he says, his tone darkening.

I know. God, do I know. “Leo’s always up to something.” I wave a hand dismissively. “It’s probably women-related.”

“Find out what the hell he’s doing and fix it,” he demands, his voice brooking no argument.

“I will.”

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