Page 191 of Bride By Initiation

"How's that fair to Valentina?" I question.

"It's not. But Valentina's fine. Like I said, she now has you and Sean. Correct?" She arches her eyebrows.

I blink hard and nod. "Yeah."

She crosses her arms. "Okay, so now you know. But if you carry this anger for your father into your seat at the table, you'll make mistakes.Others will get hurt. So you have to make peace with the situation. He did what he did to protect his sister and niece, but ultimately he sees it as his failure."

I argue, "It's not his fault they fell in love. But he could have given Marcello the benefit of the doubt."

Sylvia holds up her hand. "You can't play the what-if game, Zara. Things were different back then. As I said, the war between the families was at an all-time high. You don't have any idea what it was like, or what your father witnessed. The things the Abruzzos did were unforgivable, even if Marcello didn't participate."

I close my eyes, trying to think of how to get my father to accept Valentina again.

Sylvia warns, "You'll go crazy trying to figure out the impossible. Some things are meant to be left alone, and this is one of those. If you cannot move past this, you cannot take your seat at the table. Do you understand?"

"Why can't I take a seat at the table just because I want to bring my family together?" I spout.

"There's more to it. The Underworld is not for everyone to know about, and you know that," she cautions.

"But you said my father already knows about it."

She sighs. "He knows what the intent behind it was. He does not know the extent of it, though, and he's never to find out. He does not have the capacity, just like Sean's uncles, to get over the past. But you don't need to lose your father, or your mother, over this."

I glance at the covered windows, my insides quivering. I don't want to lose my parents, but I also want to be fair to Valentina. Thinking of her alone on holidays or for major life events makes me sad.

Once again, it's as if Sylvia can read my mind. She repeats, "She hasyou. It's more than she's had since her parents died. Trust me. She's going to need you at some point."

I meet Sylvia's gaze.

She questions, "Are you able to separate the two? I need to know. Otherwise, you cannot take your seat at the table."

I take a moment to ponder her question. Then I nod and answer, "Yes. I will separate the two."

"Good. And are you willing to make the sacrifice at the final ceremony? No matter what it entails?"

My mouth turns dry. "Do I have to kill someone again?"

She shrugs. "I don't know what the sacrifice will be, but you must be willing to follow through. Otherwise, don't walk into the ceremony, because you won't walk out."

I shudder, not wanting to die.

What will they make me do?

"Zara, you don't have to do this. You can maintain your current level," she offers.

I lift my chin and square my shoulders. "No. I will take my seat at the table."

She rises. "Then we must go. The seventh moon is coming. We have limited time."

Nerves fill me. "It's going to happen tonight?"

She nods. "Yes."

I follow her out of the office and onto the roof, where a helicopter awaits. We get in and lift off, zooming over the city.

A thousand thoughts plague me, but the worst thing is my anxiety. It looms over me, getting worse as more time passes.

There's only one important question right now: What will I have to sacrifice to get my seat with the Omni?

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