Page 2 of Ruthless Reign

“My house is perfect for two people,” he said. “It’s on a mountain, and it overlooks the city. You’ll be safe there.”

Out of one monster’s land, into another.

“It’s settled,” said Roman’s lawyer, Berkshire. “Ms. Caputi will reside at Mr. Montgomery’s residence until further accommodations can be agreed upon.”

Angelo checked that item off before flipping the page. “Section five, subsection two, paragraph three—last name.”

“Caputi,” I said at the same time Leo and Roman said, “Montgomery.”

Shocked but desperate to hide it, I looked at my brother with murder in my eyes.

“This is an alliance,” Leo said. “You must play the part if anyone is to believe it.”

I took a deep breath to calm the rising fury in my gut, knowing it would get me nowhere. My life had always been rooted in doing whatever the men around me deemed appropriate. My uncle, Benito, had been the Caputi boss before he died, and my father, Giuseppe, had been his brother and most trusted adviser. I’d had to act a certain way, dress a certain way, conduct myself a certain way to appease their conservative mentality, no matter what it cost me. This would be no different.

“Perhaps you’d be open to a compromise?” Roman said, looking directly at me. “Caputi-Montgomery?”

Ugh, what a mouthful.

I already had four middle names, but perhaps this was Roman extending a tiny olive branch over the vast divide between us.

“Thank you,” I said. “Montgomery is fine.”

Roman cleared his throat, shifted in his seat, and gave Berkshire a glance of approval.

“Okay,” Angelo said. “That brings us to the next section. Procreation.”

I sighed, knowing this was coming.

“What?” Roman said, leaning forward, blinking incredulously. “What about it?”

“You will produce a child within a year,” Leo said, his tone calm and dignified despite how manipulative this whole thing was.

Roman laughed and shook his head. “You must be joking.”

“I am not,” Leo continued. “The only way this works is if Rose and Caputi blood are mixed. We need to be family. A child will go a long way to smooth over any…opposition…on both sides.”

“There is already a child of both Caputi and Rose blood,” Roman said. “And surprise, surprise, she doesn’t want anything to do with you.”

“Alba did not grow up in the Caputi family. Except for a few individuals, no one else knows she exists.” Leo raised an eyebrow. “Besides, everyone loves babies.”

Roman blew out a breath and shook his head with a sarcastic laugh. “Fucking hell.”

“Language,” Leo said. “Especially in front of my sister.”

“Your sister has said worse to me personally.” Roman looked at me with a sly smirk, and I bit back a grin at the thought of the first time I’d ever met him. He’d been keeping Leo prisoner for months, and my brother looked like hell. I’d read Roman the riot act for not taking better care of him.

“Nevertheless,” Leo said. “Show some respect.”

“You’re okay with this?” Roman asked, brown gaze trained on me. “Be honest. If you’re not, we’ll shut it down.”

“Julia will do—” Leo started.

“I’m not talking to you,” Roman interrupted. “You’re not the one I have to fuck, are you?”

I bit my lip as Leo adjusted his hips and let out a low growl of frustration.

None of this was how I’d ever imagined my life would go. Once upon a time, I’d been in love with a beautiful boy from my high school, Vittori. But he was a Morelli, and therefore, not fit for a Caputi. When my father learned we were together, he quickly disposed of my beloved and shattered my heart. After that had been Hugo. From the moment I met him, I had stars in my eyes. I’d always thought we’d run away together and have six kids by the time I was thirty. Now, I knew better.

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