Page 4 of His to Have
She paused, letting her words sink in. “And more importantly, she’s loyal. You wouldn’t have to worry about her motives shifting. She’s been groomed to protect the family’s interests.As she rises, she’ll make sure you’re protected on all sides—politically and legally.”
I nodded slowly, appreciating her response. Denise wasn’t wrong, but I still had to consider the timeline. Could Stephanie’s future pull really help us fast enough to counter Orlando’s moves? My gaze shifted briefly between my father and Samuel, weighing the options.
Gianni cut in, his voice now carrying a hint of irritability. “Look, political alliances are useful, but we don’t have the luxury of time. We need immediate results, not potential. I respect what Denise and Stephanie bring to the table, but Orlando is making his moves now. That means we need someone who’s ready to act now. We need men in the streets. We need soldiers.”
He shot a quick glance at my father, gauging his reaction. My father remained silent, his face unreadable. His mind was working, calculating the pros and cons of every option on the table.
Samuel, however, wasn’t so silent. “Gianni’s right about the urgency,” he agreed, leaning forward. “But let’s not forget the bigger picture. We can’t afford to shut out political leverage either. If we’re going to protect our assets down South—and up North—we need both muscle and influence. Orlando’s strategy is two-fold. He’s using the Whitman family to gain position politically and on the streets. If we don’t counter him on both fronts, we’ll lose ground faster than we can gain it.”
My father finally spoke, his tone measured. “A Reed-Donatelli merger would combine the strongest assets in both regions. We’d have the street presence in the North and South, and with Samuel’s connections, we’d tighten our grip on the East Coast.” He paused, his gaze sweeping the room. “That doesn’t mean we dismiss political power altogether, but it needs to complement what we already have.”
Denise didn’t seem fazed by the shift in conversation. “Stephanie is a future powerhouse. While her influence may not be fully established yet, pairing her with the Donatelli family would only accelerate that process. The legal protection she could offer is invaluable, especially as we expand.”
Gianni leaned back, folding his arms, clearly weighing the options as well. “Samuel, Marco... you both know your kids are the strongest candidates for this. A Reed-Donatelli merger strengthens us more than anything. But if this is going to happen, we need to agree—who’s stepping up to the plate?”
The room went quiet, all eyes shifting between my father, Samuel, and me. If a Reed-Donatelli marriage was the strongest move, then I knew where this conversation was headed.
Me and Ayanna.
But did I want that? At eighteen? And with a girl I knew I loved but wasn’t emotionally ready for. I could handle being a provider, and completing my duty for the family for anyone else. I’d have married whoever they told me to and she’d be happy, on paper. But I knew I wouldn’t be good to her. Not really. Not in the ways that mattered.
But Ayanna?
I couldn’t be that man to her. I’d be devastated if I fumbled any parts of her.
“A Reed-Donatelli is the best option.” Samuel’s voice cut through the silence, as he looked over to me. “I’ve always considered you as a son. A marriage between you and my daughter will bind our families for life.”
“I’ll agree, but only on one condition.”
If this agreement was going to happen, I needed to lay out the terms. As well as what was in the best interests of me and my future wife. We weren’t ready for marriage. Not at our age. She deserved to live her life first, just like I did.
Samuel gestured for me to continue, all eyes turning toward me.
“I want Ayanna to have her freedom until we are both ready. We’ll marry when she turns twenty-five. That gives us both time. Time for her to grow into who she wants to be, and for me to take full control of the Donatelli operations.” I glanced at my father, making it clear that I wasn’t just thinking of myself, but the future of our family’s empire.
Samuel looked thoughtful, his chin dipping in a slow nod. “And in the meantime? Orlando’s not going to wait for either of you to grow into your roles. We need to act now.”
“I agree. I’ll make sure both regions are stable, and that Orlando is handled. I’ll move some of our men to the South to reinforce our presence. In fact, I’ll go personally.”
I looked him in the eye as I laid out my plan.
“Our soldiers will work together—my men and yours. Move as one, sharing intel, and covering each other’s backs. If Orlando’s going to make a move, he won’t know where to strike because we’ll be united on every front.”
Bash shifted slightly beside his father, his sharp eyes moving from me to Samuel.
Gianni finally spoke up, his voice gruff but measured. “I can back this plan. We secure our strongholds now, and in seven years, when the marriage takes place, we’ll be in a position to expand further. In the meantime, the Vitale family will stand with the Reeds and Donatellis. Orlando won’t get a foothold in the South, not with all of us working together.”
Denise nodded as well, adding her support to the plan. “Politically, I’ll make sure Orlando’s connections don’t extend further. Stephanie can handle any legal challenges that come our way, and we’ll continue to build those ties as she grows in her career. We might not be merging families today, but we will always remain connected.”
I looked over at Samuel, waiting for his response. He was a man of few words when it came to these kinds of decisions, but when he spoke, everyone listened. He studied me for a moment before glancing at my father leaning back in his chair. He crossed his arms.
“This is all good in theory, but we’re talking about years before this marriage is official. The alliance needs to be secure now. We need something that lets the world know this deal is as good as done. Something tangible.”
He paused. “You’re right. We need more than just words.” My father glanced at me, then back to Samuel. “The Donatelli family will offer collateral.”
“Like what?” Samuel asked.
“A stake in our most lucrative import business. The Red Pillar. You’ll get 20 percent ownership until the marriage is official. That’ll make our agreement irrefutable.”
