Chapter 2

Aristide

I flinched as the front door flew open hard enough that it would make a bang on the wall behind it. I watched Enzo, my best friend, dart forward and catch the door just before it could though. Elena, my little sister, made her usual dramatic entrance. She always pushed the door hard enough to bounce off the wall, and I was half-convinced she did it just to irritate me and our father.

“That was so much fun!” she exclaimed, spinning on her toes as she twirled into the sitting room.

“Thank you,” I mouth to Enzo as I walked past him.

Turning my attention to my sister, who was now doing slow pirouettes in the middle of the room, I shook my head and asked with a laugh, “Are you ever not a total terror?”

She stopped, planting her hands on her hips like a mini general. “I had a fun day with my big brother. Is that such a bad thing?” She grinned at me, and I couldn’t help smiling back. Elena was the best person I knew. Every second I got with her felt like a blessing—especially now, with my life moving faster than I’d like. Training for the family business and being pushed toward a marriage I didn’t even want meant I barely had time to breathe.

“I had fun today too,” I say.

Before we could say anything else, my father’s yelling boomed from his office. I met Enzo’s eyes, and he gave me a knowing nod.

“We’ll catch up later,” I sigh to my sister.

Elena laughs with a head shake and an eye roll, “Glad you got to have a little bit of fun before going back to being all serious and shit,” she lowers her voice and frowns in an attempt to sound and look like me.

Enzo burst out laughing, which earned him a glare from me.

“I don’t sound like that and I’m definitely cuter than you when I frown,” I said, stick out my tongue at both of them before turning to go to my father’s office. I hear Enzo say something to Elena before following me.

The yelling only got louder as I approached. I glanced back at Enzo, silently asking if he knew what the hell was going on. He shrugged, looking just as clueless. I knocked on the door but didn’t wait for permission—I doubted my father would’ve heard it over his shouting anyway.

“Fuck!” my father yelled as he threw his phone across the room, I hear the screen crack as I watch it hit the ground. I looked at him with wide eyes. My father is very controlled. Seeing him lose his temper, had the hair on my neck standing up.

“What is it?” I ask cautiously.

“Romano wants to change the deal,” he growled.

Enzo walked over, picked up the broken phone, and placed it gently on the desk. I kept my eyes on my father.

“Does he want land? Money?” I couldn’t think of anything more that they could possibly want. We had given them so much already. I was the only one really losing in this by getting a wife I didn’t want.

He shook his head, running both hands through his hair. “They want to change the bride.”

Enzo let out a laugh. I shot him a glare, silently begging him not to make this worse, even if it was the best news I’d heard in months. He raised his hands in surrender and stared up at the ceiling, barely containing himself. If my father noticed my reaction, he’d twist it and use it against me somehow. I had to stay cool.

When Enzo finally got control of himself, he looked at my father and asked, “Does that mean he’ll be marrying Izzy?”

“Yes,” he nodded at him, then looked at me. “I know that it isn’t the oldest daughter. Which means we lose some leverage with their territory,” he looked like he was sorry for me, but I knew the truth was he’s pissed about losing negotiating power.

“I wasn’t going to get much out of it anyway, not with Marco being the heir,” I said with a shrug. “But maybe offering this shows we’re serious about peace. We can call in the favor later.”

He seemed to consider that, so I snuck a quick glance at Enzo. He winked at me, and I nearly cracked a smile. This was it. I’d dodged a bullet in the form of Gianna—Izzy’s spoiled, self-obsessed sister. Marrying her would’ve been hell. Izzy told me all about her and she would have made my life a living hell.

“I suppose you’re right,” my father said after a minute.

I nodded, “Why don’t I call Isabella and speak with her,” I stood up, “as a sign of goodwill,” I added before he had a chance to think about it.

He nodded. The second he turned his attention away from me, I walked out of the room with Enzo, practically buzzing with relief.

When the door closed behind me and Enzo, his hand landed on my shoulder. “This is great news, brother.”

Nodding, I tell him, “Not too loud,” I look back at him then the door. My father can’t know how excited I am about this. He will use the information somehow. I just know it. I won’t let Izzy become a pawn.

“Sorry,” he whispers as I walk away from him. “I am happy for you though. Probably should wait to tell Elena though,” he chuckles, and I laugh with him.

Izzy had moved to New York four years ago for NYU—right when the alliance was first discussed. Antonio, her father and a boss in L.A., had reached out to my father about protection, and I volunteered to check on her once a week. It wasn’t long before those weekly visits turned into daily ones. There was something about her. And yeah… that body didn’t hurt. She had no idea how beautiful she was.

I took her on city tours, showed her all my favorite spots. Told myself it was for the alliance, but Enzo saw through that faster than anyone.

That first Thanksgiving, she stayed with us. She and Elena hit it off instantly—best friends by the end of the week. Over the years, their bond only grew stronger. Elena’s going to be over the moon about this. Enzo, too. He was practically shaking when he first met Izzy. Tried to joke about asking her out until I growled at him in the middle of the sidewalk. He got the message—loud and clear. Said she was mine and never crossed that line again. Now he says he loves her like a sister. He’d die for her, and I believe him. It’s a good thing. He would end up being my right hand when I took over. But until then, when I couldn’t be with her, he would be.

“We have to keep it together,” I reminded him, trying to wipe the excitement off my face. I probably looked just like Elena when she was mocking me earlier.

He zipped his lips in an exaggerated motion, and I nodded, patting his shoulder before heading toward the east wing.

“I’ll fill you in later,” I called back, barely restraining myself from sprinting to my room. I had a call to make—and I was finally going to speak to the girl I’d been wanting to marry from the very beginning.