Chapter 2

CALISTA.

The reaction I expected never came. Normally, the second I mentioned my name, any person tied to the Cappellucci familia should have gagged me, bound me, and thrown me into the boot of their car. This man only stared at me with unreadable eyes.

Beautiful eyes though.

God, I'm drunk.

“You are Calista?” He finally spoke.

“Yes, I am,” I answered calmly. Why aren't you trying to tie me up and offer me to your Capo? I thought inwardly.

“Let's have a seat.” He said as he pulled out a chair for me. I stood still, transfixed.

“Did you hear what I just said?” I couldn't help but ask. His lips twitched at the corners and I had to draw my head back in surprise.

“Yes. I did. You're Calista Vitela and you're in my bar. Now sit.” It was the sheer command in his tone that had been planting my ass down, but I didn't shut up. Maybe it was my nervousness, or maybe it was in alcohol in my system.

“Do you know you can get killed by the Cappellucci

Familia for letting a Vitale into your bar?” I whispered so the bartender wouldn't hear us. The man's eyes crinkled with amusement. I scowled at him. What about this situation was funny?

“Your loyalties lie to your Capo. You are betraying him by not taking me to him.” I needed to stop taking. If he took me to his Capo, I would most likely lose my life.

He leaned forward, intertwining his fingers.

“So tell me Calista, what did the Orsini boy do to you that made you run away from Evanston into dangerous grounds,” he questioned, oozing confidence and raw power.

For a mere bar owner, he sure is commanding. His posture, his words, and his looks speak of a man who knows how to command authority. His whiskey eyes held mine firmly. I stared back even though my heartbeat was suddenly beating dangerously fast. He wanted me to duck my head and look away; if I did, it would mean I'd given him the upper hand.

So I held his gaze, unwavering, like that daughter of an underboss. And then I leaned back into my seat. “Tell me something first, something about yourself."

A sly grin played on his lips.“Are you trading information with me, Callista?” He drawled. The way he said my name in a slur had my knees going weak.

“Yes, I am trading information with you. Tell me one thing about yourself, and I will tell you one thing about me.” I replied, my bargain brought a smile to his face.

Sweet mother of God! That smile! My insides automatically turned into mush. The way his eyes lit up and accentuated his strong features.

In the world of bar owners, he surpasses them all. I knew the organs couldn't speak, but I'm pretty sure my ovaries were giggling right now.

“Alright, Calista. I will go first. My name is Roman.”

“Okay. And so?” I asked and when he lifted his brows, I only shrugged.

“I'm about to give you heavy information. Do you think it's fair that I trade it with your name? Tell me something else.”

“I can help you,” he said, all amusement replaced by seriousness. I held his eyes, waiting to see a flicker of uncertainty. I found none.

“No one can help me,” I muttered, fumbling with the edge of my shirt. “There are only two ways out of my situation. The easiest being death and as pathetic as my life is right now, I'm not ready to die."

Roman ran his thumb over his lower lips. “What is the other way?”

“It's impossible,” I whispered. I had thought about it when I was drowning in different alcohols but there is no way it could happen.

“Callista. What is the other way?”

I raised my face to meet his, it was all I could do to not break down.

“If I am under the protection of someone more powerful than Matteo. He wouldn't think about hunting me down and forcing me to marry him.” I said in a quiet whisper. Roman went still. We both know there's only one person in the state of Illinois who is more powerful than Matteo, and that one person wants to wipe out the entire Vitale and Orsini family.

Roman sucked in a long breath. His eyes danced back and forth like he was thinking about something.

“Calista, I need you to tell me what Matteo did; only then can I be of help."

“Did you not hear what I just said, there's nothing you can do to help me. Matteo would comb every corner of this city to find me. He must have searched the whole of Evanston and would be coming to Chicago by now.”

Roman sighed, his jaw clenching. “Just tell me.”

I shook my head; Roman isn't going to let this go; it would be better if I told him. It's not like it's going to cost me anything.

“He slept with my stepmother.”

Roman froze, his face suddenly twisted in utter disgust.

“What did you say? ” he asked in a low growl that was nothing but threatening.

“He slept with my stepmother,” I repeated myself.

Romans's eyes locked with mine in disbelief, his teeth grinding.

“Do you have a witness to it, or is it just hearsay?” he asked like I was under some kind of interrogation.

“Where are you going with these questions?”

“Answer me Calista.” my lips formed a thin line. I don't understand his rage. I'm the one who got cheated on and yet he's angry on my behalf.

“I witnessed it; I found them together this morning. I shot his arm, and I ran away.”

“You shot his arm?” he asked, the mirth returning into his eyes.

“Yes, I did. Is that hard to believe?” With the way his eyes lit up, I could tell he was finding it hard to process.

“Do you know how to use a gun? ” he prodded. Now I was the one getting annoyed.

“My father gifted me a gun on my fourteenth birthday. Yes, I know how to use one. ”

He opened his mouth to speak but was cut short by a man who sprinted inside the bar

“Boss.” the man called out to Roman. He was well built, almost like Roman but with gary eyes and dirty blond hair.

“We just spotted Vitale soldiers. They are insisting on scouting the areas but we're holding them back.” he announced. My heart plummeted to the floor. This was all my fault; I brought them here now they would terrorize Roman.

“I'm so sorry Roman. This is all my fault. I should leave now.” I stood up from the chair, ready to face the fate that awaited me back home but Roman grabbed my wrist. His warm fingers tightened on my skin.

“Hold them off for as long as you can ” he ordered the blonde man. His eyes darted from Romans to mine, and then, with a nod, he left.

“Do you want to marry Matteo?” Roman suddenly asked.

“I have no other choice. You know how the Mafia works. I can tell you're one of the Cappellucci soldiers. Your loyalty lies with your family. You can't stop Matteo, even if you tried.”

He sucked in a sharp breath, fingers still on my wrist.

“Then how about your second plan? To be under the protection of the Cappellucci family,” he suggested; under different circumstances, I would have laughed.

“They will never take me in.”

Roman went silent for a beat, his broad chest rising and falling.

“They will if you become their Capessa.”

Before I could respond, Roman took a ring off his finger. My mind raced a mile a minute.

Is he...?

Oh no.

It can't be him, right?

Roman's eyes locked on mine, his gaze burning through me.

“Calista Vitale,” He began, “From this moment on, you will be under my protection. You will be my wife, my consort”

He paused, his chest rising and falling with each breath.

“I offer you my name, my power, and my loyalty. In return, you will give me your obedience, your loyalty, and your love.”

I took two steps backward, nearly stumbling over a chair. Roman is.....Romano. The dreadful capo of the Chicago outfit. The man who people talked about in hushed whispers. The most feared of all the mob lords in Illinois.

“I will keep you safe from Matteo, from the Vitale famiglia, and from anyone who dares to harm you. You will be mine, and mine alone.” He pulled me towards him, his eyes blazing with possession.

“Will you be my wife, Calista?”