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Chapter 3

Author: Katerina
The day before we left, Dante came home without warning, carrying Luca’s favorite chocolate cake with a sugar figure of a family of three on top. Luca sat by the window with a book in his lap.

Luca looked up.

For years, that single sound would have been enough to make him run across the room.

This time, he only closed his book.

Dante stopped in the doorway. Guilt tightened his expression as he studied his quiet son, seemingly unsure how to approach him.

He set the cake down and gently stroked Luca’s hair.

“Daddy came home to make up your birthday.”

Luca stiffened but did not move away. He had been disappointed too many times, yet he was still seven, and the smallest tenderness from his father was enough to revive the hope he had tried to bury.

“My birthday already passed.”

“Then we’ll celebrate again.” Dante crouched before him. “Tell me where you want to go.”

“Can you take me to safety training? You promised.”

Dante hesitated.

“The compound has an open demonstration today. It will be crowded. I’ll take you another time.”

The light in Luca’s eyes disappeared.

“Then I don’t want to go.”

Dante remained silent for a moment before looking at me with tired frustration.

“What did you say to him? He was never like this.”

I did not answer.

He stepped closer, caught my arm, and tried to draw me against his chest as he had whenever we argued in the past.

“Don’t be angry, sweetheart.”

I resisted, but he kept his hand around my arm.

“I bought a blue diamond at an auction in Geneva. It will become a one-of-a-kind necklace for you to wear at the Donna ceremony. I also ordered a new gown from Milan. The designer will come here for the fittings.”

His voice softened.

“We can reschedule the ceremony. Luca will stand beside us as my son and heir. I’ll make everything right.”

The words struck me with a dull force. He still believed seven canceled weddings, six missed birthdays, and Luca’s fading love could be repaired with a diamond, a gown, and another promise.

I opened my mouth, but Lucia entered with Nico before I could answer.

“Am I early? Dante, you said you would take Nico and me to the compound demonstration.”

Dante released me and adjusted Nico’s new training jacket. Luca watched the hope in his eyes fade again.

Nico noticed the cake.

“Is that for me?”

Luca moved in front of it.

“It’s my birthday cake.”

“Uncle Dante said he had a surprise for me too.”

Nico reached again, and Luca shifted the box behind him. It was the only thing Dante had brought him himself.

Nico caught his foot on the rug and fell, crying at once.

Dante pulled Luca aside. Luca’s hand struck the table corner, leaving a red mark, but Dante had already lifted Nico.

“Where are you hurt?”

“Luca wouldn’t let me touch the cake.”

Dante looked at his son.

“Apologize.”

Luca hid his injured hand behind his back.

I took his wrist. “Nico tried to take his cake.”

Lucia hurried forward, her eyes wet.

“Forget it. Children fight. Nico grew up without a father, so when he sees something Dante brought home, he thinks there may be something for him.”

“Lucia is letting it go,” Dante said. “Why are you still making this a problem?”

“Luca is hurt.”

“He only bumped his hand. He is older and should know how to share.”

I stepped in front of Luca.

“Then let Lucia become your Donna and Nico become your son.”

Dante’s expression hardened.

“Enough.”

He ordered the guards to take us to the old chapel.

“You’re locking Luca in too?”

“I’m giving you time to calm down. You will stay there until tomorrow’s demonstration ends.”

Luca gripped my hand.

“He is your son, Dante.”

“That is why I will not let you teach him to treat family this way.”

The guards escorted us to the old chapel. When the heavy door locked behind us, I wrapped my coat around Luca.

“Don’t be afraid. Mommy is here.”

“I’m not afraid when I’m with you.”

Before dawn, he developed a fever. His forehead burned while his fingers turned cold, and I pounded on the door.

“Open it. Luca is sick. I need to take him to the hospital.”

A guard finally answered.

“The Don ordered us not to open the door without his permission.”

“Call the doctor.”

“Don Vitale took Mrs. Lucia and Master Nico to the compound. The family doctor went with them.”

Luca curled against me, his voice weak.

“Mommy… am I the reason Daddy gets angry?”

My heart broke at a place I didn’t know could still hurt.

“No, Luca.”

I pressed his hand against my heart.

“You were never the problem. I was the one who kept asking you to wait.”

One day remained before Sicily.
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