Chapter 5 Giuliana’s POV

The Leonetti family dinners had always been more battlefield than tradition and this one was no different.

The table was the same as I remembered—an ancient slab of mahogany that was large enough to seat two dozen and was polished to a mirror shine. The silverware gleamed under the chandelier’s glow while the heavy scent of truffle, wine and power sizzled thickly in the air.

Everything seemed perfect but beneath the elegance and the bouquet at the table, tension simmered everywhere like an untended flame.

I adjusted my napkin with movements that were slow and deliberate. As Giorgio sat beside me, his small hands were folded over his lap and his posture was impeccable as always. His custom-made suit, a deep navy that whispered of control, matched mine. His presence at the table alone unsettled the entire family even though none of these wolves would admit it.

I smiled at that. 

I smiled even more as I felt their eyes on me while they waited and calculated

Alessandro struck first.

"You've been away too long, Giuliana." My father’s voice carried across the table as he spoke. His voice was soft but was filled with reprimand. "America has softened you."

I lifted my wine glass, tilted it slightly and studied the deep red swirl within it as I murmured. “Has it?”

He smirked evily in response. "I see no husband. And I see no true allies. Just an empire built on foreign soil. You’ve forgotten your roots."

I took a slow sip of my wine and savored the rich taste before I set the glass down on tht table. "I didn't forget, padre. I only evolved."

A muscle twitched in his jaw. "And yet, you return because you need us. Because no matter how far you run, you are still Leonetti."

I tilted my head and let the tension in the silence boil for a long moment before I spoke. "Funny," I mused, "because from what I hear, it’s the Leonetti who need me."

His brows furrowed in shocked anger but I didn’t give him time to respond.

“I had an interesting conversation before dinner,” I continued lazily as I cut into my filet mignon. “It seems certain shipments… shipments that should’ve arrived safely at the docks… never made it to their destination.”

The knife in Alessandro’s hand stilled.

Across the table, Francesca, my stepmother, stiffened. Joshua—her beloved son and my half-brother—shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

Good.

Enjoying what was happening right now, I took another bite and chewed slowly. “Now, normally, lost shipments aren’t my concern but when those shipments are weapons and the buyers start looking for answers—” I shrugged as I dabbed at the corner of my mouth with my napkin. “Well, that becomes everyone’s concern, doesn’t it?”

A heavy silence fell over the table.

Alessandro’s eyes darkened as he growled out loud. "Careful, Giuliana."

I met his gaze head-on as I said, "I’m always careful."

Across from me and next to her mother, Isabella leaned forward in her chair while her lips curved into a saccharine smile. “My dear sorellastra," she purred while her voice dripped with fake sweetness. "So much hostility and we haven’t even touched the tiramisu.”

I barely glanced at her. "You may call me sorellastra, Isabella but let’s not forget what you really are." I let my smirk grow as I continued. "A bastarda."

The word landed like a slap and Isabella’s face flushed with barely contained rage.

Beside her, Joshua tensed while his fork clattered against his plate. “Watch your mouth, Giuliana.”

My gaze when I turned to him was as cold as ice. "Why? Will you fight me, little brother?" I let my voice drop to a whisper that was even colder. " Try and I’ll remind you exactly who I am."

He gulped and looked away while hushed whispers from the other family members filled the air. 

My father exhaled loudly through his nose. "Enough!"

I leaned back in my chair while satisfaction curled in my chest and didn't say anything else. 

Francesca, ever the peacemaker when it suited her, placed a hand over Alessandro’s. "We should be discussing more important matters." She gave me a pointed look. "Like your upcoming wedding."

I raised a brow. "My what?"

“The alliance with Teo Lucchese," my grandfather’s voice rasped from the head of the table just then while he glared at me as if daring for me to do something funny. 

I was not going to disappoint, I thought. I turned to him and watched his eyes that were going tired more every second. He watched me back from where he sat in his wheelchair.

“You expect me to marry Teo," I said flatly.

"You will," my father confirmed. "It’s necessary for the family.”

I laughed just then. 

It was soft chuckle at first and then it grew that grew into something that was louder and mockier richer. 

My father narrowed his eyes at me. Same with the others. My amusement that had come from nowhere had unsettled them.

I rested my elbow on the table and propped my chin on my right hand. I was fucking enjoying this. I looked at my father. "Let me make one thing very clear." My voice was low and calm as I declared. "If I marry, it will be my choice. Not yours. Not the family's."

Isabella scoffed as she stared at me, wide-eyed. "Don’t be ridiculous. You think you can refuse?"

I swirled my wine glass while I feigned thoughtfulness. "I think," I said smoothly to her, "that if you push me, I could make things… difficult."

I looked at the rest of them at the table to show that I was also speaking to all of them. 

Alessandro stamped his fork on the table with a loud bang. "You wouldn’t dare!" 

I met his gaze without flinching. "Wouldn't I?"

Silence reigned immediately. 

They all knew the truth…they knew that I could.

My businesses in America were clean and my power stretched beyond their reach. If I wanted to, I could strangle the Leonetti empire without ever lifting a gun.

They needed me. And they hated that they did.

I let my smirk widen as I tapped a manicured nail against my wine glass.

"Enjoy your dinner, y’all," I said lightly. "I know I am."

And with that, I took another sip of my wine and savored the taste of victory.