All Chapters of I Chose the Don's Brother After Rebirth: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The moment the words fell, the air grew heavy, still and stifling before a storm.The old Don's expression darkened.The crowd glanced at each other, no one sure what to say.Victor let out a cold laugh and tipped his head back to look at the ceiling. "Are you really this nervous?"He sounded like he was mocking how badly I wanted to marry him.I ignored him and held my ground. "Not nervous. My aim's just off today."The old Don's voice was heavy with meaning. "This isn't your level, Claudia.""You have more than brains. You have steadiness."At his words, Victor's gaze settled on me, appraising now.I pressed my lips together, weighing how to answer.The Pacino Family had to lean on the Medici Family. I couldn't snub the old Don in front of his own people.Sensing my hesitation, the old Don spoke again, his voice low and meaningful. "People like us, who live by the gun, our marriages are rarely what we'd choose. I'd rather you do what's best for everyone. Become part of my Family, not

Since Victor was insisting, the old Don couldn't shut him down in front of everyone.For fairness, Lillian and I would shoot at the same time.The old Don gave a small nod to his consigliere.The man understood and brought a gun over to Lillian.In my previous life, I never knew her gun had been tampered with.The sights were bent off-true, and she missed every one of her ten shots.But what did it matter?Even after Victor and I were married, she was still his one and only mistress, the only woman he doted on.Every event that wasn't a Family obligation, the woman on his arm was Lillian.This time, Lillian and I took our positions and lifted our guns.I was set on losing. I missed nine in a row, on purpose.Lillian, somehow, managed to be as reliably useless as she'd been the last time. Nine misses for her too.She was on the edge of tears, glancing again and again at Victor.He looked at her with all the warmth in the world, gesturing for her to calm down.I let out a quiet, cold lau

Three days later, I was summoned back to the Medici estate.The old Don sat behind the massive black walnut desk, his eyes cutting straight to my chest.He tapped a finger on the wood, and his voice was low. "Why did you throw the contest?"It wasn't a question. It was an interrogation.I bowed my head. "She was better. I lost fair."The old Don took a sip from his glass. His eyes slid to Victor, standing beside the desk."You don't like Victor? I want the truth."I couldn't answer, so I said nothing.But silence was also an answer.Victor walked over and set his hand on my shoulder."Father." He was smiling. "Claudia just wanted to save Lillian some face.""That bullseye was yours, wasn't it?"He bent down, looked me in the eyes, and gave a soft laugh. "You're more thoughtful than I knew. You actually care how I feel."For one suspended second, I was disoriented.It had always been this way. Victor had grown so used to me giving in.Last time, every time he'd shown his favoritism for

The old Don’s face didn't show much. He sat up a little straighter."Who's the lucky boy who's caught your eye?"My nails dug into my palm. "Your second son. Vitale."I watched the muscle in his brow ease. I'd guessed right.The old Don had two sons.Victor, the firstborn, his chosen heir.Vitale was colder and harder, and refused to be drawn into Family business.The Pacino Family couldn't refuse a Medici alliance. The old Don had chosen me, so one way or another, I would be marrying into his Family.Fine. I'd rather marry Vitale."When did you meet Vitale?"I made my voice light. "We went to university together. I've known him a long time."I had known Vitale a long time. He was always cold.He kept to himself. Even in a crowded room you could feel the distance between him and everyone else.Except for one moment, three years ago.I'd left a Family dinner late. A car came hurtling at me, out of control.Before I could even process it, Vitale had grabbed me and pulled me down.We roll

After Vitale came back from Las Vegas, we went together to a Sotheby's auction.He said he wanted to find a piece of jewelry worth me.I didn't care about any of that, but there was no arguing with him, so I went.Halfway through the auction, with no warning at all, I saw it.The rough pink diamond. Twenty-three carats, catching the light like a dream.The dream I'd reached for previous life and never gotten.My hand on the armrest closed without my meaning to.Vitale caught it instantly.He laid his hand over mine and leaned in close to my ear. "You want it?"I smiled and said nothing, but my eyes gave me away.Vitale squeezed my hand. "Then I'm buying it for you.""Oh?"The small, surprised sound came from a few seats over.I turned. Victor.He was at the auction with Lillian.There were several people between us, so he couldn't see Vitale's hand on mine.But his look heated up anyway, hot enough to burn a hole through my face.The auctioneer's voice rang out. "Twenty-three-carat rou