The scotch soaked into the rug. Shards of crystal glittered at my bare feet. My hand still hung in the air, fingers trembling where the glass had slipped.
"Serafina." Papa's voice was calm, but it carried that authoritative tone. He leaned forward in his chair, eyes steady on mine. "Sit down."
Dante was already moving, grabbing a towel from the side cabinet and dropping it over the mess. "What the hell, Sera? You okay?"
I didn't answer. My heart hammered so loud I was sure they could all hear it. I lowered myself onto the couch between my brothers, knees pressed together, the library suddenly feeling too tight. Lorenzo stayed standing, arms crossed, watching me like he already knew something was coming.
Papa didn't waste time. "The De Luca Syndicate has offered an alliance. It's the only way to push the Bratva back. Their reach is growing, and we're losing ground on the docks. We need them in as much as they also need us."
Nico leaned back, sharp eyes flicking between Papa and me. "And what exactly does this alliance look like? Money? Territory? Guns?"
"Marriage," Papa said simply. "A blood pact. Old style, but it works. It binds the families tighter than any contract on paper."
I laughed. It came out sharp and bitter, echoing off the bookshelves. "Marriage? Are we living in the Middle Ages now? You're going to trade me off like one of your shipments? Pick a dress, say some vows, and hope the Russians crawl back into their holes?"
Dante's hand landed on my shoulder, heavy and warm. "Watch it, Sera. This isn't a joke."
"It feels like one," I shot back, shrugging him off. I turned to Papa, chin up. "Who? Which De Luca? Vittorio's got a daughter and a young son. Is it Matteo? He's barely twenty. Or are we robbing the cradle for the sake of the docks?"
Papa's face didn't change. He simply said the name that cracked my world open.
"Alessandro."
The silence that followed was so complete I could hear the fire pop and hiss.
My breath caught. Twelve years. No letters. No calls. No explanation. Just the memory of a twelve year old boy promising to always be my shield, then vanishing like smoke the next morning.
I felt the blood drain from my face. My fingers dug into the leather cushion until my nails bit into my palms. "Alessandro," I repeated, voice barely above a whisper. "You're joking."
"I'm not," Papa said quietly. "He's the heir now. Future Don. The match makes sense. Strong bloodlines. Shared history. He agreed without hesitation."
"Agreed?" I stood up so fast the room spun. "He left without a word, Papa. Twelve years ago. No note. No goodbye. He just... disappeared. And now you want me to marry him? To tie myself to a man who treats people like ghosts?"
Lorenzo stepped closer, voice low and careful. "Sera, calm down. This isn't about the past. The Bratva is breathing down our necks. And some branch family faction is trying to split us from the inside. An alliance with the De Lucas stops that cold."
"They can all rot," I snapped. "I'm not some pawn you move across the board to protect your power."
Dante rose too, his hot temper flaring to match mine. "You think we like this? You're our sister. We'd rather burn everything than hand you over to someone who hurts you. But Alessandro... he's not the boy you remember. He's cold. Ruthless. The kind of man who handles traitors personally. His name ends negotiations before they start."
"That's supposed to make me feel better?" I laughed again, but it sounded broken. "The boy who carved me a wooden sparrow and promised to protect me is now the monster who kills without blinking? And I'm supposed to smile and play happy fiancée?"
Nico spoke from the couch, sarcastic edge sharp as ever. "He's not a monster to us, Sera. He's a necessary evil. The De Lucas bring muscle and connections we need right now. You'll be safe. Protected."
"Safe?" I spun on him. "Safe like Mama? Sitting quietly while the men decide everything? I'm not her. I fight. I paint. I live. Or at least I used to."
Mama finally spoke, her voice soft but firm from beside Papa. "Serafina, my love. This marriage will give you power too. You'll be Donna one day. Not just a princess locked in a tower."
I shook my head, tears burning behind my eyes that I refused to let fall. "Power? This is a cage with a different lock. And the key is in Alessandro's hands. The same person who threw me away like I was nothing."
Papa stood slowly, coming around the desk. He placed his hands on my shoulders, warm and steady like when I was little. "The announcement will be made soon. The engagement party is already being planned. You'll move to the De Luca estate after the contract is signed. It's done, Sera. For the family."
The words landed like bullets. For the family. Always for the family.
I stepped back, breaking his hold. My chest felt tight, as if chains have been wrapped around my ribs. "So that's it? One name and my life ends? Disappearing for years and now I'm supposed to stand beside him like none of it happened?"
Lorenzo's voice cut in, gentler than before. "We'll be watching. All of us. If he steps out of line..."
"You'll what?" I interrupted. "Kill your new ally? Start a war because your sister's unhappy? Don't lie to me, Lorenzo. This is bigger than me. It always has been."
Dante pulled me into a rough hug. "You're not alone in this, little sister. We'll make sure he treats you right. Or he answers to us."
I leaned into him for a second, breathing in the familiar scent of leather and gun oil, then pulled away. "I need air."
I turned and walked out of the library before anyone could stop me. Their voices rose behind me. Dante arguing, Nico asking questions, Papa trying to keep order but I didn't look back.
My bare feet carried me down the hall, past guards who pretended not to notice the tears streaking my face. I pushed into my room and slammed the door, locking it with shaking hands.
A wooden sparrow sat on my nightstand where I'd left it weeks ago. I picked it up, thumb tracing the rough wings Alessandro had carved with his own knife when we were kids. He'd given it to me the day before he left, promising, "I'll always come back for you, Sera. You're my shield too."
Lies.
I walked to the fireplace, flames still crackling low. For a moment I held the sparrow over the fire, watching the wood begin to char at the edges.
Then I pulled it back.
Not yet.
A soft knock sounded at the door. Lorenzo's voice filtered through. "Sera? Open up. We're not done talking."
I ignored him, sinking onto the edge of my bed, I clutched the sparrow tight in my fist.
Tomorrow my life changes. Soon it'll be announced that I'm to be married to Alessandro De Luca. And my cage would get smaller.
But tonight, the ghost of the boy I once loved still haunted every corner of my heart.
And I hated how much it still hurt.
