Lucia posted a picture of an ultrasound and one of Dario bent low over a medical report, his head close to hers. The caption read [Bambino, hurry and come out. Your Mommy and Daddy can't wait to see you!]
When I scrolled down the post, I noticed that the first one to comment was the Donna herself. She had written, [Nonna is very excited too! I can't wait to see the heir to the seat.]
The comment section was flooded with replies from the Falcone bloodline. It was evident from their words that they all knew about Dario's blood-bound union with Lucia. The whole Family had been let in on a secret that had been kept from me.
I thought back to the day I had gone to the Falcone estate, weeks ago, to kiss the Donna's ring and speak of the union. They had received me so warmly then, poured me the good vintage, called me daughter. Now it all felt like a sick joke played out under the old woman's portraits of the dead.
I could not help but wonder. Were they laughing behind their hands while I sat at their table laying out plans for a blood-bound union of my own? My promised husband was already sealed to another woman before the Family, and there I sat, blissfully arranging a wedding that meant nothing.
I raised my hand, wiped the tears from my eyes and went home.
Before our union date had even been set, the Falcones had already sent the customary gold and the bride-gold, the heavy chains and rings that bind a soldier's daughter to a bloodline. Once I got home, I packed every piece of tribute they had given me into a cardboard box. After that, I would sever all ties with the Falcone bloodline.
After what I had carried alone and let go of, my body was weak. I took a few days away from the work the Family kept me on, to rest. One afternoon, while I was half-asleep, I vaguely sensed someone moving close in the quiet apartment. As soon as I opened my eyes I saw a familiar face.
It was Dario. He raised his hand and touched mine. Realizing it was cold, he looked worried. "Caterina, are you sick? Let me take you to the doctor for a checkup, okay?"
If this had been before, I would've thrown myself into his arms to seek comfort and warmth from him. However now, I pulled my hand away from his, tucked it under the blanket and said, "It's just a minor cold. There's no need for any doctor."
Dario didn't notice my lack of warmth. He shook his head in exasperation, his thumb moving once along the inside of his ring without his knowing it. "If you were feeling unwell, why didn't you tell me? We're about to be bound before the Family, so why are you keeping things from me?"
When I heard the word "bound," it jolted me awake like a splash of cold water. Bound? Oh, right. He was already bound to someone else.
I glanced at the cardboard box in the corner and spoke softly. "That's right. Since we're being bound soon, you should take your things with you today."
Although he and I did not live here together, he would stay over for stretches at a time when the Family's business kept him in the territory, so there were quite a few of his belongings in my place. On the day I came back from letting go of what I had carried, I had packed all of his things.
Dario, oblivious to the shift in my tone, smiled warmly. "Alright. Besides, after the union, we'll be moving into the new house anyway."
I did not say anything.
That evening, he made me a comforting bowl of hot vegetable beef soup with boiled eggs, the way his grandmother's kitchen had taught him, before leaving with his belongings.
As he stepped out, I said quietly, "Don't come over again for the time being. I'm sick and don't want to risk infecting you. Stay home and focus on becoming the most handsome groom the Family has seen."
He gave me a resigned smile but agreed nonetheless.
In the following days, he didn't come, but he still texted me regularly. I replied with brief, perfunctory messages, each one shorter than the last.
Time flew by and soon, the day of the blood-bound union arrived.
I didn't put on the gown Dario had designed for me, nor did I go to stand on neutral ground before the Family to take hold of the future I had once dreamed of. Instead, I bought a high-speed train ticket to Levington State, far past the bloodline's daily reach.
Just before boarding, I received a call from the hotel staff who ran the front for the celebration. "Miss Russo, when will you be arriving?"
I forwarded Lucia's photo to them and replied, "This is the real bride. I was only helping her rehearse. Please find her, help her get dressed and do her makeup."
After the call, I slid the ring from my finger and turned it once between two fingers, watching the light move across it one last time. Then I set it down. I methodically blocked and deleted every single way to reach Dario. I removed the SIM card, tucked it into my bag, and let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. For the first time in weeks, I felt free. I whispered, "Dario, I wish you a memorable day."
