Chapter Fifteen

As a mother, I’d always wanted what’s best for my daughter. I’d tried to protect her to the best of my abilities. Of course, Luca had taken control of the details of her protection. When Luca had told me about the kidnapping, my heart had shattered. Our world wasn’t kind on women. But I’d thought Marcella would never be touched by the vile sides of our life. She was supposed to be safe from harm, even in a marriage.

I’d noticed that things between her and Giovanni had been off, but I’d hoped they’d miraculously find what Luca and I had. Maybe I’d turned a blind eye to the reality of the situation because my wish for Marcella’s safety had been too strong. She would have been safe in a marriage with Giovanni, not happy though.

Now as I watched Marcella kiss Maddox in front of everyone, I realized she was now old enough to fight her own battles, and she fought them in her own way. Marcella was too strong to hide or back down. She was like Luca. She only knew one form of reaction and that was attack. This kiss was a declaration of war to all the people who waited for her to cower or to bow to their rules.

Luca and I had wanted Marcella to be as strong as the Goddess we named her after, and she was. Only it was hard for Luca to accept.

One glance at his face told me he was about to explode. I quickly touched his forearm to calm him down. His furious gaze darted to me and some of the anger disappeared but not all of it. To people who didn’t know him like I did, his anger would be well hidden beneath his cold public mask.

Amo muttered something under his breath and walked off.

“Let’s go outside for a bit of fresh air,” I said to Luca.

He didn’t move, still watching Maddox and Marcella as if he considered to kill the former right here before everyone’s eyes.

Luca had a good grip on his monster—most of the time, but when I or our children were involved, his protectiveness sometimes made him lose control. One of these moments had led to the feud with Tartarus and ultimately to Marcella’s kidnapping. I’d never truly blamed Luca for it, except for brief moments of utter despair, because he and I were both part of this ruthless world, had chosen to stay in it even with our children. If anyone was to blame, then we both.

Now was one of those dangerous instances again.

“Luca,” I said firmly, my fingers digging into his arm through the thick fabric of his suit. “Let’s go outside.”

He finally allowed me to take his hand and lead him through the vast French doors to a secluded part of the huge rooftop terrace. He propped his forearms up on the banister and glared at the city below us. “I knew he was trouble. I should have killed him when I had the chance.”

“Marcella would have never forgiven you.”

“She would have gotten over it. She would have found someone else, someone better.”

“After seeing them together, do you really believe that?” I asked softly, linking our fingers. Luca was good at reading people. It was what made him such a good and respected Capo but with Marcella he sometimes preferred to block out certain things. But Marcella’s feelings for Maddox were unmistakable.

He made a low sound deep in his throat. “Maybe it would have been better to have her hate me for the rest of her life than to allow her to destroy her life by being with White.”

“Marcella didn’t destroy her life. You ruled over the bloody sheets tradition for her. You wanted her to have choices, and today she made a brave choice. It’s our duty as parents to support her and protect her from the people who want to condemn her for her choice.”

“Oh, I’ll protect her against everyone. My personal thoughts about what just happened are just that, for a discussion behind closed doors. Marcella will have our full support.”

I leaned against Luca’s strong arm. “You remember our first few years together in our penthouse? Places like this always remind me of that time.”

“I’ll never forget a single moment with you, Aria,” Luca said quietly.

“Marcella seems to think she found in Maddox what we two have, and shouldn’t we be happy for her?”

“White is a biker. His lifestyle is at odds with ours.”

“When we first met, you didn’t think you could be a good husband or father, and now you are. Give Maddox the chance to prove himself. Do it for Marcella.”

“I worry that allowing her to pursue this bond will cause more harm for her in the long run than do good.”

“If you give her a choice but don’t accept what she chose, you might as well not have given her any choice at all.”

“So you can see the two marrying? You can see White as part of our family, sitting at our dining table? You can see him belonging to our world, and not always be apart?”

I wanted to see Marcella marry one day, wanted to see Luca leading her down the aisle to the man she loved and wanted to spend the rest of her life with. I wanted her to be happy. Could I tell if she’d be happy with Maddox? No. I was worried too. I couldn’t deny it.

Love was unpredictable. Would a bond to Maddox harm Marcella eventually? I didn’t think so, but I couldn’t be sure. Not because I thought Maddox would hurt her on purpose, but he wasn’t familiar with our world as Luca had pointed out. He’d have to try to grow used to our traditions, but they were alien to him. He’d managed to work with Luca’s soldiers in the last few weeks but he’d never be one of them.

Was love enough if he never really belonged? If living in our world kept him adrift?

If he was willing to give up the lifestyle he was used to for Marcella, he really must love her, and that was enough for me. The rest was out of my hands. “It’s not our choice, Luca.”

“The tabloids and many people in our world will tear into Marcella for the kiss, and it’ll get only worse if we confirm the relationship, or God forbid, announce an engagement.”

“Marcella is an intelligent woman. She knew the consequences when she kissed Maddox and she’s willing to brave them for him and herself.”

If Marcella accepted the backlash her relationship with Maddox had already caused and would still cause in the months and years to come then she too must love him. I would have risked everything for Luca, would have followed him to the end of the world, and beyond.

I, more than Luca, followed my gut instinct. It had gotten me in trouble in the past, but over the years I’d learned to use it in a more careful manner. The happiness on Marcella’s face in the private moments she and Maddox shared had given me one of my infamous gut feelings too. Marcella had chosen Maddox and though they’d found each other in the most impossible moment, they seemed perfect for each other. They were different, came from vastly different backgrounds, but if anything could conquer seemingly insurmountable differences then it was love.

On my wedding day, I would have laughed about this statement. Though I only felt like crying on the most important and, for many brides, the happiest day of their lives. I hadn’t been happy that day and only in retrospect could I find joy thinking of that day, knowing love had followed our yes to each other.

Marcella and Maddox would one day hopefully affirm their love with a yes. She wouldn’t feel trepidation or fear on her wedding day, and that made me even happier.

One wasn’t better than the other. Marcella wasn’t me. She’d grown up knowing her worth.

Her choice wasn’t mine to judge, but I’d do my best to make sure she’d never come to regret her choice.

I squeezed Luca’s hand. “Luca, you must talk to Maddox, maybe even invite him over for a drink so you two can really smooth things out between you. He won’t ever belong if you as Capo and head of our family won’t allow him to belong.”

Luca stared up at the night sky and sighed. “You and Marcella will be the death of me.”