save Emma. That was all I could hope for at this point.
“I have one condition.”
“What condition?” Dante’s voice was clipped. His patience was running dry. These last few months had tested us all.
My eyes slanted to Samuel. He was watching me with narrowed eyes. Did I trust him with my sister? More than any of the other prospects. Father would marry Emma off at some point, and nobody of worth wanted her. She’d be cast off to someone who hoped to improve his position, someone who didn’t deserve her.
“He marries my sister Emma,” I said.
Samuel’s face twisted with shock. “She’s in a—”
He stopped short. Good for him because I wanted to kill him.
“In a wheelchair, yes. Which is why nobody of worth wants her. My sister deserves only the best, and you are the heir to the Minneapolis Outfit. If you all want this bond, Samuel will marry my sister, then I’ll marry Sofia.”
“Fuck,” Samuel muttered. “What kind of twisted deal is that?”
“Why? Your father has been testing the waters for possible brides, and my sister is a Mancini. She’s a good match.”
Samuel took a deep breath before nodding. “I’ll marry your sister.”
I bared my teeth at his tone.
“Then it’s settled?” Pietro asked. “You’ll marry Sofia and accept the cancelation of the engagement with Fina?”
I gave a sharp nod. “It’s not what I want, but it’ll have to do.”
“It’ll have to do?” Samuel growled, stepping forward with narrowed eyes. “That’s my baby sister you’re talking about. She’s not some fucking thing you accept as a consolation prize.”
But she was the consolation prize. We all knew it. I laughed bitterly. “You might want to remember that as well when you meet my sister.”
“Enough,” Dante growled.
“The wedding will have to wait until Sofia is of age,” Pietro said in a tired voice.
Did he think I wanted a child bride? “Of course. My sister won’t marry before her eighteenth birthday, either.”
Six long years. It would give me more time to stabilize my rule over Indianapolis, which was the one thing I’d hated about marrying Serafina, but I’d wanted her and she couldn’t wait too long. But now, now I’d have plenty of time to strengthen my reign, to enjoy myself some more—that’s how Father put it. Six years was a long time. So much could happen before then. I wouldn’t lose another girl. I’d make sure Sofia was safe, safer than Serafina had been.
Pietro nodded.
“Then it’s decided,” I said. “I have to return home soon. We can settle the details at a later point.”
Dante nodded.
“Just one more thing. I don’t want word about Samuel’s bond to my sister to get out yet. She doesn’t need to know this was a deal in exchange for Sofia.”
I moved toward the door, wanting out of this house, out of this city, but most of all away from Serafina. Footsteps sounded behind me, but I didn’t turn. There was nothing else left to say, not today.
“Danilo, wait,” Samuel demanded.
Narrowing my eyes, I turned around. “What do you want?”
We’d come to a tentative understanding while trying to save Serafina from Remo Falcone’s clutches, but I had a feeling it wouldn’t last. We were both alphas and didn’t deal well with someone who didn’t bow to our wishes.
“Sofia deserves more than being second best.”
That was probably true. True for both our sisters. Fate had dealt Emma some harsh cards, and she deserved only the best. Would she ever get it? Probably not. “I’ll treat Sofia with the same respect as I have always treated Serafina.” My mouth twisted as I voiced her name. “Remember to do the same with Emma.”
Samuel shook his head. “Quid pro quo?”
I said nothing. This was messed up. We both got girls we didn’t want for a bond that would ensure our power. Samuel and I were proud men to a fault, and Remo Falcone had trampled on that pride. A pride we wanted to rebuild.
I was beginning to think it would be both our downfall.
I still remembered the first time I saw Danilo. It was a year before he was supposed to marry my sister. He’d come over to discuss details with Dad. Driven by curiosity, I’d pretended to be heading toward the kitchen to catch a glimpse of him. He stood in our foyer, talking to Dad. The moment I spotted him, my heart did a strange flip it had never done before. He gave me a smile, and again my heart beat wildly and my belly warmed. He reminded me of the