Romero took a step forward but stopped himself. I eyed him, daring him to attack like he wanted to. It would take this fucking decision out of my hands.
“You can’t be serious,” Aria said, eyes imploring.
She knew what was expected on a wedding night as well as I did. Nobody would care that Liliana didn’t want to marry Brasci, that she had fought him. I didn’t make the rules nor did Dante, but neither of us had the power to change a tradition without the support of the other soldiers and their families. “You know the rules, Aria. I’m stating the facts.”
Aria shook her head. “I don’t care. A husband doesn’t have the right to rape his wife. Everyone in this house should agree on that!”
Aria was too soft for this world, too caring, but even she knew that most women were claimed on their wedding night. In the beginning I’d sometimes regretted that I’d spared her on our wedding day, but later I’d realized it had been the best decision of my life. If I’d hurt Aria on our wedding night, she would have never forgiven me.
Romero went over to Liliana and wrapped his arm around her.
Love. Father had always told Matteo and me that it was a weakness, and I had to admit he had been right. It weakened me, it weakened Matteo, and now it weakened Romero, and in consequence it weakened the Famiglia. My uncles would attack like vultures once word got out about this. “I told you this would end in disaster. So let me guess, Liliana stabbed her husband, called you and you finished the fucking job to have her for yourself.”
“Yes,” Romero said. “And to protect her. If he’d survived he would have blamed Liliana, and she would have been punished harshly by the Outfit.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “And now she won’t? They will put her on trial and they will not only punish her harshly, they will also accuse us of having set this up, and then there will be a fucking bloodbath. Dante is a cold fish but he needs to show strength. He will proclaim war in no time. All because you can’t control your dick and your heart.”
“As if you could do it. You’d take down anyone who’d try to take Aria away from you,” Romero said.
My eyes slanted to Aria. Her concerned blue eyes locked on mine. I’d burn down the world to protect Aria. If anyone tried to take her away, I’d kill them and anyone else who got in my way. “But Aria is my wife. That’s a huge difference.”
“If it was up to me, Lily would have been my wife for months.”
Did he really think about marrying her? Did he really think we were all getting out of this house alive? “Someone is going to pay for this. As Capo of the Famiglia I need to put the blame on Liliana, and hope Dante buys it and doesn’t start a war.”
Aria’s grip on my arm tightened, her eyes full of unshed tears. “You can’t do that.”
Romero got down on his knees in front of me, arms spread wide. “I’m going to take the full blame for this. Tell them I lost my mind and ran after Liliana because I’ve wanted her for months. I killed Benito when he tried to defend Lily and himself, but before I could rape her, you noticed I was missing and went in search of me. Then there won’t be war between the Outfit and New York, and Lily will get the chance at a new life.”
He meant it, but nobody would believe that story. Yet, that he would put down his life for Liliana showed how serious he was about the girl. What was it with the Scuderi women that made us all go insane? “If that’s the story we want them to believe, there’s something missing,” I said.
Romero nodded. “I will put my life down for this. Shoot me.”
“No!” Aria screamed, but I shook her hand off and stared into Romero’s determined eyes. I’d known him almost all my life. We’d partied together, got drunk together, fought and killed together. Next to Matteo he was the man I trusted most. That was why he had been allowed to guard Aria. I knew he would have never lain a hand on her.
Liliana moved between Romero and me. Fear twisted her face. Fear of me and my decision. I was used to that look from people around me.
“Please,” she whispered, eyes begging me, hoping to appeal to a side only Aria could reach. “Please don’t kill him. I’ll do anything, just please don’t. I can’t live without him.”
She started crying but it didn’t affect me like Aria’s tears did.
Romero got up and pulled Liliana away. “Lily, don’t. I’m a soldier of the Famiglia. I broke my oath to always put the Famiglia first, and I have to accept the due punishment.”