Chapter 1 There is no life outside this family for men like us.
Vincenzo sat motionless, one arm draped over the chair, his gaze fixed on the rain streaking down the window. The sounds of the heavy downpour filled the silence as lightning flashed beyond the glass, spilling fractured shadows across the mahogany desk and the rows of dark leather chairs. Suddenly, a knock broke through the storm. Before he could answer, the door opened. Isabella stepped inside. Her dark blond hair was pulled into a bun so tight it seemed to pull at the corners of her eyes, pinned in place with a golden pin. The scarves around her neck were pretty, made of silk, layered one over the other. Her hands stayed clasped in front of her, fingers twisting briefly before she caught herself and stilled them. Vincenzo straightened slightly. “Mother, did something happen?” For a moment, she said nothing. Her lips lifted slightly, just enough to resemble a smile. “Your father wants to talk to you in his office.”
Vincenzo pushed himself to his feet and walked toward her. “Hurry,” she murmured, “Don’t keep him waiting,” before turning back and walking away. Vincenzo followed suit, heading straight to De Luca's home office. He took a moment to adjust himself before knocking.
“Come in,” said De Luca. His voice was calm, almost quiet, yet carried the kind of tone that made people listen. The moment Vincenzo walked in, he looked up from the stack of papers in front of him, his gray hair slicked back. Perched on his nose were the old reading glasses he stubbornly kept, ignoring Isabella’s countless attempts to make him throw them away. Behind him stood towering shelves lined with books, but no one in the family had ever seen him read. It looked like wealth and sophistication, but Vincenzo knew better; hidden behind those shelves lay a passage leading to the basement and another corridor stretching beyond the estate itself.
De Luca had a stern expression; he didn’t hesitate as Vincenzo took the seat opposite him. “La Moretti’s and the Lombardi are making moves on our territory. Every week, they grow bolder. They intercepted the Mexicans' shipment, and we lost the cargo; three of our men died trying to hold it.” Vincenzo clenched his jaw angrily, but didn’t interrupt him. “The Lucchese Familia is under pressure, too. They’re taking heavier losses than we are, but that won’t last. If we keep fighting on two fronts, eventually one of us breaks.”
Vincenzo leaned forward slightly. “So, what is your plan?”
“We have to lay our feud with the Lucchese Familia to rest and combine forces if we want to fight back the La Moretti’s and the Lombardi.”
“Peace with the Lucchese Familia?” Vincenzo asked.
“It’s necessary.”
“Father, the Lucchese family and their syndicates have spent decades sabotaging our operations and turning allies against us.”
De Luca interrupts him. “The only way to push back La Moretti and the Lombardi is together. Separately, we bleed; but united, we survive.”
Vincenzo looked away for a second. “You really think a handshake can fix this?”
“No. That’s why we need something stronger: an alliance.” De Luca folds his hands on the desk. “I met with Giovanni Lucchese yesterday, the Capo dei Capi of the Lucchese Family. We agreed.” His gaze locked onto Vincenzo’s. “We agreed that for peace to be an option, we had to become family.”
“I don’t understand, Father,” Vincenzo asked with a puzzled expression on his face.
“You’re going to marry Giovanni Dante’s eldest daughter, Lucia.”
A bitter laugh escaped Vincenzo. “You can’t be serious, three years ago the Luccheses burned one of our warehouses to the ground. Matteo nearly died in that attack.”
“And five years ago, we put a bullet in Giovanni Lucchese's brother.” De Luca retorted
Vincenzo stepped back from the desk, shaking his head. “After everything between our families? After decades of bloodshed, you want me to marry into theirs like this is some business contract?”
De Luca sat motionless, his eyes fixed on Vincenzo, as the rain continued to hammer relentlessly against the roof, filling each moment of silence between them. “You think this is a request?”
Vincenzo’s jaw dropped. “Why me? If peace matters that much, why not somebody else? Why does it have to be me?”
De Luca leaned back slightly in his chair. “Because you are my only unmarried son.” Vincenzo looked away. “Valentino already has a wife,” De Luca continued. “And the Lucchese Familia would never allow their daughter to become a second wife. Giovanni Lucchese made that clear.”
“So that’s it?” Said Vincenzo, but the words barely came out
“No, you were chosen because you are capable.”
Vincenzo scoffed softly. “All my life, everything has always come back to the family, because the family is everything, but did it ever occur to you that I might want something different?” De Luca shot him a glare, but didn't stop him. “You know what’s funny? I spent my whole life trying to become more like you. I watched the way men respected you, the way nobody questioned your authority… And I thought if I learned enough, fought hard enough, obeyed enough but no matter how much I give, the family keeps demanding more, another part of me…” he continued more quietly, “A part of me keeps wondering what it would feel like to live without all this.” He gestured around the office. “The violence, the enemies, every decision is already made for me before I even get a chance to think. For once, I wanted something that belonged to me.”
De Luca stood slowly from his chair. “There is no life outside this family for men like us.”
“That’s easy for you to say,” Vincenzo interjects
“You think I was born wanting this?” De Luca asked. “You think I never sacrificed anything?”
“I gave my entire life to this family; Every choice I made was for its survival. That is why we are still standing while other families collapsed.” He stepped closer. “You admire strength, Vincenzo, but strength is not freedom. Strength is carrying burdens even when they crush you.” His voice softened slightly. “You want me to be proud of you?” Vincenzo’s expression tightened, but he didn’t answer.
“Then understand this: a man does not become worthy by chasing comfort; he becomes worthy by sacrificing for something greater than himself.”
Vincenzo looked down at the floor, fists clenched tightly at his sides, before exhaling slowly. “If I do this… It gives us an edge against the La Morettis and the Lombardis. And if I refuse?”
De Luca didn’t answer. Vincenzo closed his eyes briefly before giving a small nod, “…Fine, I’ll marry her.” De Luca gave a single nod, but he barely noticed with the storm raging outside the villa, one thought echoed loudly: “Who is this Lucia that he has to get married to?” He slammed the door, splintering the wood slightly in the frame as he stormed out
Vincenzo strode straight toward the kitchen, shoving the door open as the rich scent of tomato sauce and garlic rushed over him. The kitchen buzzed with activity, servants moving quickly between counters while pots simmered over the stove. “Mother! Mother!” he called out. Isabella stood beside the long island counter, calmly giving instructions to the chef while inspecting what they were doing
“were you aware of this arrangement?” She turned towards him and nods slightly.
“And you didn’t do anything to stop him?”
“I tried, but your father wouldn’t listen; he believes it’s what’s best for the family.”
Vincenzo let out a bitter breath while running a hand through his hair. “You could talk to him again. Maybe he’ll change his mind, we can find another way to defeat the La Moretti’s and the Lombardi.”
“He won’t,” she replied miserably, lowering her eyes. “There’s nothing anyone can say or do that would make a difference once your father has decided.”
Vincenzo didn’t respond. He just stood there, grinding his jaw, while tapping his fingers restlessly against the counter, and without another word, he turned and walked out of the kitchen. The doors swung harder than necessary behind him as he moved down the hallway. The maids quickly stepped aside the moment they saw the look on his face.
