Claimed by the Capo

The Cracks

The brunch was a disaster waiting to happen.

And it started at 10:47am, in the back of Matteo’s black SUV.Lily stared out the window. Manhattan blurred past. Her dress was navy, simple. His shirt was crisp white. They looked like the perfect couple.

They felt like strangers.“You didn’t sleep,” Matteo said. His voice was careful.

“Neither did you.”

“I was watching you.”

“Why?”

“Because if I closed my eyes, I’d remember what my father said last week. ‘Keep her close, but don’t get attached.’”Lily turned to him. “Is that what this is? Keeping me close?”He didn’t answer fast enough.That’s when the first crack split open.“What is that supposed to mean, Matteo?”

“It means nothing.”

“Then why did you say it?”

“Because you’re asking questions I can’t answer in a car.”

“I’m asking questions you won’t answer. Ever.”He dragged a hand down his face. “Don’t do this. Not today.”

“Don’t do what? Ask if you meant it last night? Ask if ‘you’re mine’ was real or just another line for your father?”

“Lily—”

“Because I need to know if I’m the contract or if I’m yours.”

The car went silent.

Matteo’s jaw ticked. “We’re not doing this now.”

“We’re doing it now because if we wait until after brunch, I’ll have to smile and lie again.”

“Then don’t.”

“Oh, right. Just walk in and tell the Russo family the baby’s fake and I’m in love with their son and I don’t know if he’s in love with me back.”She said in love before she could stop herself. Matteo froze. “You don’t—”

“Don’t what? Don’t feel it? Don’t say it?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t deny it either.”The SUV stopped.

11:00am. The Russo estate.

His phone buzzed. His father. We’re waiting.Matteo got out first. Held the door open. Hand out.

Lily didn’t take it.

She walked past him, up the steps, spine straight.

THE BRUNCH...

It was worse than dinner.

All the cousins. The aunts. His father at the head of the table.

And everyone was watching Lily’s stomach.“Still no morning sickness?” Aunt Rosa asked, too sweet.

“Not today,” Lily lied.

Matteo’s hand found her knee under the table. Squeezed. A silent be okay.

She moved his hand off.“Matteo,” his father said. “Walk with me.”

They left. 10 minutes.

When they came back, Matteo’s face was stone. Lily’s was pale.Dessert came. No one ate.

“Is everything alright?” His mother asked.

“Fine,” Matteo said.

Lily stood. “I need air.”She walked out.

He followed.

On the terrace, away from everyone.“What did he say to you?” Lily asked.

“That the contract is up in 10 months and I need to start thinking about an exit strategy. That if I’m going to keep you, I need to make it permanent. Or end it clean.”

“And what did you say?”

“I said I’m handling it.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“It’s the only one I have!”She laughed. It was ugly. “God, you’re just like him.”

“Don’t.”

“You are. Everything is control and strategy and what looks good. Last night meant nothing to you.”

“It meant everything to me.”

“Then say it! Say you want me past the contract. Say you chose me.”Matteo stepped closer. “I can’t do that here. Not with them listening.”

“So you’ll never say it.”

“I said you’re mine.”

“You said that in bed. I need to hear it where it counts.”He didn’t.

Not fast enough.And that was it.Lily shook her head. “I can’t do this.”

“Lily—”

“I can’t be your secret and your trophy and your lie.”She turned and ran.

Down the steps. Past the cars. Out the gates.“LILY!”

RUNNING...

She didn’t know where she was going.

Just away.

She hailed a cab, gave no address. “Just drive.”

10 minutes later she got out in SoHo. Too many people. Too loud.

She walked. Fast.

Her chest hurt. Her head hurt. She kept seeing his face. The way he didn’t answer.

She kept feeling his hands from last night. Gentle. Like she mattered.

Liars have gentle hands too.It started to rain.

She didn’t notice until her dress was soaked.

She cut through an alley to get to a main street. Wrong turn.

Two men were there. Smoking.

They looked up.

Lily turned to leave. “Hey. You lost, sweetheart?”

“Leave me alone.”

“You sure? You look upset.” She ran.

Heels on wet pavement.

One of them grabbed her arm. She twisted. Fell.

Her elbow hit the ground. Hard. Pain shot up her arm.

Her ankle twisted too. “Let go of me!”

The other one laughed.

Then a sound. Tires screeching.

A voice. “GET YOUR HANDS OFF HER.”Matteo. He was out of the car before it stopped. He moved like violence.

It was over in 15 seconds.

The men ran. Matteo was on his knees in front of her. Rain in his hair. “Lily. Lily, look at me. Are you hurt?”She was shaking. Not from them. From him.

“Don’t touch me.”

“I’m not letting you go.”

“You don’t get to choose that.”He ignored her. His hands were everywhere, checking. Gentle now.

“Elbow’s bleeding. Ankle’s swollen. You’re freezing.”

He took off his jacket and wrapped it around her. Lifted her.

She didn’t fight. She was too tired.He put her in the car. Drove like hell.

HIS APARTMENT...

He carried her in. Straight to the bathroom.

Set her on the counter. Turned on warm water.

Cleaned the cut on her elbow. It was deep. She hissed.

He didn’t flinch. Just kept his eyes on her skin.“Does it hurt?” he asked.

“Which part?”

“All of it.”She didn’t answer. He wrapped her ankle. Cold compress. Then he got her dry clothes. One of his hoodies. Sweatpants.

He dressed her like she couldn’t do it herself. Because she couldn’t. Her hands were shaking too bad.He carried her to the bed. Laid her down. Got her water. Painkillers.

Sat on the floor next to the bed. Not touching her.For a long time, neither of them spoke.

Only the rain against the windows.“You’re angry,” he said finally.

“You think?”

“I deserve that.”

“You deserve worse.”He nodded. “Tell me.”

“Tell you what? That you broke me? That I ran because I thought if I stayed I’d start believing your lies again?”

“I wasn’t lying last night.”

“Then why couldn’t you say it at brunch? Why couldn’t you say ‘she’s mine’ to your father?”Matteo put his head in his hands. “Because the second I say it out loud to him, it’s real. And if it’s real, they can use you against me. And I can’t— Lily, I can’t lose you.”She stared at him. “That’s the first honest thing you’ve said all day.”He looked up. His eyes were red. “I’m terrified. Of my father. Of this life. Of f*****g this up with you. And I thought if I kept it quiet, I could protect you.”

“You don’t protect me by hiding me.”

“I know.”

“You don’t protect me by waiting 10 months to decide.”

“I know.”

“You don’t protect me by making me feel like I’m temporary.”He reached for her hand. She pulled away.

“Don’t.”

“Lily, please.”

“Please what? Forgive you? Pretend the fight didn’t happen? Pretend I’m not scared that in 10 months you’ll let me go because it’s easier?”He stood. Paced. “What do you want me to do?”

“I want you to choose. Me. Or the contract. Or your family. Pick.”

“I already picked you. Last night. In the shower. This morning at breakfast.”

“Then prove it.”

PROVING IT...

He did.

For the next three days, he didn’t leave her side. He canceled meetings. Told his father he was sick.

He cooked for her. Terrible eggs and perfect coffee.

He changed the bandage on her elbow twice a day. His fingers were so careful it made her chest ache.

He carried her to the couch when her ankle throbbed. Set up movies she liked. Bad rom-coms.

He didn’t touch her like before. No claiming. No desperation.

He touched her like she was precious. Brushed hair from her face. Held her hand while she slept. On day 2, he came back with a bag.

“Here.”

She opened it. Books. Her favorite author. Tea. A heating pad.

“I asked your sister what you’d want,” he said.

“You called my sister?”

“I called everyone.” On day 3, he sat on the edge of the bed while she was dozing.

“Lily.”

“Hmm?”

“I’m choosing you. Past the contract. Past the year. Past all of it.”

She opened her eyes.

“I don’t know what happens after. I don’t know how we do this with my family. But I know I don’t want to do it without you.” She was quiet.

“My father will fight it. He’ll threaten. He’ll cut me off.”

“Okay.”

“I might have to leave the city. For a while.”

“Okay.”

“I’m asking you to come with me. Not as part of a deal. As my girlfriend. As mine.”Tears slipped down her face before she could stop them.

“Why now?” she whispered.

“Because you ran. Because you got hurt. Because I almost lost you over my pride.” He took her hand. This time she didn’t pull away. “I’m sorry. For all of it. For the lies. For the silence. For making you feel small.”Lily squeezed his hand. “I’m still angry.”

“I know.”

“I’m still scared.”

“I know.”

“But...”

“But?”

“But I’m still yours too.”He exhaled like he’d been holding his breath for days.

He leaned down and kissed her forehead. Then her cheek. Then, finally, her mouth. Soft. Slow. No desperation. Just promise.“I’m going to take care of you,” he murmured against her lips. “Let me.”

LATER...

She was asleep on his chest. Ankle propped on a pillow.

Matteo was awake. Watching her.

His phone lit up. His father.

He silenced it. He looked down at Lily. At the bandage on her elbow. At the way she fit against him.

He whispered it, so only she could hear.

“Mine. For real this time.”Outside, the city kept moving.

Inside, the door was closed.

And for the first time, neither of them were pretending.