Lovenap

Chapter 9

In a loving, fatherly manner, Tony sighed deeply and his face visibly softened as he looked at his daughter. The warm glow of the desk lamp cast gentle shadows across the dark wood paneling of his office, highlighting the faint lines of worry and affection on his face. He rubbed the back of his neck, glancing over at Dimitri’s father, who sat coolly in the plush leather chair, boredly puffing on his cigar. The old Russian was obviously content to put the weight of the explanation squarely on the old Italian’s shoulders. The silence stretched, growing thicker and more uncomfortable by the second, until Tony finally threw his hands up in defeat.

“Sweetie, just know your Papa loves you and wants the best for you…” He paused, searching for the right words, his fingers drumming lightly on the desk. “The reason I kept saying the Russkies were being a pain is because we have been going back and forth on negotiations…”

Bianca crinkled her brows in confusion, tilting her head to the side. “Negotiations? Negotiations for what?”

Tony looked down glumly at his feet, his fingers gliding through his salt-and-pepper hair as he fought to find the right words. The faint scent of cigar smoke and aged whiskey hung heavier in the air. Dimitri’s father finally chose to abruptly cut in, his voice deep and matter-of-fact. “What your father is trying to say is that we are negotiating the terms of an alliance between our families… through marriage.”

Dimitri saw Bianca’s eyes widen in shock. Her mouth opened, but no words came out, so she closed it again, the color draining slightly from her face. He shifted in his seat, heart picking up speed as the pieces clicked into place. “Who’s the lucky couple?”

His father smirked as he locked eyes with Dimitri, wordlessly giving the answer. Dimitri felt his hands grow slick with sweat. His mouth suddenly dry, heart hammering against his chest. He looked down at his feet for a moment, hands clasped tightly together. “Which sister?”

Before Dimitri’s father could answer, Tony threw up a hand to stop him, his face completely unreadable. “If you had a choice… which one would you choose?”

Dimitri visibly gulped. He stood up so he could look Bianca’s father in the eye, the rich leather of the chair creaking softly beneath him. “If I could have a choice, I would pick Bianca. To be honest, sir, she had me wrapped around her finger from the very first moment I laid eyes on her — nervously pointing that gun at me with those big brown eyes and that ridiculous determination.”

Tony continued to listen quietly, his expression still unreadable as Dimitri poured out his confession. The room felt smaller, the air thicker with anticipation. Bianca’s cheeks glowed a deep red as she sat there, quietly taking in every word, her fingers twisting together in her lap.

“I kept falling for her more with every second I spent with her,” Dimitri continued, voice steady despite the nerves racing through him. “And I mean no disrespect, but if I were to marry anyone else, I wouldn’t be able to treat her as a wife should be treated. I wouldn’t have room for anyone else in my heart…”

Dimitri nervously shifted his weight from foot to foot as he watched Tony’s face. His own father sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, quietly mumbling Russian curses under his breath. Tony finally broke the silence, turning his gaze to Bianca, the weight of the moment hanging in the air.

“And what are your thoughts on the matter? Would you want to marry him? Would you prefer your sister to be his bride?”

Bianca fidgeted with her hands for a moment, then stood up with newfound determination blazing in her eyes. “I wouldn’t be able to attend a wedding between my sister and the man that I love…”

Tony finally smiled, a warm, knowing look crossing his face as he leaned back in his chair. “Are you saying that you want to be married to this man? For better or worse? In sickness and in health? Once you marry him, there is no reversing it…”

Bianca took Dimitri’s hand, giving it a firm, steady squeeze. “I know, Papa.” She looked up at Dimitri, her voice full of warmth and certainty. “I’m willing to take the risk… I want to spend the rest of my life with this man.”

Tony chuckled as he looked over at Dimitri’s father. “Well, I guess our negotiations don’t matter anymore. Sounds like we’re gonna be family either way.”

Dimitri’s father chuckled and lifted his glass of whiskey. “Mahnyom ka pa ryumachke za shastye!”

Tony cheerfully raised his own glass, ice clinking. “Salute!”

Nikolai jumped up from his seat, excitedly doing an embarrassingly dorky victory dance in triumph. “I called it! I knew you two would end up married!”

Dimitri smiled and gave Bianca’s hand a gentle squeeze. He leaned down, whispering warmly against her ear, “Ready for our next adventure, Zayka?”