"'Blind obedience is what keeps this family strong,' his father retorted, slamming his fist on the desk. 'You think you know better than me? Than your uncles? You think you can run this family with your head in the clouds?''I think I can run this family with a little more...discretion,' Alessandro countered, his voice dangerously calm. 'We don't need to resort to violence at every turn. There are other ways to maintain our power.'His uncle Marco laughed, a harsh, grating sound. 'Discretion? You sound like a damn politician. This is the Mafia, Alessandro. We deal in blood.''And that's why we're constantly under scrutiny,' Alessandro shot back. 'We need to adapt, to evolve, or we'll become extinct.'His father rose from his chair, his eyes blazing with fury. 'You dare lecture me about the future of this family? You, who can't even control his own impulses? I heard about you tonight, Alessandro. Dawdling in the streets with some girl. Is that how you spend your time when you should be solidifying our business?' Alessandro's face hardened. He should have known they'd find out about Clara. Nothing escaped his father's notice. 'She was nothing,' he said, his voice flat. 'A momentary distraction.'But even as he said the words, he knew they were a lie. Clara was more than a distraction. She was a threat. A threat to his carefully constructed world, to the legacy he was bound to uphold."
