Alessia's POV
Luca huffed, rolling his eyes. "You spoil her too much, Father."
"Shut up, brat," I retorted, but he kept going.
"If she keeps this up, she might do something that'll actually tarnish the family name and bring the business down."
I raised a brow. "I don't think anyone could top Melanie's record. Still a mystery how you dated that idiot for three years."
Luca flinched. Beautiful. His hand went to his gun holster at the same time mine went to my dagger.
"That's enough," Dad drawled, raising both hands. "I've already fixed this study twice because you two let hell loose in it. I will not do it again."
We froze, weapons half-drawn.
Rule number one of being a Moretti: never walk around unarmed.
Rule number two: never make Don Marco repeat himself.
"Of course, Father." Luca set his gun down, giving me a death glare. I sheathed my daggers.
Carl snickered. We both turned to him. He immediately looked away.
Luca straightened, still glaring at me. "Well, Dad, I'm tired of watching you support her when she's wrong. You've spoiled her so much she doesn't know what's right and wrong."
"My moral compass is just fine," I said, frown deepening. "I know that because punching your smug little face always feels absolutely right. Even now."
Dad sighed. "As entertaining as this is, I'm not here to watch my children bicker. Sit. Alessia, get off the carpet."
We stared each other down a few seconds longer, then finally sat.
Honestly, Luca had some nerve calling me spoiled when everyone in the underworld knew Luca Moretti was Luciana Moretti's favorite child. If Mom hadn't intervened, that ditzy chick Melanie would still be around. But that was men for you.
"Good," Dad said, placing his hands on the table and interlacing his fingers. "Your mother and I have invited a few people over for dinner tonight, and we expect you to act as befits my offspring."
"So… utter chaos?" Carl asked.
Despite the tension, we all burst out laughing.
Dad's gaze moved from Carl to me. "A dinner between us and… the Knight family."
I blinked. No. It couldn't be.
"The Knights?" I asked, unsure I'd heard right.
Our father nodded.
A montage slammed into my brain:
Bonfire night.
People pointing and whispering.
The scent of burning lilies as a scented envelope curled into ash.
And a low, mocking drawl—
"Dearest Alessia…"
"Dad!"
"Yes, Alessia?" he replied from across the room.
I hurried after him. "You can't do this to me. Not after what he did to me!"
"You've already been avenged," Luca said, smirking. "At considerable cost to our father's reputation, might I add. And hasn't it been, what, twelve years already?"
I shot him a death glare before retreating to the nearest window. He only grinned wider, lifting the whiskey glass to pour more into his.
Asshole.
But this wasn't about him.
This was about a bigger asshole.
Adrian Knight.
Even thinking his name made me cringe.
Dad set his glass down and nodded to my brothers. "Go and get changed."
"But Father, I hate that family!"
He stopped and turned slowly. "Based on the actions of a single child?" His voice was quiet, dangerous. "Alessia, how will you lead if you cannot love?"
Coming from a Mafia Don, that was so ironic.
But he had that look on his face. The one I loathed.
"Oh—oh, she's done it," Carl chuckled.
I turned on him with a glare that snapped his mouth shut.
Better.
When I looked back, Dad was already in front of me. He placed his hands on my shoulders, eyes locked on mine.
"Jonathan Knight and I have been in business together for years," he said. "He is my oldest friend, and yet he has not set foot in this house since Adrian hurt you. I meet him outside, in inconvenient places, without the security of the Moretti mansion—all to protect you from that... pain."
His voice softened, but his grip didn't.
"But you are grown, Alessia. Your cousins in Sicily are married. I've let you keep your innocence. I've let you be a girl for as long as I can. You will have to suck it up and bear it. Am I clear?"
I wanted to ask what all this had to do with married cousins and innocence, but the pain and anger in Dad's eyes knocked the fight out of me.
I let out a sigh, my shoulders slumping.
"Yes, Father," I whispered.
He nodded. "Good. Then go and change. I'll see you at dinner."
Dad and Carl slipped out of the study, shutting the door behind them.
I frowned. I couldn't stand the idea of that sly weasel in this house, let alone sitting at our table.
I had to do something.
"Don't."
Now what?
I turned to see Luca. "Don't what, traitor?"
He walked toward me, hands in his pockets. I noted, with satisfaction, the bloodstains I'd left on his suit.
"I know that look," he said. "You're pissed. But don't do anything outrageous. Don't ruin this for Dad." He squinted at me. "So don't you dare do what you're planning."
"How dare you," I snapped teasingly, folding my arms and giving him a slow once-over. "You can't accuse me of trying anything. I'm not a troublemaker."
Even I almost choked on that lie.
I mean, I'm not really a troublemaker. I just give a slice of it to whoever needs it.
And right now, that Knight scum deserved the whole cake.
"I know you have a permanent feud with him," Luca continued, opening the door. "But remember that because of you, Dad's best friend hasn't been here in years."
He stepped out, then paused.
"So if you love Dad, let him have this dinner," he said. "Let him have just one night to host his friend's family and be happy."
The door shut.
I let out a long breath.
I hated it when Luca acted like an adult. But deep down, I knew he was right.
I'd have to bear it, like Father said.
I thought I'd never see Adrian again, but I guess I was wrong.
A thought slid into my head, and my lips tipped into a smirk.
If I had to be on my best behavior… then I'd do it my own way.
And my way?
Was rarely holy.