Alex had rented a villa in a small town near Sicily, complete with a boat that could take us there if needed. Just in case.
So when I carefully stepped out of our bedroom, the pain in my head now reduced to a dull throb, I hadn't expected to find Camilla in the living room.
She stood at the dining table, studying the blueprint of our estate that had been spread across the wooden surface like a tablecloth. Sergio stood beside her along with a few of our men, all of them quietly discussing something as their fingers traced lines across the paper.
The room fell silent when they sensed my presence, their heads turning toward the doorway.
Camilla met my eyes first, an apologetic look flashing across her face.
I parted my lips, unsure of what to say. The weight of everything between us suddenly pressing down on my chest.
Then I felt Alex's hand settle on the small of my back, warm and steady, grounding me.
"So," he said from behind me, his voice calm but commanding, "what did the lot of you find?"
"I don't understand, sir," one of them began. He cleared his throat when the others turned to look at him. "Why don't we use our connections with the Irish? It's suspected he ran to his contacts in New York, to the men still loyal to him. The Irish would know something."
Alex's hand tightened slightly at my back.
"They wouldn't help unless I agreed to their deal," he said, the words clipped. "So it's off the table. I can't risk it."
A low wave of murmurs passed around the table. Some of the men exchanged glances, others muttered under their breath, clearly frustrated.
I could feel the tension in Alex immediately. The subtle tightening of his jaw, the way his shoulders stiffened at the disappointment hanging in the room.
Without thinking, I squeezed his hand.
"Tell them," I murmured quietly.
He looked down at me for a moment, as if he was weighing the decision.
Across the table, Camilla crossed her arms lightly, her gaze moving between us.
"So what's the deal?" she asked carefully. "If I may ask?"
Alex didn't answer right away. His fingers only tightened slightly around mine, the small movement was the only sign that the question had struck a nerve.
The room waited with bated breath.
Camilla's eyes narrowed just a fraction. "Well?"
I drew in a slow breath. "It's a marriage," I said.
Every sound in the room seemed to disappear.
Camilla blinked. "A...what?"
"A marriage alliance," I clarified quietly. "With one of the Irish heirs."
The words felt heavy even as they left my mouth.
Across the table, Sergio suddenly went very still.
I could see it from the corner of my eyes. The way his shoulders locked, his gaze dropping to the blueprint as if the lines on the paper had suddenly become the most fascinating thing.
Camilla let out a small, humorless laugh. "You're joking."
"I wish I was," I said.
Her expression slowly changed as realization began to settle in.
"They offered information?" she asked.
Alex finally spoke again, his voice colder now. "Protection, intelligence, even access to their networks in New York."
"And all they want in return," Camilla said slowly, "is a bride."
Silence stretched across the room.
I shifted my weight slightly, the dull ache in my body reminding me that I probably shouldn't even be standing here.
"They wanted you," I admitted, "but we were going to offer them someone else. I didn't want to put you in that position, especially after everything that's already happened to you."
Camilla's eyes snapped back to mine.
"Look," I continued, steadying myself. "Alex made a deal with them in the past, and they wanted payment in the form of a marriage. We managed to renegotiate the terms and asked for their help regarding your father, but they only agreed on one condition."
Alex's jaw tightened beside me.
"They wanted you as the bride."
The words hung in the air for a moment before I continued.
"I thought we could give them Sandro instead," I added quietly. "But with everything that's happened...with him just waking up...that arrangement ins't exactly possible anymore. It wouldn't be enough for them."
Understanding slowly dawned across Camilla's face.
"You're saying..." she began carefully.
I nodded.
"The offer shifted."
The room suddenly felt heavier, the silence pressing down on everyone.
Camilla looked down at the blueprint, her fingers resting on the edge of the table.
Then she exhaled.
"Alright," she said.
Several heads jerked up.
She shrugged lightly, though the motion looked a little forced. "If that's what it takes to bring my father down and flush out your grandfather, then fine."
My chest tightened.
"Camilla—"
"It's just a marriage," she cut in, though her voice had lost some of its earlier steadiness. "We've all done worse things for the family."
In the corner of the room, Sergio's hand slowly curled into a fist.
He didn't say a word.
"Camilla, are you sure?" I asked.
She nodded. "It's just a marriage," she echoed. "Like I said, we've done worse for the family."
Alex's grip tightened around mine, but I ignored it for the moment.
"I'm sorry," I breathed. "For putting you in this position."
Camilla held my gaze for a moment longer before exhaling through her nose.
"Well," she said lightly, pushing herself off the edge of the table, "at least tell me he's not ugly."
A few of the men exchanged uncertain glances.
She tilted her head, pretending to think. "I mean, if I'm going to marry the man, I'd like to know whether I should start preparing myself for a lifetime of looking the other way."
A couple of quiet chuckles rippled around the table, the tension easing just slightly.
Then her eyes drifted to the side.
Sergio stood near the corner of the table, arms crossed tightly over his chest. His jaw was locked, shoulders rigid, like someone had driven a steel rod down his spine.
Camilla paused.
Her gaze lingered on him for half a second too long.
"Who knows," she continued casually, though her voice had softened just a fraction. "Maybe I'll even like him."
Sergio didn't laugh, didn't even move.
The muscles in his jaw only tightened further as he stared down at the blueprint spread across the table, like the lines drawn on it required his complete attention.
Camilla looked away first.