Page 61 of Princess's Revenge
It’s a crying shame, because he now knows without a doubt that loyalties have shifted. Well…not so muchshifted,it’s just that he’s lost mine. I can’t speak for Anthony and Francis, but it sure seems like it for them too.
Finally, my father starts to speak in a calm, measured tone, “Don Cassaduchi reached out to me.” When Andrea makes eye contact with him, he goes on, “He wants to know if you’re going to be a problem.”
Andrea’s fork lands with a clatter on her plate, “Does a bear shit in the woods?”
A brief moment passes before my father smirks and nods. “I told him as much. I also told him that I looked the other way once and de Soto made a mistake.”
Andrea stares my father down like no one else has ever had the balls to do. Most people would turn away, even me and Anthony.
“I told him that I looked the other way once, but that I would not do it again.”
“Why’d you tell him that?” Andrea’s words practically drip with condescension.
“This family was founded more than a hundred years ago by your ancestors who came on the boats from Sicily. Four generations of Lupertazzis have led us. Your brother, Daniel, was to be the fifth after your father stepped down.”
Andrea doesn’t respond. She keeps the stare going.
“I swore an oath to protect this family. I had my reasons for what I did sixteen years ago. I don’t deserve your forgiveness, so I won’t ask for it. Don Cassaduchi has been informed that you’ll not die by my hand and…God willing…by no one else’s either.”
“Well, that’s a step in the right direction,” Anthony says.
“And to that end,” my father gives Anthony a look for him to be quiet, “I see that you have the allegiance of my sons,” he glances at each of us, and when he does, we nod at the truth of his words, one by one. He looks back to Andrea, “They are good soldiers, good captains and good men. They will serve you well. If there is still some loyalty for me left in them, then they will do this out of respect to their father.”
I’m starting to wonder what he’s talking about.
There’s moment of silence. My father takes a deep breath, holds it, then exhales, “You will have your war, Andrea…last of the Lupertazzis…and you will have your revenge. I hereby cede leadership of this family to you.”
What the fuck?
“You are now—Donna Andrea Lupertazzi.”
CHAPTER 18
It’s a month later.
A lot has happened.
I knew that I would take back what was mine…I just didn’t know that Vincenzo Bertinelli would submit so absolutely. It came as a shock to everyone at that breakfast table.
I remember hearing him say the words,‘I hereby cede leadership of this family to you,’and thinking—Huh? What the fuck?
I was sure that I was going to have to turn his sons against him and oust him by force.
I’ve retained his services though—He’s not dead.I still have much to learn aboutour thingand our various businesses.
I could probably manage with Anthony, Christopher and Francis alone, but…I didn’t want my first act as Donna to turnthemagainst me.
Vincenzo did the right thing. What kind of leader would I be if I rewarded him for his actions with death?
I’m not saying he doesn’t deserve it—he’s the reason my family is dead—but maybe he’s right…sometimes for the greater good, compromises need to be made.
Dying a warrior’s death seems like a far more noble way to leave this world than living to be hundred-and-two, losing your fucking marbles, being bedridden and shitting yourself twice a day.
I’m going to make sure Vincenzo lives a long, long time. His guilt will be his torture—so will making sure the nurse only visits him once every two days.
He’ll get to see first-hand, where I take this family and what it becomes. His sons will takemyname…and the Lupertazzis will rise again.
My days have been filled to the brim since taking the helm. We’ve not announced anything yet to the other families, but we will soon. Today, in fact.