Chapter 42 (Aliyana)


    1 monthter


    I head to the door of my house, and that is when my phone rings. They say a ring cane in many


    forms, and mine came in this one.


    “Hello Papa.”


    “Hello, Aliyana.”


    “You sound so serious, is everything okay?”


    “I need to see you, I''ll be there in the next hour.”


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    “Okay. I didn''t know you were in the city.”


    “I wasn''t until a few hours ago, there has been an ident, the Rasetto’s family ne blew up, no one


    survived.”


    I listen to my father and I still don''t know what that has to do with me. But Marcoes to mind and my


    hands get sweaty. I haven’t seen him since my sister and her baby died.


    The other Shadows agreed it was best he kept his distance. The death of my sister still a wound not yet


    healed.


    La Sanati attacked me because of Marco. He kidnapped my friend Kylie because of Marco. The


    Shadows searched for her, day and night but we couldn’t find her. We knew the clock was ticking.


    My father arrives in an hour just like he said and I go to his office, that was destroyed in the explosion


    along with my sister. My mother’s picture no longer sits on his desk. His office is just a room, with some


    books, not his any longer.


    “I have killed many innocent people in my plight for power, I have never imed to be a noble man or a


    fair one. And life has certainly not given me any reprieves, I have taken the power I have wanted in


    blood. I have loved one woman only to lose her because of her betrayal. But Aliyana, from the moment


    you were born you have been my redemption, you, Aliyana have been the one thing in my life I have


    loved without condition. You always knew I was a bad man, but you epted my love, my status as


    your father.”


    “Papa?”


    “You knew that I would protect you from anyone who did you wrong. And I have, I have made you


    strong. Given you everything and only asked you for so little. But today my child, I must ask you for


    forgiveness after I ask you to give yourself to another.”


    “Papa?” I whisper again, confused.


    He turns to face me, I am confused, what is he talking about?


    “As Sicilian tradition has it, when a child gets married the father of the bride cannot refuse a favor. It is


    considered bad luck but also shameful and weakness we do not need. I am afraid that I was asked a


    favor that has doomed us both, my daughter.”


    “Papa? I don’t understand.” What is he talking about? His eyes are so red that I am sure if look hard


    enough I would say he is crying.


    “The Rasetto’s weren’t the only ones to fall today. There is a shift in power, the Capo Dei Capi has got


    a new name, and that name needs a wife Aliyana.” I close my eyes because I knew he would rise.


    “Papa, please no, I... I love Xander, I was going to tell you, I want to marry him.” I am not sure how true


    of a statement that is but it’s the only excuse I can think of.


    My father looks at me, and for the first time I see his tear in his eyes fall, “That will not be possible any


    longer, like my daughter, The Consigliere of The 5th State I order you to do as you are told.”


    I drop down to my knees and cry. I have thought of a thousand ways in which I would one daye to


    this moment, me on my knees in front of my father, as many have done but not like this.


    “Who is he?”


    “I am so sorry, I have doomed us both. But even with all my power, I am not strong enough to deny


    him, neither are you. The Shadows can’t help you here.”


    “Who is he?” I scream at my Papa.


    “I hope you will forgive me, Aliyana.”


    “Who, tell me dammit,” I yell as my heart rips.


    It is like we both freeze for seconds as my father''s haunted gaze holds my own tormented one captive.


    All those moments growing up with this man who has loved me with a fierce determination that has


    made any other fatherly affection dim inparison sh through me.


    His crinkling eyes as heughed, his one-sided smile when the five of us needed help and called him.


    Always my Papa, there to rescue us, me. Memories that have brought us to this day, me on his office


    floor and him, the powerful man who promised to love me, protect me now offering me up, taking my


    freedom.


    Now, as Iy on this floor looking at him, he is not that man who loved his daughter, and I am not his


    little girl. He is the Consigliere of the Capo Dei Capi, a powerful member of the 5th State, and I am a


    grown woman who controls a powerful army of men, known as the Shadows, A Queen with no power


    against the leader of us all.


    “Who?” I whisper.


    “Marco Catelli.” I close my eyes as that name was once such a big part of my world until he took from


    me so much.