Chapter 3 This Is Your Duty

• "By Giovanna Carcione"
• Two months have passed since that traumatic day. For weeks, soldiers from all classes that make up the Sovranità have searched for my attacker, based on the physical descriptions I provided. However, just as that man appeared, he disappeared. At least physically, because he has haunted my nightmares since then.
• "You're so quiet," Sofia comments, swinging her feet out of the window of my room. "Were you required to take a vow of silence at the convent?"
• "It wasn't a convent!" I exclaimed, rolling my eyes as I sit next to her. "It was a boarding school. I was just reminiscing about that night... How could everything go wrong?"
• "That's what I wonder, Gio. I've sneaked out so many times and nothing had ever gone wrong," she replies, staring at her feet. "Maybe if I hadn't kept saying that you needed to have a normal life, or if I hadn't stayed locked in that bathroom..."
• "Don't blame yourself, Sofi... I just regret losing the weapon my father gave me. But I hope that shot killed him," I disguised, and deciding to change the subject to something random.
• To everyone else, that man was just a crazy foreigner who tried to kidnap me. And I, using the techniques I was taught a few months ago, managed to react and defend myself before discovering his true intentions. That was the version I told when I finally managed to calm down.
• The guilt and shame of everything that happened that night made me keep the truth to myself. Honestly, I don't know if I'll ever have the courage to share it with anyone.
• "I think it's time for you to find out who you're going to marry..." my cousin asserts, pointing to the cars entering the property. "Aren't you curious to know who he is?"
• "No!" I exclaim as I get up from the window, as soon as the cars disappear from our sight. "I'll have to accept him anyway. After all, it's tradition, isn't it? The difference is that I wasn't promised to him in childhood."
• "That could have happened if you hadn't suffered that attack and ended up in the convent," she says, spontaneously. Seeing my uncomfortable look, Sofia quickly changes the subject. "But from personal experience, it's not so bad, Gio. For me, it's interesting to imagine what will happen on the honeymoon. At least my future husband isn't ugly... Or is he? You saw him a few days ago."
• "He's not ugly, Sofia. He's just a man twenty years older than you!"
• "So what?" she shrugs, getting up from the window. "My friends always say that experience is everything. I'll go down and see what your future husband looks like. I'll be back to tell you."
• Sofia, who seems to be more excited about this wedding story than I am, practically runs through the door. I let out a long sigh and throw myself on the bed, hoping that the last two months have just been a nightmare. And that, magically, I will wake up at the all"girls boarding school where I spent much of my adolescence."
• However, it doesn't take long for my mother to appear in my room. She opens the door and puts her hands on her hips while staring at me seriously.
• is here.” She states, in a dissatisfied tone. " Why aren't you ready yet?"
• "Mom, I'm nineteen years old! I don't want to get married..."
• "Giovanna, " she cuts me off, sitting next to me on the bed with a look of understanding. “No one wanted it to be this way. But don't forget that no one goes against a decision from the Don, and that includes you."
• "But it's not fair that I have to marry someone I don't know! My father told me yesterday about this marriage and said it will happen as soon as possible! All women take years preparing for their future husbands, and some even fall in love with the idea! Why does it have to be different for me?"
• My mother's expression becomes serious, her tired eyes reflecting the sadness of the situation. She sighs, as if carrying the weight of an ancient tradition. "But you know that in our world that doesn't exist! Love comes with time. Just like it was with me and your father, it can happen with you too. Now get dressed, please! We don't need any more arguments between you two."
• She gives me a tight hug and strokes my back before getting up to leave. "No one goes against a decision from the Don." Those words echo in my head as I look for any clothes to wear.
• I finished getting ready as my mood allows and head downstairs. I walked slowly to my father's office, feeling like I'm going to my own funeral.
• Upon opening the door, I came face to face with the Don, imposing in his leather chair. To his right, Giuseppe, the consigliere with sharp eyes, stares at me. On the other side, Alessio, my brother with a serious demeanor, seems to avoid my gaze. He is also the underboss of the Sovranità .
• After pushing the door, I saw a man, standing next to none other than Don Matteo. He looks at me with his intense blue eyes, bringing back the shadows of that night.
• The painful memories and the fear I felt when I found him in that church, when I believed it was really the end for me, makes my legs tremble, my heart beat frantically, and the air becomes heavy.
• However, as I take two steps back, Matteo approaches me. In an attempt to appear friendly, completely different from that night, he smiles and kisses my hand before leading me into the office.
• "I thought brides only arrived late for the wedding." Matteo says, with his deep voice filled with irony. " Pleasure to see you again, Giovanna. You look better than at our last meeting."
• "Thank you " I reply, quickly pulling my hand away. "Dad, can I know what's going on?"
• "Sit down, Giovanna." My father says, pointing to the chair next to Alessio. Matteo sits next to me. "You already know about the marriage, so I don't need to explain that part."
• "But you didn't say anything about me marrying our enemy."
• "If everything goes well between us, we will be ex-enemies, ragazza." Matteo states, with a smile that doesn't reach his eyes.
• "Giovanna, after that fateful night, Don Matteo realized that over the years, our rivalry became irrelevant. In fact, if we had been allies that night, it would have been easy to find that figlio di puttana in La Tempesta's territory."
• "But that's not enough..."
• "Furthermore," he interrupts me "La Tempesta controls areas of extreme interest to Sovranità , and vice versa."
• "Exactly, Giovanna." Alessio says, giving me a satisfied look. "The union of our families will bring many benefits to both sides."
• "But, there's no other way..."
• "No buts", Giovanna. This is your duty as a member of the family. You will marry Don Matteo and seal the alliance between us."
• I feel tears running down my face as my fingers tremble on my thigh, unable to believe that my father is handing me over to our enemy. My eyes search for some support or a contrary reaction, but everyone acts exactly as my mother said: no one goes against a Don's decision.
• The men resume talking about the marriage, its benefits, and what they expect for the future. I remain with my head down, in silence, as if I were just part of the illuminated office decoration.
• Among other agreements, the main one sends shivers down my spine: the marriage will take place in a month. Approximately an hour after my arrival here, the men bid farewell. And as expected, my father asked me to accompany them to the exit.
• "You don't need to look at me like that." Matteo says, when we reach the main door. He takes my hand and flashes a smile that sends shivers down my spine. The same smile he wore that night, when he was willing to punish me. " I promise to be very nice to you... At least until we are alone, then my fun begins."
• "What do you mean by that, Don Matteo?" I ask, feeling the tremor in my voice.
• "You'll find out soon." He affirms, running his gaze over my body before locking it on my eyes. "Until soon, dear bride."