Chapter 9

• Alessio
• "She... She's not a daughter from my marriage, but the circumstances of her conception are not a relevant topic in light of the fact that she carries my blood, Yakuza blood, and as such, she falls under its mantle and protection," he retorted with utmost seriousness and clarity, emphasizing an intriguing point, a point not beyond comprehension: Amaya was his daughter and had the same rights as the rest. "The process of changing her name, as well as bestowing upon her a new surname, will conclude shortly, and she will officially become a Yagami."
• The man's wife was boiling with anger, twisted to the point of being shaken entirely. Her daughters were the epitome of modesty, yet they reached out to comfort their mother, while Hiro held his younger sister who seemed on the verge of fainting. With those words, the table fell into silence, and the council members stood to give a small bow to the girl who was on the brink of tears. With that, she had sealed the poor girl's fate, so it was within the realm of my choices, something a part of me celebrated with gusto, while another part felt pity. She looked at her father, seemingly asking him what the hell to do, then furrowed her brow and gave the men a smile before bowing.
• She had been cunning, more than I had thought she could be, and I smiled in satisfaction. After that, the dinner was pleasant, and even though we didn't engage in conversation with the others, as most of them spoke in Japanese, I was well aware they were discussing me and the fact that one of Hiroshi's daughters would end up being the wife of one of the country's most lethal bosses.
• We finished dinner and moved to another room where champagne was served, and Hiroshi approached with his three daughters. Each one seemed more uncomfortable than the other, telling me that none of them wanted to be in this situation. "My daughters, this is Alessio Milano," their father introduced me. Then I remembered that one of them had overheard me earlier, so I remained silent and nodded.
• "A pleasure, sir," Dai responded without hypocrisy.
• "A pleasure is mine. I am at your service, sir," Ima expressed with a flirty hint that almost made me burst into laughter.
• Amaya remained silent, and her father encouraged her to speak.
• "Un piacere," she said without enthusiasm, out of obligation, and I couldn't help but smile.
• "So che non è un piacere, ma lo sforzo è apprezzato" I said with a more pronounced accent to avoid immediate recognition.
• I was in the mood to amuse myself.
• She looked at me with a furrowed brow, and my response was to offer my arm to Ima, who took it eagerly, and I led her out to the terrace.
• "Could you tell me what she said and what you said? I don't know any Italian," the influencer dared to ask.
• I looked her up and down shamelessly; she was taller than her sisters, with a meticulously sculpted body that bore the marks of numerous touch-ups and surgeries, making her look like a catalog Asian and the adult film actresses that many indulged in. She could easily be persuaded to bed, despite the mask that covered my burns, giving me a more intimidating air. However, many women had forgotten about the scars, remembering only that I was a handsome guy and that I could provide more pleasure in a single night than they might have received in an entire year.
• "She said it was a pleasure, and I replied that the pleasure was mine," I answered with a forced smile.
• "Well, I'm sorry for the awkwardness, but my parents only told us about the existence of the girl yesterday, and you can understand that she wasn't someone we knew... Since I don't know what kind of education she had, honestly, I feared she might say something offensive," she said with some guilt.
• That's when I felt a shift inside me, realizing that not only was she belittling her sister, but she was also taking me for a fool.
• "Lei, a differenza di voi, sa benissimo cosa sta dicendo. Siete oltremodo spregevoli."
• "What does that mean?"
• "That she didn't say anything wrong, and there's no need to worry. So, tell me, how do you feel about your father's announcement?" I asked, baiting her.
• "I feel wonderful because he's not only offering us a nice guy like you, who, as I understand it, knows the art of pleasing us," she replied in a flirtatious tone, running her finger along my suit, "but he's also giving us a husband with a lot of money and power, enough to sustain the luxuries we're accustomed to."
• "I see that you're honest and bold..."
• "I enjoy being the black sheep of the family," she winked at me, "and I know we could make an excellent pair. One capable of shining at the highest level."
• "The problem, Ima, is that I don't want to shine at the highest level. I want to reign at the lowest," I told her with a biting tone that made her retract her finger. "For that, I need a focused woman by my side who doesn't pose a threat and won't be a potential source of problems... Would you be able to adapt to hiding?"
• "Well, I can make the effort," she quickly added, but her playful expression faded. "Necessarily, nobody would have to know that I'm your wife, and thus, anonymity would be preserved."
• The woman was naive, to say the least.
• "The problem, Ima, is that I'm a territorial being who doesn't share, doesn't flaunt, and only seeks a guarantee," I said with brutal honesty. "I see that, among all of you, you're the most... beautiful, but I don't see you conforming to the mandates of the Camorra."
• "I could do it..."
• "It would be interesting to see, but I'm in a hurry..."
• I turned around, but she stopped me by grabbing my arm and pressing her chest against it.
• "I'm your best option. I won't give you trouble," she said boldly.
• "No, you will cause it, and we both know that."
• "If you choose one of my sisters, it will all be a disaster," she pointed out seriously.
• On that, she was right, but the cost might be worth it.
• "Well, we'll see..."
• "Shinebaīnoni, kono kuzu."
• "Likewise, Ima, likewise," I replied, and she stormed off the terrace in a fury.
• I waited there for a while in peace. When I looked down, I noticed Amaya in the gardens, alone, wiping away tears and escaping the situation. It wasn't just pitiful; it was profoundly lamentable. I wondered when Hiroshi Yagami had ever shown himself to be such a fool.
• I walked away to avoid getting closer, and with indifference, I searched for a bathroom in the corridors, stumbling upon an interesting conversation.
• "The idiot didn't fall for it, Dad. You told me he would marry me and give me what I wanted. Now... Not only am I going to be left without a husband, but the bastard has the possibility of her," Ima snapped with anger.
• “Don't call your little sister like that or I won't answer," she scathingly reprimanded him. What the hell have you done to irritate Alessio Milano? I told you to be polite, tender, to use that seduction that characterizes you.
• Well, you didn't do any of that.
• “I didn't tell him anything, I tried to be honest and come to an agreement with the man, but he dismissed me like a piece of garbage, humiliated me in a terrible way and gave me to understand that I would have problems.”
• “You're a fool Ima, you shouldn't have told him that, you had to seduce him.”
• “I couldn't, the guy is burned and he has a mask to hide it, that makes me sick.... If it had been before I would have done it without batting an eye, but he's an overbearing asshole who hides.”
• "And you will be the death of your father" I thought wryly.
• Japanese phrases:
• “I hope you end up dead, you piece of shit.”
• Italian phrases:
• “Un gusto.”
• “I know it's not a pleasure, but the effort is appreciated.”
• “She, unlike you, knows very well what she's saying. You're beyond despicable.”