Chapter Eighty Three

She glared at him then without another word tugged her hand free and he could only watch with pride as she lifted her beautiful head and strode purposely into the centre of the ballroom.

‘La sua bella piccola tigre era magnifica ‘ [His beautiful little tigress was magnificent.]

He thought as he went to stand beside her and they did look stunning, such an incredibly beautiful couple that every head turned to look at them and silence fell. Romero put his arm around her waist and pulled her tight to his side, whatever they said his men were ready, the Council would not get their hands on his Juliette.

The Leader of the Council stood up and banged down his gavel onto the marble table top sending the noise echoing around the ballroom, instantly the quiet whispering that had started when they walked in stopped.

‘Signori, sapete tutti perché siamo qui. Il Consiglio aveva deliberato le azioni di una delle nostre "Famiglie". Abbiamo esaminato ogni aspetto di queste azioni per vedere se qualcuna delle nostre leggi è stata violata.’ [Gentlemen, you all know why we are here. The Council had been deliberating the actions of one of our ‘Families’. We have gone over every aspect of these actions to see if any of our Laws were broken.]

There was a muted muttering from the watching Dons and their people,

‘Silenzio’ [Silence]

He banged down the gavel sharply again and the ballroom became silent once more,

Come già sapete, noi, l'Alto Consiglio, abbiamo deciso, nella nostra saggezza collettiva, di permettere alla figlia Santini di prendere il suo posto come capo della famiglia Santini quando ha ucciso suo padre e di liberarci dalla più grande minaccia per la famiglia mafiosa dai tempi di Al Capone. Molti di voi sono dispiaciuti perché è giovane, e anche una donna molto bella e desiderabile. Col senno di poi siamo giunti alla conclusione che sarebbe stato molto meglio per tutte le "famiglie" se avessimo sposato questa giovane e impicciona con il suo ragazzo. Avrebbe potuto unirsi a entrambe le "famiglie" secondo le regole della mafia e poi metterle un bambino nella pancia per tenerla occupata e fuori dalla nostra politica.‘ [As you already know, we the High Council decided in our collective wisdom, to allow the Santini daughter to take her place as Head of the Santini family when she killed her father and rid of us of the biggest threat to the Mafia Family since Al Capone. Many of you disgreed because she is young, and also a very beautiful and desirable woman. In hindsight we have reached the conclusion that it would have been far better for all the ‘Families’ if we had married this meddlesome young upstart off to her boyfriend. He could have joined both the ‘families’ under the Mafia rules then put a baby in her belly to keep her occupied and out of our politics.]  

Juliette let out a gasp of horror and before Romero could stop her she stalked toward the tabl;e the Leaders were sat behind,

‘How dare you?’

She snarled at them,

‘Voi dinosauri sessisti e misogini, avete avuto una possibilità, una vera possibilità di fare la differenza, ma no, dovete ricorrere alla stupidità preistorica. Vivete nello stesso mondo delle persone reali? Sa che le donne, governano i paesi, diventano presidenti/primi ministri e gestiscono aziende multimiliardarie?’ [You sexist, misogynistic dinosaurs, you had a chance, a real chance to make a difference but no, you have to resort to prehistoric stupidity. Do you even live in the same world as real people? Are you aware that women, rule countries, become Presidents/Prime Ministers and run multi billionaire companies?]

Sarcasm dripped from every word and she turned to the watching Dons and their wives,

‘Qualcuno di voi ha sentito parlare della regina Elisabetta II, sapete, la donna è stata sul trono britannico per più di sessant'anni? O Margaret Thatcher, la prima donna Primo Ministro? Devo continuare? Voglio dire, le donne hanno l'uguaglianza anche in Italia, dal 1948, lei è già passato da allora, signor Presidente?’ [Have any of you heard of Queen Elizabeth II, you know, the woman has been on the British throne for more than sixty years? Or Margaret Thatcher, the first female Prime Minister? Shall I go on? I mean women have equality even in Italy, since 1948, have you move on from that time yet Mr President?]

None of them would meet her angry gaze and the Leader stepped forward,

 'La mafia non è un posto per donne. Il tuo sesso è troppo debole e troppo fragile per essere i nostri leader, gli uomini possono sopraffarti così facilmente perché sei così piccola e delicata. Dovresti rimanere un grazioso ornamento al braccio del tuo uomo e lasciare che ti metta un bambino nella pancia per darti qualcosa da fare. Ora, sii una brava ragazza e torna da Romero, hai le nostre benedizioni per il tuo matrimonio e, si spera, ti metterà incinta molto rapidamente. Non dubitiamo che lo farà.' [The Mafia is not a place for a woman. You are to weak, to fragile to be Leaders, Men can overpower you easily because you are so small and delicate. It is better you remain as a pretty ornament on your man’s arm and let him put a baby in your belly to give you something to do. Now, you run along back to Romero and accept our blessings for your marriage, he will have you pregnant very quickly we have no doubt of that.]

The man could not have been more patronising if he had tried and as if that was not bad enough he caught her elbow and turned her around toward Romero then gave her ass a swat as he pushed her back to him.

Romero groaned as did his men they all knew what was coming, Juliette spun back to the Leader catching him by the arm and sending him crashing over her shoulder onto the floor. Jumping down beside him she caught the same arm and twisted it painfully making him yell out,

‘Smettila, mi spezzerai la spalla, qualcuno fermi questa piccola puttana pazza.’ [Stop it you are going to break my shoulder, someone stop this crazy little bitch.]

He shouted at  his colleagues but they were frozen to their seats as they watched her like rabbits caught in the headlights of a car,