Weeks pass, and Aria grows to increasingly enjoy having sex with Luca. She realizes she has fallen in love with him, but does not articulate these feelings since she still does not believe he can reciprocate. One evening, Gianna calls in tears to say their father has agreed to marry her to Matteo, and that the arrangement was finalized weeks earlier—before her visit to New York. Aria feels betrayed that Luca concealed this and suspects their father chose it to punish Gianna for openly despising their men and refusing Matteo.

Gianna insists appealing to Luca is pointless, convinced he knew and approved, and she voices suicidal thoughts, saying only the chance to live near Aria in New York keeps her from self-harm. Aria pleads with her not to hurt herself.

When Luca arrives, Aria attacks him in rage. Romero hesitates between loyalties until Luca orders him out. Luca restrains Aria, who reveals she knows about Gianna and Matteo, then breaks down. Luca responds with cold incredulity. Aria accuses him of hiding the truth to keep access to sex. The argument turns cruel; he compares her to former partners, and she claims she faked enjoyment, adding that orgasms can occur during assault. Luca remains cold and tells Aria that the marriage between Gianna and Matteo is inevitable.

Aria confronts Matteo downstairs and demands that he retract his proposal. He laughs, blames Gianna, and when Aria slaps him, he pins her against the wall until Luca intervenes and orders him to release her. To forestall a fight, Aria apologizes, then again begs Matteo not to marry Gianna. He vows nothing will stop the wedding when Gianna turns 18. Aria condemns them all and leaves, returning to the penthouse, knowing her heart still belongs to Luca.

Three days pass in cold silence between Luca and Aria, though they still end up in each other’s arms while sleeping. One night, while Aria is struggling to fall asleep, she hears voices in the apartment and finds Luca holding Romero in a chokehold. Blood covers Luca’s arms and shirt, but it is unclear whose. Acting on suspicion, he accuses Romero of betrayal. Romero insists on his loyalty, arguing that Aria would already be in Bratva hands if he were a traitor. Luca releases him, forces him into the elevator, and deactivates access, locking him out for the night.

Luca then turns to Aria, agitated and upset. The two of them have rough but consensual and mutually enjoyable sex; Luca goads Aria into admitting that she was lying when she claimed not to enjoy sex with him. Aria admits she lied because she hates loving someone who will not love her back.

Later, Aria wakes in bed, covered in bruises. Luca appears haunted, remembering only fragments and fearing he hurt her. She reassures him that she wanted the intensity and confirms she had multiple orgasms. When she asks about Romero, Luca reveals his father was assassinated the previous night: A sniper killed Salvatore Vitiello and his mistress during dinner in Brooklyn. Because Salvatore was disguised and few knew his location, a traitor within their circle must have informed the Bratva.

Under heavy clouds, members of the New York and Chicago mafia gather for Salvatore Vitiello’s funeral. The area is tightly secured against Bratva disruption. Luca stands stoically as the new Capo while older men watch him, waiting for weakness during this dangerous transition. Aria greets her family, restraining anger at her father. Gianna looks thinner and hopeless, deliberately avoiding Matteo. After the funeral, the men schedule an evening strategy meeting about the Russian threat.

For safety, Luca sends Aria to the Vitiello mansion in the Hamptons. Gianna, Liliana, and Fabiano accompany her. Umberto, Cesare, and Romero—back on duty after Luca’s earlier suspicions—provide security. That evening, Aria tries to discuss the betrothal between Gianna and Matteo; Gianna lashes out, calling Aria eager to please and submissive, then storms toward the beach. An alarm flares. A sniper’s shot kills Umberto, and another round shatters glass.

More shots continue to be fired, and Romero receives word that an overwhelming number of Bratva forces are on the property. He orders everyone to retreat to the basement panic room. Aria refuses, instructing him to take Lily and Fabi to the panic room while she finds Gianna. Reluctantly, Romero gives Aria a gun, and she leaves the house in search of Gianna.

Luca calls Aria and is distressed to learn that she is outside, looking for Gianna rather than safe with Romero. He is rushing to the mansion, but Aria knows it will take time for him to arrive and overtake the Bratva. Aria finds Gianna, and they initially intend to hide, but return to the house when they hear the sound of their siblings screaming. Inside the house, Aria arms herself with Umberto’s knives, but she and Gianna are seized almost immediately by members of the Bratva. Cesare is injured and dying, and Aria does not know the location of Romero and her siblings.

The Bratva leader, Vitali, demands Aria’s identity while his subordinate Igor threatens Gianna. When Aria identifies herself, Vitali demands the location of an intercepted Bratva drug shipment.

Luca and Matteo arrive. Vitali threatens to cut Aria’s throat unless Luca drops his weapons, and Luca complies. As Vitali assaults Aria, she uses a concealed switchblade to stab his thigh. Chaos erupts. Luca slashes Vitali’s throat while gunfire fills the room. A Russian takes aim at Luca; Aria fires and kills the Russian man, but his shot hits her shoulder. Luca drags her to safety as she blacks out.

Regaining consciousness in Luca’s arms, Aria learns that Gianna, Lily, and Fabi are safe. Aria needs medical attention and Matteo urges using the Famiglia doctor rather than a hospital. The physician provides a blood transfusion. Luca carries Aria upstairs; she fades out again. Later, she wakes bandaged beside Gianna. Gianna explains Luca guarded Aria most of the night until Matteo pulled him away to interrogate prisoners, and she apologizes for her earlier harsh words. Luca returns, administers morphine, and reports losing Cesare, several soldiers, and Umberto. What matters most to him, he says, is nearly losing Aria; he orders her never to take a bullet for him again.

Days pass; Aria’s siblings extend their visit to keep her company while her injuries heal, but eventually return to Chicago. Luca has been occupied with Capo duties, needing to prove leadership to his soldiers. Both the Chicago and New York families continue to face threats from the Bratva. When Aria and Luca finally have time for an intimate conversation, he admits he feared losing her. When he asks why she took the bullet, Aria confesses she loves him.

Luca reacts as if her statement defies logic, insisting she should not love someone feared for his capacity to kill. Aria argues love is not a choice. She admits she killed a man without remorse and wonders what that makes her; Luca reframes it as necessary. Aria invokes their wedding day discussion that being born into this world means inheriting blood and sin, and calls Luca one of the few good things worth clinging to.

Luca says love is a risk and a weakness a Capo should not allow, then admits he does not care because loving Aria is the only pure element in his life. He confesses he loves her and reveals that when he swore oaths as a Made Man and as Capo to put the Famiglia first, he was lying; Aria is his first choice.

Aria embraces him, crying, and asks that they make love. He fears reopening her stitches, but she insists on slow, gentle intimacy. He touches her carefully and brings her to release before entering slowly. They exchange possessive vows. Aria touches the tattoo over his heart and claims him as hers, and he affirms it will always be true. She accepts that their future will be violent and risky and commits to staying with him until the end.