Brutal Prince

In this section of the narrative, Lark uses physical and psychological violence to deconstruct Aida and Callum’s initial antagonism and forge a nascent partnership. The sexual encounter in Chapter 17, in which Callum ties Aida up, nuances the novel’s thematic exploration of The Intersection of Personal and Political Power. Following Aida’s attack on Jack, Callum’s response recontextualizes his calculated, verbal assertions of control as catalysts of sexual arousal. His declaration, “From now on, you’re going to be the wife I was promised. Helpful. Useful. Obedient” (159), coupled with his engagement in impact play (specifically, spanking), positions the political contract that binds them as an erotic element in their sexual encounter. Aida’s internal monologue reveals its effect on her: “Each squeeze of Callum’s hand sends pulses of pleasure running down my neurons, making them glow like a string of Christmas lights. Without meaning to, I moan […]” (160). Lark’s shift to Callum’s perspective emphasizes the strength and uniqueness of their sexual connection. Callum notes that in his previous experiments with impact play, he “felt like [he] was going through the motions. With Aida, it was totally different […] Bizarrely stronger than what I’m used to” (163). Their mutual sexual attraction shifts the dynamic of their power struggle, leaving both of them vulnerable to the other.

The role of violence evolves in these chapters from a source of conflict into an affirmation of Aida and Callum’s growing trust. When Aida seizes a gun, Callum paradoxically validates her familial loyalty by defending her from Jack’s insults, prioritizing his wife over his own enforcer. This small act signals a shift in allegiance, where the marital bond begins to supersede prior loyalties. This dynamic is magnified exponentially during the shared traumas of the arson and the drive-by shooting. These external attacks force Callum and Aida to move from antagonists to pragmatic allies whose survival is contingent on cooperation. The culmination of this progression occurs in the slaughterhouse, a setting that strips away all pretense. Aida’s decision to stay and rescue a tortured and helpless Callum from Zajac is the definitive test of her loyalty. By choosing to save him at immense personal risk, she proves her commitment is no longer a matter of duty but a personal choice, underscoring the novel’s thematic exploration of Vulnerability as the Foundation of Trust. Her declaration in the Chicago River, “I would never abandon you” (213), is a solemn vow forged through shared violence, solidifying their bond more effectively than any marriage certificate.

As the protagonists grow closer to each other, each of them begins to shed their inherited roles in favor of a new, combined alliance, emphasizing the novel’s thematic interest in Navigating Identity Within the Confines of Family Legacy. Aida’s visit to the Gallo home underscores her liminal status; she is a Gallo, steeped in the memories of her deceased mother, yet she’s keenly aware of her growing ties to the Griffin clan. Her apology to Callum for stealing his grandfather’s watch—the object that initiated their conflict—represents a key moment of reconciliation. The watch symbolizes Callum’s connection to the lineage Aida initially sought to disrupt. By dismissing her apology with the statement, “That’s in the past, Aida. Let’s concern ourselves with tonight” (182), Callum deliberately reorients their focus from past grievances rooted in separate family histories to a shared future. This exchange marks the symbolic end of the Gallo-versus-Griffin feud and the birth of their joint partnership. Similarly, when Callum insists to Dante that Aida’s safety is his responsibility, he publicly claims her as part of his new legacy, effectively merging the two families’ interests into his own.

The narrative framework subverts traditional gender roles within the mafia romance subgenre, establishing Aida’s agency as a central pillar of the plot. Despite living in a criminal underworld steeped in patriarchal norms, Aida consistently rejects a passive role. Her demand to be included in strategic planning provides an assertion of her capabilities. This intellectual equality is actualized in the warehouse sequence, which inverts the classic damsel-in-distress trope. Callum, the male protagonist, is rendered helpless, while Aida orchestrates a complex and violent rescue. She navigates air vents, crafts Molotov cocktails, and engages in a shootout, demonstrating a resourcefulness that rivals that of her brothers. This reversal establishes her value to the alliance not through her marriage, but through her own competence. Her actions prove she is not a pawn to be protected but a partner capable of decisive, independent action, fundamentally altering the power balance in her relationship with Callum.

By providing access to each character’s internal monologue, the narrative juxtaposes their outward actions with their private motivations. For example, Lark provides Aida’s perspective of Oliver’s unwanted advance before Jack incorrectly reports the kiss to Callum as consensual, giving the reader the context that Callum lacks. This gap between character perception and reader knowledge generates dramatic tension, highlighting the fragility of Callum and Aida’s newly formed trust. Callum’s internal instinct toward self-doubt rather than vengeance humanizes him and emphasizes the progression of his arc toward greater vulnerability: “Maybe to her, [the kiss] is nothing. After all, we never really talked about this. We never promised to be faithful to each other. Our marriage is a business arrangement; I can't forget that” (190). Callum’s struggle to reconcile the political nature of their union with his growing love for Aida escalates the emotional stakes as the narrative builds toward its climax.