Brutal Prince

Callum, the novel’s second protagonist, is defined by his transformation from a cold, ruthlessly ambitious politician into a man capable of profound vulnerability and passion. At the story’s outset, Callum is a picture of control, singularly focused on his campaign for alderman and the expansion of the Griffin family empire, viewing everything, including his relationships, through a strategic lens. His own father remarks that he can “look like an undertaker” (19), a description that captures his severe and emotionally detached demeanor. He initially perceives his arranged marriage to Aida as a purely political maneuver, a necessary inconvenience to secure the Italian vote and end a multigenerational feud.

As the novel progresses, Callum’s carefully constructed facade of control is consistently undermined by his unexpected attraction to and desire for Aida, highlighting a traditional element of romance structure in which the central characters’ love story results in mutual transformation. Before meeting Aida, Callum’s strongest emotional reactions concern his family’s power and influence. His first interaction with Aida highlights a fierce, almost primal possessiveness revealed in the loss of his grandfather’s pocket watch, a symbol of his connection to his family legacy. His rage is not just about a stolen object but a violation of what he considers his. His marriage to Aida shifts his emotional center. His violent jealousy when Oliver accosts Aida at the fundraiser exposes an emotional depth he has previously experienced. As his connection to Aida grows, his desire for her is a raw, untamed force that paradoxically makes him vulnerable, cracking the icy exterior he works so hard to maintain.

Ultimately, Callum’s development hinges on his acceptance of vulnerability as a prerequisite for trust and genuine connection, a journey central to the novel’s thematic exploration of Vulnerability as the Foundation of Trust. It is only after he and Aida repeatedly save one another from mortal danger that he begins to understand that true strength lies not in being untouchable but in the ability to rely on someone else. His final confession to Aida, as he believes they are about to die, that “I love you, Aida” (253), is the culmination of his journey, embracing the vulnerability he once feared to forge an authentic bond with his wife.

Aida’s father, Enzo, the patriarch of the Gallo family, represents the power and autonomy afforded to men within the patriarchal structure of their criminal underworld. His ongoing grief over the loss of Aida’s mother provides Aida with a standard to measure love and loyalty in a marriage. Dante, Aida’s oldest brother, functions as the stoic guardian of the family. He feels burdened by the responsibilities of his position—protecting his family and preserving their business interests. His grounded, authoritarian nature provides a direct contrast to Aida’s initial chaotic energy, and he represents the traditional, restrictive element of family legacy that Aida must navigate. Dante is fiercely protective of Aida, whom he refers to as his “baby sister” (72), and often attempts to rein in her more reckless impulses. His near-fatal injury at the end of the novel, juxtaposed with Aida and Callum’s joint escape from the burning beach house, shifts the burden of responsibility within the family, reinforcing Aida and Callum’s strength as a couple.  

Lark depicts Aida’s second brother, Nero, as a loose cannon “always interested in getting into trouble” (3). He enthusiastically joins Aida in crashing the Griffin party and is the first to advocate for a bloody war after Sebastian is injured. While Dante represents restraint and responsibility, Nero embodies the unrestrained, vicious side of the Gallos’ criminal enterprise. In contrast, Sebastian, the youngest brother and Aida’s closest confidant, acts as the story’s moral center. Unlike his older brothers, Sebastian tries to distance himself from the family’s criminal dealings, hoping to become a professional basketball player and a “law-abiding citizen” (3). His gentle nature and close bond with Aida help reveal her more caring side. The brutal attack that shatters his knee serves as the primary catalyst for Aida and Callum’s arranged marriage.

Callum’s father, Fergus, is the cold and calculating patriarch of the Griffin family. As the head of the clan, his perspective is entirely strategic, and he views his children primarily as instruments for the advancement of the family empire. His decision to arrange the marriage between Callum and Aida is a pragmatic solution to a long-standing feud and a calculated move to secure political power. Similarly, Callum’s mother, Imogen is the family’s social architect, wielding a quiet but formidable power. While presenting the image of a “consummate socialite” (17), she is deeply involved in the family’s business dealings and strategic planning. She is as pragmatic and ruthless as her husband, viewing the arranged marriage through the lens of its benefits to the family’s power and reputation. Her warning to Aida that she will be protected as family but eliminated if she becomes a threat reveals the steel beneath her polished exterior.

Lark depicts Riona and Nessa, Callum’s sisters, as polar opposites. Riona is deeply ambitious with a severe demeanor and sharp tongue. She resents the patriarchal structure of her family that favors Callum as the heir. She is intelligent and hardworking, a “good soldier” (19) who dutifully carries out her family’s wishes, yet she harbors a bitter jealousy toward those she feels are less deserving, including Aida. Her rigid and unforgiving nature serves as a foil to both Aida’s wild impulsiveness and Nessa’s gentle spirit. Lark emphasizes Nessa’s innocence through Callum’s perspective, describing her as living in a “fucking fantasy world” (15). She is one of the few characters who accepts Aida without judgment from the beginning, offering a rare source of gentle companionship within the hostile Griffin household.

Oliver Castle is Aida’s obsessive ex-boyfriend and a key catalyst in the narrative. Initially presented as a persistent nuisance, his character devolves into a dangerous antagonist. His inability to accept Aida’s rejection drives him to stalk her, culminating in a violent confrontation at Callum’s fundraiser. This act of aggression ignites Callum’s jealousy, forcing an early, pivotal display of possessiveness over Aida. Oliver’s final act of kidnapping Aida creates the life-or-death scenario that solidifies Aida and Callum’s bond, forcing them to rely on each other completely to survive.

Tymon Zajac, known as the “Butcher of Bogota” (18), is the leader of the rival Polish Mafia and serves as a significant external threat. Lark characterizes him as a ruthless and violent man whose overt brutality and aggression challenge the more corporate criminal enterprises of the Griffins and Gallos. Zajac’s attempts to intimidate the newly allied families, from acts of arson to a drive-by shooting, force the Griffins and Gallos to work together to eliminate him. His presence demonstrates the necessity of their alliance, proving that their union is required not only for political gain but for their mutual survival.