Married to the Mafia Boss

Arianna

After breakfast, I walk toward the door to the garage, but a voice stops me, “Arianna, can we talk.”

I hate that line. I look at Alessandro waiting for me at the dining area door while everyone else moves away to start their mornings.

“What’d I do now?” I ask, exasperated.

Alessandro shakes his head. “I just need to talk to you. Come with me.”

He leads me into what is going to be his study. There’s still a library of books to unpack, but the maids won’t do that until Alessandro’s left for the morning.

He sits behind his heavy oak table and laces his fingers together. “Arianna, you and I always butt heads, but there is a level of respect you need to show me. Your attitude is getting out of hand, and I need you to know I can’t let that slide. It makes me look like a weak leader, and I am not weak.”Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

I lower myself into an armchair facing him. “Alessandro, I’m tired…”

“Let me finish.” He holds up a hand. “Stop interrupting me, and let me finish.”

I fall silent, a coldness settling on me.

“I want to know if you’ve been seeing Carmine in a personal capacity.”

“A personal capacity?” I ask. “As in, like a friend? ‘Caus I do, I even drag him drinking with me sometimes.”

Alessandro’s eyes bore into mine. “A more romantic capacity. I want you to be honest, Arianna. I need to know the truth.”

“Nothing is happening between us,” I say, keeping a straight face.

Alessandro stares at me, and I frown. “Even if there was, what business would it be of yours? You seem to want to control every single aspect of my life, and it’s not on.”

Alessandro sits back and shakes his head. “Carmine has always been a playboy, Arianna. If you get involved with him, you’re courting heartbreak. I won’t let that happen.”

“Well, you have nothing to worry about,” I lie, “because there isn’t anything between us. I mean, there’s no one in my life because you and my other brothers constantly drive away any boyfriend I find. You don’t think anyone is good enough for me. Because of you, I’m going to end up dying alone and unloved.”

“You’ll understand one day that we’re looking after your best interests,” Alessandro sighs. “I don’t like it any more than you do, but I promise I’ll find you a suitable partner one day, and you can throw a lavish wedding. I’ll even pay for it all. Then you can do as you please with him.”

I glower at him. “An arranged marriage? You really think that’s what I want.”

“Until then, you keep things strictly professional with Carmine. I don’t want to hear any more stories of you two cuddling on the sofa or being too close.” He inclines his head to the side. “Do you understand me?”

“I don’t have a choice, so why bother asking me,” I say, standing up. “If you’ll excuse me, Don Alessandro, I’d like to enjoy the little freedom I have while I have it. Before you sell me off like some slave.”

“Arianna,” he says, and there’s a hint of sadness in his voice.

“Excuse me,” I turn and leave, walking to the garage immediately. Carmine is already there waiting for me, and when I walk in and see him, I can’t help the angry tears that stream down my face. Concerned but knowing it would be dangerous to hold me here, he grabs the car keys and opens the passenger side door for me.

I climb in, and soon we’re making our way toward Long Beach in silence. It’s not until we’re nearly there that he asks, “What happened? Do they know?”

“No,” I shake my head, glad the tears have stopped, but they’re still threatening to spill again. “It’s worse than that. Alessandro suspects something is between us, and he says we’re to keep it strictly professional. He says you’re a notorious playboy and that he will arrange a marriage for me with a suitable partner.”

Carmine keeps quiet for a moment before he says, “Arranged marriages are common in families like yours, but this time I have to say it’s complete bullshit.” I see his grip on the steering wheel tightened. “They don’t think I’m good enough because I used to be a playboy. I used to be, Arianna. It’s no secret. I didn’t hide it from anyone. They were playboys too, but they handle monogamy just fine.”

I put a hand on his leg. “It isn’t fair, Carmine. We should be allowed to be together. I don’t understand how he thinks I would be okay with an arranged marriage.”

“He expects you to do your duty as a daughter of the Sorvinos,” Carmine explains. “Being with me brings the family nothing in wealth or investments.”

“It’s like I don’t matter to them. I’m just a meat sack for exchanges,” I growl. “They’re supposed to be my brothers. They’re always on about family and being loyal, but no one is being loyal to me and how I feel.”

We drive in silence for a moment before a thought occurs to me. “Maybe we need to build up alliances of our own within the family to change Alessandro’s mind.”

Carmine pulls into a parking lot near the beach and cuts the engine, turning to look at me. “What do you mean?”

“My mother! My mother would surely understand that love is more important than status. She loves my father to pieces. Maybe if we approach her and get her on our side, along with others, maybe when we reveal to Alessandro that we want to be together, he will see we have support and concede.”

Carmine shakes his head. “Alessandro isn’t like that. He doesn’t care for the opinions of others, especially not women. The only woman that can sway him is Katya.”

“Then we speak to her,” I say eagerly. “If we get her on our side, we may win Alessandro over. We’ll start with my mother and Katya, and then we’ll get Sofia and Amelia as well.”

“Arianna,” he says, taking my hand in his, “it’s too dangerous. If one of them reports what’s going on to Alessandro, you’ll be under lock and key for the rest of your life, and I will probably be shot in the head. This isn’t a fairytale where a miracle is going to happen. I need to prove myself worthy to your father and your brothers.”

I frown. “You don’t even want to try,” I say angrily, trying to pull my hand away from his.

He holds on and looks deeply into my eyes. “Don’t ever say that. This is my problem to fix, my reputation that is the problem. I just think we need to be more patient. We’re not going anywhere.” He brings my hand up to his mouth and kisses my fingers gently. “Whatever happens, I won’t let him marry you off to someone.”

I reach my free hand out and stroke his face. “I’m so in love with you, Carmine. I know you won’t break my heart.”

“I never will,” he promises me, leaning forward and kissing me softly. I return the kiss. It’s not a passionate kiss but a sweet one-a gentle summer breeze of a kiss that calms the last of my anger.