Married to the Mafia Boss

Carmine

“I need to go,” I say finally. “They’re probably already on their way.”

I let her go and kiss her head, then I see Dominic standing at the back door, Romero behind him.

Arianna turns around to see what I’m looking at, and her shoulders fall, “Dominic. Daddy. Please don’t.”

“Carmine, Alessandro wants to see you right now,” Romero says coldly.

Arianna grabs my arm. “Leave him alone, please,” she cries. Dominic walks outside and stares at me. I can see his fists are clenched.

Her final action has sealed my fate, but I wouldn’t give up any of the time I spent with her for any reason. I don’t regret my decision. She is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

What hurts is how Romero looks at me as though I mean nothing to him. Dominic looks like he wants to attack me but is under strict orders to take me to Alessandro. I pry myself from Arianna, saying, “It’s okay. Don’t worry. Remember what I said.”

She sobs as I follow Romero back into the house with Dominic behind me. Fighting now would be futile and would only cause more problems.

Alessandro will probably put a bullet in my head, I’ve seen him do it for less, and I will embrace death. Better to have loved Arianna for the time I knew her than never to have known what love was at all.

Alessandro isn’t sitting at his desk when we walk in. He’s standing behind it with his back to us. His hands clasped behind his back. Romero goes to stand behind the desk on one side and Dominic on the other.

I stand to attention. I won’t show weakness in my last moments.

“You promised you wouldn’t get involved with her,” Alessandro says suddenly. “You promised me there was nothing between you two. Everything you’ve said is a lie,” he turns and moves to sit down at his desk. “How can I trust my best soldier if he lies to my face? To my brother? To my father?”

I look him in the eyes. “I didn’t want to lie, but I knew what would happen if I were honest. How can I be honest with my Don when he doesn’t even trust me.”

Dominic takes a step forward, and Alessandro holds a hand out. “I don’t trust you. I definitely don’t trust you know. You’ve been seeing my baby sister, who I told you was completely off-limits. You broke what trust I had with you, Carmine. This family has treated you well all these years, and this is how you thank us?”

Romero growls, “I took you in, boy. I gave you a roof over your head, the same level of education I gave my boys. What my sons got, you got too. You were like a son to me, and you do this? You betray me by taking advantage of my daughter?”

I can’t meet his eyes. No, not my father’s eyes. I say steadily, looking at Alessandro still, “I’ve always done what is best for the family. I’ve always taken care of business without hesitation or mistake. I have been loyal to no one else. I can’t help that I fell in love with Arianna anymore than you can help to breathe air. I guess I’ve always loved her, but I couldn’t deny it anymore once I knew she felt the same way about me. I believe we are made for each other, she and I, and I am not sorry for that.”

Alessandro raises an eyebrow. “Very poetic, Carmine, but I told you I don’t want a playboy with my sister.”This belongs to NôvelDrama.Org - ©.

“A playboy or an orphan?” I ask. “Someone who can’t bring something important to the family? Because I haven’t been a playboy in a long time, Don Alessandro, and I think you know that.”

“Watch how you speak to your Don,” Dominic says through gritted teeth, but Alessandro waves him off.

“It’s okay. It’s time we were all honest here. Carmine, you are like a brother to me. You really are. I didn’t value you any less than Frankie or Dominic, but this crosses a line that I can’t allow.”

He stands up, and I tense my body, ready to meet my end. “I understand, Don Alessandro, but please know I will always be loyal to the Sorvino family and Arianna.”

He considers me for a moment before he says, “Leave. Don’t ever come near any Sorvino ever again. I don’t care how distantly related they are. You have done a lot for the family, Carmine, so to pay you back, I’m going to spare your life. If you ever contact Arianna again, if I ever hear you so much as think about her or what color her eyes are, I will personally put a bullet between your eyes, Carmine. Don’t mistake this for weakness. This is a final kindness I’m offering to you as my brother.”

I finally look at Romero, who seems so livid, and then at Dominic, who I know is itching to rearrange my face.

“I understand,” I say quietly. “Thank you, Don Alessandro, for giving me this kindness. I will do as you ask.”

I turn to leave, knowing Alessandro won’t shoot me in the back, nor would he allow anyone else to. I go to my room and pack my things up before I head out the front door. A driver is waiting to take me back to my apartment. As I walk toward the car, I hear Arianna call out for me, and I turn. She’s trying to get out the front door, and Dominic is holding her back.

“Carmine, no! Don’t go! This isn’t fair,” she shrieks, “Carmine, please.”

I swallow hard and raise a hand before I climb into the car, shutting the door. I see her start hitting Dominic as hard as she can to get away, but he’s stronger than her. He won’t let her go.

They might have gotten rid of me, but Arianna will never forgive her family for this. I know that for a fact.

They can try to do what they want, but she will never comply.

And I’m glad she won’t.

I hope she defies them every single step of the way.

Carlos doesn’t say anything as he drives me out of the estate, and I think I’m grateful for that. We’ve been working together for a long time, and I’d hate to hear he’s disappointed with me too.

It’s as though I’m the ultimate disappointment to everyone, but I think the person who will most likely feel Arianna’s wrath is Mom. She betrayed her in the worse possible way. Arianna should never have trusted her, but even I thought she might simply discourage Arianna rather than run to Pa with the information. I always thought she saw me as a son too. Clearly, that was a mistake.

I feel like I’ve lost everything that keeps me sane, and I don’t know how I will deal with the future. I don’t even know what I’m going to do for a living. I guess I could enlist. My skill set will get me promoted quickly. I could also take a private contracting job, but there’s time for that later. I have enough saved away to be comfortable for a few months.

I won’t be comfortable, though. I’m going to be heartbroken.