Married to the Mafia Boss

Arianna

I wake up, and everything hurts, but my fingers feel like they’re on fire. I whimper, and my eyes close and open again. I turn my head to see I’m in my room, with Carmine asleep in an armchair he must have brought in here. I try to smile, but my mouth is so dry it feels like my lips will crack. I close my eyes again and turn my head the other way, looking at the window. Alessandro is standing there. His arms crossed over his chest as he watches me.

I try open my mouth again and wince. Alessandro walks over, knowing without a word what I need, he offers a straw to me, and I sip on some cool water. I lick my lips afterward and then have some more.

“How?” I croak out.

Carmine jolts up in the armchair, which makes me wince. He comes to kneel beside the bed, stroking my arm. “Oh, Ari, you’re awake.”

“She’ll get hungry shortly. Get her something to eat. Ask Mom for soup or something like that, so she doesn’t have to chew,” Alessandro orders.

I want to ask Carmine to stay, but Alessandro sits on the bed beside me. “There’ll be time for that later.”

I feel tears prickling my eyes, and I sniff, “It was awful.”

“I know. I’m so sorry, Cup Cake,” he says gently, stroking the tears from my eyes. “But you’re safe now, and that fucker is dead.”

We both remain quiet for a moment before he strokes my arm. “I thought I’d lost you. I felt so hopeless and heartbroken like I’d never be happy again. I never want to feel like that again, Cup Cake.”

I’m too tired and emotional for kind words right now. I really thought I was going to die in that warehouse. I start crying a little harder, whimpering, “I was brave. I didn’t give up anything about the family.”

“I know. You make me so proud,” Alessandro whispers. “But there are more important things to talk about now… if you’re up for it.”

I slowly nod, swallowing hard. “I can try. I guess you want to know how I got taken and by who.”

“No, actually. Carmine filled me in on all that,” he says thoughtfully. “What I want to ask is if you’re absolutely sure Carmine is the man you want to be with?”

“You’re asking my opinion,” I croak. “God, I must have died and come back.”

Alessandro smiles at my jab but doesn’t say anything, so I continue. “Alessandro, I know he’s the one for me. My heart tells me, and my brain agrees.”NôvelDrama.Org content rights.

“Katya is so mad with me,” he comments. “She says I try too hard to control the women in my life under the guise of protecting them. She says if she can be the head of a family, you should be allowed to choose who you can be with.”

“Your wife is smart. You should listen to her,” I say softly. “Can I have more water?”

He holds the straw to my lips, and I sip it gratefully before resting back. “Carmine will never hurt me, Alessandro.”

“Katya seems to think the same thing. And I don’t know how you convinced Mom and Pa or Dominic, but everyone seems to be down my throat about this.”

I smile. “Because they’ve seen how much we love each other. Look, I know I’m a pain in the ass, especially to you, but I just want to live my life the way I want to.”

Alessandro nods and sets the cup of water down. “I’m letting Carmine back into the family, but I swear to Heaven and Hell, Arianna, if you cry once for any reason because of his, even if it’s an accident, I will shoot his cock off myself.”

I try not to laugh, but my smile hurts just as much. “Deal. I’ll even hand you the gun.”

“Deal.” He leans down and kisses my head gently. “Also, I think it’s time we put your business skills to some use for the family. If you’re still interested in helping out?”

I nod. “As long as you pay me well,” I say.

He grins and stands just as the door opens. Carmine comes in with a tray and sets it on the bed beside me.

He looks at Alessandro, who raises an eyebrow. “Well, you better feed her. She can’t feed herself.”

He’s switched back to ‘business Alessandro,’ and I have to say I love him for it. He walks around the bed and stands in front of Carmine. “If you ever so much as glance in the direction of another woman or if there comes a time that you are not bringing absolute sunshine and happiness to her life, I will shoot your cock off and leave you to bleed out.”

“As an older brother should,” Carmine says calmly.

Alessandro puts a hand on his shoulder. “Thank you for bringing her home, don’t let her out of your sight again.”

“Of course, Don Alessandro,” he says respectfully.

I watch the interaction from my bed, my heart ready to burst in my chest.

Alessandro leaves, and Carmine sits beside me. First, he helps me sit up a bit better, propped by some pillows, then picks up the soup.

“No kiss?” I pout.

He smiles. “I thought you’d be in too much pain for a kiss,” he says, leaning toward me. He’s right; it does hurt when our lips meet, but I don’t care. I’m just glad we can be together.

“You can have a kiss for every quarter of this soup you finish. So four kisses on the line here,” he teases.

I settle and smile. “I’m ready.”