Arranged Mafia Marriage

Christian

Her words stay with me. What did she mean by that? Was that a warning? Or was she simply looking out for me?

I follow my wife as she walks over to speak with Theresa. We’d finally left our room and made it down to the garden to meet our guests. Yes, I bought this home for her. Yes, I am officially pussy-whipped, for I can’t keep my gaze off of her. She laughs at something that Theresa says, and her face lights up. Her skin is flushed from our love-making-hold on, did I just say love-making? Yep, definitely pussy-whipped-her whiskey eyes glow, and her thick hair flows about her shoulders. Her dress clings to her curves, and only I know that she is not wearing any panties. She pushes her hair back from her face to reveal the creamy curve of her throat. I can make out the faint imprint on her skin where her shoulder meets her throat-where I had marked her. Where I had sunk my teeth into her skin as I had thrust into her from behind. As I had made her mine. Mine to possess. Mine to own, mine to pleasure and cherish and shower with every happiness.

Is it really possible that I could look forward to a future with her? To a life that would be filled with ups and downs, considering how she always stands up to me, but one where I could possibly be happy? Happy… A strange word. Not one I thought could ever feature in my vocabulary, but which seems so within reach now.

I take a step forward when she and Theresa walk toward the edge of the gathering. They are talking in earnest now. Wonder what they are discussing? Doesn’t matter. I want to be with her, want her attention on me and no one else. I move toward her when something brushes against my leg. I glance down to find Karma’s cat, Andy, rubbing against my pants. I stare at the beast; what the hell? Wives and kittens. Now, all that’s needed is children to run around screaming, and the tableau of how much the Sovrano brothers have changed would be complete.

Michael reaches down to pluck Andy up by the scruff of his neck. He cuddles the cat-he actually places the cat on his shoulder and scratches behind the animal’s ears… Because, apparently, all of us Mafiosos are quickly losing our hearts and our minds and becoming shadows of ourselves.

Michael jerks his chin in my direction. “Don’t look so surprised, fratellino,” he drawls. “It’s what’s in store for you too, you know.”

“Hugging cats that shed on my custom-made jacket, you mean?”

“It could be worse,” he offers, “you could be brushing off baby puke instead.”

I pale. “I just got married. Do you mind? Can I enjoy my honeymoon, at least?”

“Enjoy the grace period.” Sebastian appears next to me. “Soon you’ll be caught up in the day-to-day humdrum of what a marriage is really about, and that’s when the reality is going to sink in.”

“You should talk; the man who’s avoided relationships at all costs.”

“I don’t avoid them. I simply choose the ones I intend to be in.”

“No pun intended.” I snort. “If you call your disappearing at a certain time every week to keep your appointment with a certain someone a relationship-”

“It is,” he smirks, “ne in which we both know the score and don’t expect anything beyond that from each other; it’s a perfect relationship.”

“Are we talking about Seb’s mystery woman?” Massimo ambles up.

“Not so much of a mystery, apparently,” Seb says wryly.

“Seb has a woman?” Luca walks up to stand next to Massimo. “Why haven’t I heard of this before?”

“Perhaps, because you’ve been too busy with your exhibitionism?” Massimo chuckles.

“You sound jealous, fratello?” Luca drawls.

Massimo snorts, “The last thing I want to do is fuck women in front of the entire world.”

“It’s not the entire world, just those watching in the club. You should try it sometime; it does wonders for your staying strength.”

“I don’t need to be gawked at to perform,” Massimo smirks, “and I’d rather keep my sexual proclivities to myself.”

“So, you admit that you have certain proclivities?”

“I admit…nothing.” Massimo grins.

“Aww, come on,” Luca bumps his fist into Massimo’s shoulder, “where’s the fun in that? Don’t act coy, brother. If you have something to share, you won’t find a better audience.”

“Fuck, no.” Massimo raises his hands. “The last thing I want is to share my kink with my family.”

“Aha,” Seb rubs his hands together, “the quiet and strong Massimo admits to having kinks.”

“I didn’t say that,” Massimo backtracks. “And why are we talking about our sexual preferences? This is supposed to be a reception to celebrate our brother’s nuptials. Not exactly a place to spill our secrets.”

“Damn, so you do have secrets.” Michael smirks.

“As much as the next man.” Massimo grimaces. “Speaking of, what are Nikolai and JJ doing at this event? Thought this was supposed to be a family gathering?”NôvelDrama.Org: text © owner.

“Considering JJ loaned us his guns, and Nikolai’s timely intervention saved my life… Not to mention, they are our closest allies so,” Michael shrugs, “it stands to reason they are part of our ‘made’ family now.”

“So, you trust them?” I scowl.

“Enough to invite them to your wedding reception, yes.” Michael holds my gaze. “Why? Is something worrying you?”

“What if the man who shot me was one of theirs?”

Michael drums his fingers on his chest. “Not that it’s not a possibility, but given that I have promised them a big piece of business in return for their coming on as our partners, I’d say it’s more improbable than not.”

He places Andy down on the ground, and the cat ambles off into the bushes.

“So, who the hell else could have shot me?”

“Have you had any leads yet?”

“Just that,” I hesitate, “she knew the man who shot me.”

“Cazzo!” He growls, “So, she was behind the shooting-”

“She wasn’t.” I drag my fingers through my hair. “He threatened to kill her and her family if she didn’t help him.”

“Help him how?”

“By sharing information on us.”

Michael’s jaw hardens. “She shared information on us? If she did so… I am going to-”

“Relax,” I grip his shoulder, “she didn’t share anything with him. It’s why he tracked her down and confronted her.”

“I don’t like this,” Seb murmurs. “Why didn’t she simply come to you with all this earlier?”

“Because-” I had threatened her in much the same way that the guy who shot me had. Not that I can reveal that… “Because,” I draw myself up to my full height, “she didn’t.”

“And you are going to forgive her?” Seb scowls at me. “Not to mention, you married her.”

“He loves her,” Michael cuts him off. “He wants to protect her, regardless of whether she is completely loyal to him.”

I glare at my older brother. I can’t dispute what he said. Yet everything in me insists that she cannot betray me. Not after how she had felt in my arms. How she had responded to my ministrations, how she had stared into my eyes as I had taken her. How she had taken care of me, the fear and worry on her face when she’d seen me shot. How she’d stitched me up and saved my life…

And yet, not once, had she responded to my declaration of having fallen in love with her. It’s almost as if she was too scared of saying it. Like she was sure that the stranger would attack us again.

I turn to glance in her direction and find her missing. Where the hell is she? I turn the other way, spot Karma talking to Nonna, Cassandra petting Andy; a little farther off, JJ and Nikolai are deep in conversation.

“He’s married to her, that makes her one of us, but if she does something to betray us…” Michael arches his eyebrows.

“She won’t.” I square my shoulders. “Before that happens, I’ll have gotten to the bottom of what happened at the lodge; this I promise, I-”

That’s when a scream rips through the air.