Married to the Mafia Boss

Amelia

I finish packing my bags, and Joel comes to collect them. As I walk downstairs, I meet Katya halfway down.

“Be safe,” she says to me, a glint of warning in her eyes. “Don’t let Frankie get hurt by anything.”

I get her meaning. She doesn’t want me to hurt Frankie. I won’t. I plan to nothing our relationship into oblivion until we are simply two ships passing in the night.

At least Frankie has agreed to take me to Papa’s house before we have to leave the state. I’ve never thought he cared about me, but I do love him, and I want to say goodbye, at least.

I finish walking down the stairs, and I wait at the front door for Frankie. He comes down soon enough, followed by another guard carrying his two bags. He looks at me. “You ready?”

“Ready,” I say as confidently as I can.

We walk out and go to the car. The luggage is loaded, and we leave without even saying goodbye to the others. I wonder if the family already said their goodbyes privately. Maybe they didn’t want to draw attention to us leaving. Come to think of it. I didn’t see anyone but the two guards and Katya around.

We don’t say anything as we drive to my father’s house. He’s expecting us, so the gates are open and shut directly after we drive in. Frankie parks the car on the side of the house, out of sight, and we get out. I lead Frankie in through the living room.

“Papa?” I call.

“In the kitchen,” he calls back.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

I look at Frankie and nod for him to follow me. We walk into the kitchen where my father is slicing tomatoes.

“Are you cooking?” I ask. “I haven’t had your home-cooked meals since I was a child.”

“Since you have to go, I wanted us to do something nice together. Mia, put the pasta on to boil. Frankie, you help dice the vegetables.”

Frankie gives me a quizzical look, and I ask, “You do know how to, right?”

“Yes,” he says gruffly before grabbing a knife and joining my father.

I get started on the pasta. It’s ready to go in the pot, so I heat some water.

My father smiles wryly. “Mia, do you know how a penguin builds his house?” he asks.

“No,” I say slowly, confused about where he is going with this.

“Igloos it together,” my father chuckles, and I shake my head. “That’s terrible, Papa.”

I watch Frankie for a moment, but his expression doesn’t change.

“Well, what do you call lazy shoes?” my father asks.

I knit my eyebrows together. “I don’t know….”

“Loafers,” he laughs a little at this one, shaking his head. He nudges Frankie. “You like jokes? Mia used to love my jokes when she was little.”

“Yes,” I say. “He is the master of lame dad jokes.”

Frankie doesn’t smile, and my father and I look at each other. I snort. “Frankie, can you seriously not let loose for one moment?”

Frankie looks up at me, puzzled. “No, I just, um, this is clearly your thing.”

“Do you even know any jokes?” I ask with a grin.

Frankie sighs and thinks for a moment before he says, “I can’t think because I’m afraid for the calendar.”

We look at him as he looks at me seriously and says, “Its days are number.”

I snort, and my father laughs. “That’s a good one,” my father says. “I like that one. I will have to remember it.”

Frankie smiles and nods. “Like, have you ever thought how great singing in the shower is,” he says. “At least until you get soap in your mouth. Then it’s a soap opera.”

I burst into giggles, that was a good one.

My father grins, saying, “I thought the dryer was shrinking my clothes. Turns out it was the refrigerator the whole time.”

Frankie and I laugh.

We cook dinner and exchange many jokes. I’m surprised at how funny Frankie is. He’s as good at dad jokes as my father is.

Soon the meal is prepared, and we are sitting at the table, eating.

“Where will you go?” my father asks me.

“It’s best we don’t let many people know,” I say before Frankie can offend him. “They could try to hurt you to find out.”

My father scoffs. “These drug lords are all the same. They want all the territories and no responsibility. Just money. They take the easy way out, using muscle rather than negotiations. They’re smart, very smart, but they’re also impulsive. They act on their emotions, and a business cannot be run like that.”

Frankie nods. “I couldn’t agree more, though some drug lords realize the benefit of alliances. It’s only a select few like Jose that don’t like to work with other families.”

“Pah,” my father shakes his head, “Jose has too much power to recognize his weakness.”

“What’s his weakness?” Frankie asks. I look at my father carefully.

My father shakes his head. “He thinks no one can get to him because he only surrounds himself with his family. He relies on that loyalty, but if you stay in this business long enough, you’ll eventually find out that not even family is always loyal.”

I sigh and sip my wine, setting my fork and spoon down. “Frankie, if you’re done, can you give us a moment before we have to leave?”

Frankie nods. “I’m done. I’ll wait for you in the car. Gustavo, thank you for dinner. I’ll take good care of Amelia.”

My father stands and shakes his hand, and we both watch him leave.

“Will you really not tell me where you are going first?” my father asks.

“I don’t know, he hasn’t told me, but I have to trust he will keep me safe, Papa,” I say. “It’s one of those things you were talking about, a thing I have to accept.”

He nods his head. “This is for your own safety. It’s a sacrifice you have to make.”

I sigh. “I hope I can see you soon.”

“I know you think I didn’t care back then,” my father says, taking my hand in his, “But please try and understand, Mia, that every choice I’ve made, every path I’ve placed you on, I have done so with your best interests in my heart. I never wanted this life for you, but because of who you chose to be with, this life is the only thing that can keep you safe now.”

I nod slowly, keeping quiet for a moment before I finally admit, “I have made some terrible choices, Papa, and I’m sorry I put you through that. Thank you for always taking care of me and for loving me, even when I didn’t love you back.”

“Oh, Mia,” he squeezes my hand. “You are my pride and joy. I will always be here for you.”

We both stand, and I rush the short distance between us and wrap my arms around him, tearing up. “I love you so much, Papa.”

“I love you too, my sweet daughter,” he says, stroking my hair. I can hear he is choking back his own sobs. We stay like that for a moment, and then I slowly pull away.

“I should get going. We need to be out of state as soon as possible.” I squeeze his hand. “Promise me you’ll stay strong and be safe until we see each other again.”

“I promise,” he says. “And you promise to stay safe and listen to Frankie. He knows this plan well and will be able to keep you both hidden.”

“I promise,” I say, though I’m not entirely sure I can keep that one. I kiss both his cheeks and, with a final glance backward, leave the house and walk to where Frankie is waiting by the car.