Married to the Mafia Boss

Carmine

At church, I can see that Arianna is giving Alessandro the cold shoulder, which she’ll undoubtedly be reprimanded for later. She’s normally feisty and defiant, but this is unlike any behavior I’ve seen from her before. I swear she’s looking for trouble.

I drive her back home, but Dominic and Sofia are in the car with us, so we can’t talk about her behavior. Dominic instead is rattling off to Sofia about his favorite baseball team, and she’s smiling and nodding, inputting her favorite players now and then.

While the family gathers out back for the large Sunday lunch that Alessandro is hosting, Arianna asks me to walk with her through the orchard. She does it in front of Alessandro, who doesn’t seem to read too much into it other than I’m escorting her for her safety.

We walk deep into the orchard. We can’t touch because children run through the trees, pick fruit, and play, but we can talk in quiet voices.

“Ari, you need to watch how you treat Alessandro. You’re not winning his favor by giving him the cold shoulder,” I say, glancing at her.

Arianna sighs. “I’ve always done what the family wants, Carmine. I’ve always put aside what I want and what I believe in doing as my brother tells me. He won’t give me this one thing. Does that mean I have to be loyal to him, but he doesn’t have to be loyal to me?”

I shake my head. “He’s doing what he thinks is best for you. He isn’t in a comfortable position; you must try to understand that,” I explain. “I’m not defending his choices. I’m just saying that we’re not going to win him over by treating him like shit.”

“I love my brothers more than anything,” she says. “I just want them to love me enough to let me be with the person I want to be with.”

I keep quiet, and we walk past the center of the orchard, the bench we had sneaked off to not so long ago. We continue to walk. “I think we should tell my mother. I know we can trust her.”

I shake my head. “We can’t trust anyone yet, Arianna. They all hold this view of me that I’m just going to use you and toss you aside. I’m not proud of what I’ve done in the past, but I need to show them that I’m not my past self anymore. If you tell your mother, I’m worried she will tell Pa, and then he’ll tell Alessandro. Then we’re both in hot water.”

She sighs, and I continue, “Just sit tight. I’m trying to figure out a way to show them I can be trusted with you.”

She looks around. We’re at the far end of the orchard now, so she quickly kisses my lips and backs away. “Fine, but please be careful.”

“Let’s go back before they come looking,” I say gently, turning around and walking next to her. All I want is to hold her, to comfort her. To be able to hold her hand while I stroll around the estate, and although I won’t tell her, it hurts me that Alessandro doesn’t think that after all my years of loyalty to him, I would be faithful to her. I have always been treated as though I’m a part of the family until they considered I could marry into the family and actually be their brother.

The closer we get back to the gathering, the more children run around us. As we reach where everyone is mingling, Arianna breaks off from me and goes to speak to Sofia.

I get a drink and stand to the side, keeping an eye on everything. Ever the watchdog for the Sorvinos. This whole situation with Arianna has really got me wondering about whether they really are loyal to those that are loyal to them. I give myself a mental shake. Arianna has always been off-limits. That’s never changed. What’s changed is that we’ve made moves on each other, which complicates things.

“Carmine,” a sultry voice says beside me, “you get sexier every time I come over.”

It’s Bella, Arianna’s distant cousin. Her father is involved in the family, too, but in a smaller capacity. I glance at her. “Thanks, Bella. I hope you’re well.”

I move to leave, but she slides her arm into mine and holds me there. “Where are you running off to? I thought maybe we could sneak off together.”

Her speech is slightly slurred, and I frown. Retrieving my arm from her grip, I say coldly, “I’m not interested, Bella. I have a lot going on.”

Bella looks up at me with a frown before going off the other way. I turn and almost spill my drink as Dominic stands right behind me. He’s eying me. “What was that about?”

“Bella’s drunk and trying to put moves on me,” I explain honestly.

“And since when do you turn down a free romp?” Dominic asks with narrowed eyes.

I snort, “I’ve told you a thousand times, I’m over the playboy lifestyle, Dom. Have been for ages. Time to update your opinion of me.” I pause, tilting my head to the side. “Funny, you and Alessandro used to be playboys. And now that you’ve both found women you love, you’re not. No one gives you guys grief about it.”

Dominic shakes his head. “We each have our place in the family, Carmine, you know that. You’re better off being a playboy and a mercenary than playing the doting husband. Don’t meddle with things you don’t understand.”

I frown. “I’ve been in this family since I was twelve years old. There’s very little I don’t understand about how this family works. I’ve always been a loyal brother to all of you-always. You have no reason to question me now.”

Dominic is about to say something, but Sofia comes over, “We’re bringing out lunch, boys. Find a seat.”

Dominic gives me a rather stern look, and my heart feels as though it’s been stabbed. Dominic has been my best friend for over seventeen years, he’s my brother, and I hate to feel as though we’re drifting apart. We were all very close, but Dom, Ari, and I were closest growing up.

We’d terrorize her boyfriends together and support each other. We always had each other’s back. When Romero asked me if I wanted to be a mercenary for the family, I didn’t hesitate to agree. He’s always been proud of me, treating me like I’m one of his sons. He would be so disappointed if he learned about Arianna and me being together. I don’t know how I would handle that.

For now, I go sit down between some of the male cousins. They banter with me about their latest news, and I listen with a small smile though now and then, my eyes pass over to where Arianna is seated near Alessandro. She’s talking animatedly to Katya, and I wonder what she’s saying. Should we speak to the women in the family and get them on our side?Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

I don’t know though. Katya is dangerous and powerful; she’d kill anyone who messes with her baby sister. That is what Arianna is to her, her baby sister.

I thought she was mine, but I’ve realized that what I’ve always felt for her is a way deeper love.