Page 19 of Always Meant To Be

“My marriage won’t handle anymore of her sister’s shit,” I confess, not taking my eyes off the picture.

I don’t want to lose her, and I know I will if I keep to the contract.

Yeah, that was in the contract we signed. I didn’t speak to my father for months when he swore he read through the thing again before I signed it, knowing I was busy with fuckers thinking they could steal our shipment of drugs.

It turns out the fucker slept with my mother halfway through reading it, something about her showing up in his office wearing nothing but a sheet. I shoved my fingers in my ears, so I can’t be too sure.

“You won’t lose her, Romeo. She loves you,” Antonio says it with such conviction that I want to believe him, but in our line of work, I just don’t.

“That may be so, brother, but she’s also headstrong. She’ll find a way to leave if I continue this shit,” I mumble as I look at my laptop, my eyes taking in my wife’s form as she smiles at one of her students.

Do I have CCTV in her classroom? Yes, yes, I do, and I don’t give a fuck.

I need eyes on her at all fucking times, and not just with the five men I have stationed at the school along with her personal guard.

The woman fucking consumes me.

“Fuck,” I curse three hours later, quickly taking the lasagna out of the oven, slightly burning my hand in the process.

“What on earth are you doing?” a voice behind me asks, and I turn, smiling at Mamma.

“Hey Mamma, did you know my lovely wife cooks for me every single fucking day when we’re home, giving the chef the evenings off?” I ask her as I grab the salad I made from the fridge.

She smiles wide, her eyes sparkling, “I did,bambino. She contacted me right after you married for all the recipes of your favorite meals.”

I freeze, my eyes widening. Fuck me, how did I not know that?

I clear my throat. and rasp, “My wife reallydoeslove me….”

Mamma smiles, her blue eyes sparkling as she confirms, “Of course, she does. At first, I think she just wanted to be cordial, you know, but now she’s head over heels. You can see it in the way she looks at you.”

I nod, giving Mamma a small smile, and grab two plates, knowing El will be home in five minutes. Stepping forward, Mamma places the family necklace—that is passed down from woman to woman—on the counter, making me pause, the dark blue gems sparkling.

I look at her with softness, and she smiles. “I wanted my daughter-in-law to have this. Please ensure she always wears it,figlio. It has a tracker built inside it.” I nod again as she places a tub next to the necklace, and I grin as she states, “Also, her favorite fudge cake; it’ll go down like a treat. Your fathermentioned she has been on contraception, and Leo sorted it. I want her happy, so you make some grandbabies.”

I wince. “Thank you, Mamma,” I rasp, and she nods before kissing my cheek.

She murmurs, “I’m proud of you for wanting to cook for your wife. Now get that garlic bread out before it burns.”

I curse quickly, turning and grabbing the potholders as Mamma’s giggles echo through the house, and I can’t help but smile.

My mother fucking loves my wife, and I’m right there with her. It’s why I’m cooking for her for the first fucking time.

I hope I’m not too late in showing her what she means to me. I want her to know she’s my world, which means I need to stop pushing her away in public. After four years, I think she’ll be alright. Renata loves my wife, so I know she won’t be made a target, she'll ensure it with the men she keeps hiring. El will only be at risk of being caught in the crossfire, especially while Liliya keeps causing shit.

If she carries on, I’ll just have to kill her myself.

Fucking simple.

Five

Elena

I gently waveat our gate guard as I drive onto the large compound.

Romeo’s, well,ourhome is not as big as my parents’, but it’s still quite large with three wings. One for us, one with my library, which I am very happy about, along with guest rooms, and the other wing is for his brothers and Maya, when they want to stay over, which happens most weekends.

I don’t mind them staying, though. They make me feel like part of the family, while my husband would prefer to be with Liliya.

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