Page 38 of Unwanted Marriage with the Mafia Boss

“But why? What’s the point?”

“You’re going to college. You planned to run the restaurant. What’s the point in all that then?”

“Yeah, and when I graduate, I’ll throw a party for my family and friends, who’ll be happy for me. And no, it won’t be because they need something from me. Ididhave a few fake friends, but they’re out of my life now. When I take over the restaurant, I’ll be doing exactly what I want. And yeah, I still choose to believe you won’t win.”

He chuckles.

“But that’s only a small part of what I want. I want a family. I want to grow old with the man I love and surrounded by the people I love. We’ll celebrate and be proud of each other’s achievements. We’ll be there for one another in difficult times. We’ll hang out at the restaurant, tell stories, and sing and laugh long into the night. I’ll fall asleep every night in the embrace of my loved one, knowing that I’m completely safe. I definitely won’t be jumping up with a gun every time a mosquito buzzes next to my ear. I want my children to have a happy childhood. I want them to grow up knowing I’ll always be there for them, for as long as I can.”

“Good for you,” he mumbles, annoyance evident on his face as he crosses his arms.

“Don’t you want something like that? Or will you pay people to spend some time with you? If you didn’t have any business projects or mafia business, would you even have anything to talk about? Would anyone be talking to you? Will you spend your days at your resort or Amore Bruciante?”

“Maybe I will. There’ll be enough drinks, food, and entertainment. Why would I want anything else? At least I’ll know exactly how things are and what I’m paying for. You, on the other hand, might find yourself wondering whether yourprecious husband is cheating on you. Or your restaurant, which will obviously have to be somewhere else because I’ll win, will struggle, and you’ll spend sleepless nights trying to figure out whether to take a loan from someone like me or not.”

“But even if I run into problems, I won’t be alone. I’ll talk to my friends and my family. Share experiences. We’ll find a solution together, just like we’ll defeat you.” Maybe I shouldn’t be telling him that, but I’m tired of him thinking that life is either a fake, pink fantasy or a dark, cold empty world where only money and power count.

It’s more complicated than that.

“I think you’re just afraid of love,” I say. “You’re afraid of letting yourself feel something because you don’t want to get hurt like you did when you were a kid, so you’re trying to convince yourself that everyone who loves someone is a fool.”

“I’m not afraid of anything.”

“Everyone is afraid of something.”

“And you should be afraid of me.” He narrows his eyes at me.

“I am.”

He jerks back in surprise. Did he think I wouldn’t say it out loud? That I would lie? I doubt he’s unaware of how I feel.

“Good night,” he says as he storms to the door.

I watch him leave and hear the door lock. My gaze lifts to the cameras, but the red light doesn’t appear. They’re still off, and I’m not cuffed to the bed.

I hop to my feet, quickly looking around for something, maybe a weapon. I find a big safe, but I can’t get it to open because it’s locked. I rummage through the closet, but I don’t see anything interesting or find any forgotten knives or weapons.

Just as I’m about to shut the closet door, I spot a piece of paper at the bottom, under a pile of shirts. I pull it out and frown. It’s a drawing of a necklace.

Is that the necklace he mentioned? The one that he had when he was a baby and that Gennaro threw away? I think it is. So much for Adriano not caring about it. He’s been trying to find it again, hasn’t he? Or maybe locate his birth parents.

I return the drawing back to its place. A voice at the back of my mind tells me that I shouldn’t care. Adriano is my enemy and a threat to everything I hold dear. I can’t allow myself to feel for him, but I do anyway.

It doesn’t change anything, but all of it just makes me so sad. He still has the choice to become a better man, despite what he’s been through, but he has to be willing to make it. I don’t think he’ll do that, so I need to focus on myself and getting out of here alive.

CHAPTER 21

Adriano

I’m toocomfortable around Chiara. She’s not a danger to me, and my body usually knows when I can relax and let myself dream. But not tonight.

Chiara says she called my name, and she doesn’t have a reason to lie. And yet, I didn’t hear her. Weird things happen to me when she’s around. It’s almost as if she’s my real wife, and I don’t have to worry about anything around her, except making sure she’s safe.

The things I told her can be used against me if she talks to the wrong people. It’s as if I’m trying to find a reason not to ever let her go. But I don’t want to kill her either.

I rake my hand through my hair. Everything will be done soon enough. I just need to make sure everyone knows and sees Chiara as my wife, and then I’ll get her father to sign what he needs to sign.

Chiara and her parents are all terrified of me enough. Chiara even said it herself, but for some reason, I wasn’t the least bit happy to hear it. Her strange effect on me will be over soon.

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