“Yes, we have a high-rise building in downtown Hackensack. Each of the five. I mean, four families own a corporation.”

She nodded, taking in everything I said. “You mentioned other families. Explain please? I’m not well versed in the world of all things mafia.”

I shook my head and chuckled. “I’ll explain everything, including your role in our family.”

She leaned back and waved her hands frantically. “I’m not going to be a part of your family.”

“Oh, you will, gorgeous. Even if I have to drag you down the aisle,” I gritted out before taking a sip of the sweet tea.

“You’re sounding like my ex. Telling me what I’m going to do.”

“Claire, this situation is totally different. I’m telling you, you’ll be my wife. No fucking goomar shit,” I growled. Irritation in my tone.

She compared me to that fucking woman beater.

“At least I know what a goomar is from Goodfellas and the Sopranos.”

“Well, baby, then you remember the discussion of mafia families from the Sopranos?”

She smirked. “I just wanted to hear it from your lips.”

Claire waggled a finger at me. “I remember on the Sopranos they expressed the importance of marrying Italian. Won’t you get in trouble for stepping outside the box?”

I gritted my teeth. “I’m the boss of my family. No one tells me who I can or cannot be with.”

She shrugged. “Continue, Vino.”

I gave her a play by play of how the five families once worked and how the fifth family was removed from the hierarchy. Once I got to her role, she stared at me like I had two heads.

“I have to sit and talk to wives all day?” She questioned.

“Hardly,” I shrugged. “You’d just have to work them into your schedule.”

“That’s interesting but like I told you before, I’m not marrying you, Vino. We haven’t even known each other that long.”

“That doesn’t matter. I know I want you to be my wife,” I stated.

“How do you feel when you’re with me?” I asked.

She stared out into the distance and visibly swallowed. “Safe. Cared for.” Her words came out shaky on that last part.

“It’s odd. We don’t see each other every day but when we’re together I like the attention. You make me feel like I’m all that matters. Vino, I’m just so afraid of being hurt again.”

“Look at me, Claire,” I demanded.

Her teary eyes met mine. “I am a monster. I do very bad things to my enemies. But you, Claire don’t have to worry about me treating you like shit, ever. Nor will I force you to snort fucking cocaine.” I growled.

“In the mafia world there are arranged marriages. And men do have goomars. I’m telling you the only woman I’m interested in is you. I don’t want other women.”

She swiped a tear from her face. “When would we get married?”

I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me, but I recovered quickly.

“In August.”

“Why the rush?” Claire asked.

“I’m thirty-four. I need heirs. So it’s time to have children. We’re getting started on our family asap.”