Page 22 of Memento Mori
“Remember this is about us.” I pulled Aaliyah to me wrapping my arms around her. “No one else. If my mother can’t get with the program, then fuck her. It’s you and me,Bella. Nobody will come between us. No one. Not even Marianna Rizzo. Do you hear me?”
I refused to have the kind of relationship my mother and father had just for the sake of the Family. For the sake of power. The problems that will come from my mother and whoever else was nothing compared to losing Aaliyah.
Fuck all of them.
“I hear you. I love you, Antonio.”
“And I love you.” I pecked her on the lips. “Now let’s say our goodbyes to the happy couple and finish what we started at the church.”
Her laughter filled my heart with warmth. No one, including my mother, would keep this woman from becoming my wife. I would eliminate anyone who tried to come between us.
Chapter Eight
YOU HANDLE IT ANTONIO, OR I WILL
Aaliyah
Since we woke up this morning, my stomach had been continuously churning. Antonio found my uneasiness amusing and believed I was overreacting. Even though I had already met Antonio’s parents, today we were going to their house to discuss our upcoming wedding and the potential impact it could have on the Rizzo family.
This had been what we both wanted since I accepted his proposal. For his family to accept me as his bride. Now with excitement and dread, I couldn’t wait to see where Antonio grew up and meet with his father. Marianna, on the other hand, I didn’t look forward to any interaction with her. She made her feelings for me known at Chantal’s wedding reception. I hated to see how she would react when I entered her home.
Antonio reassured me that there was no need to worry especially when it came to his mother. To him, it didn’t matter if she liked me or not. But I wasn’t too happy to come between a mother and her son. However, I also wouldn’t walk away from my happiness just because she didn’t want to accept me as her soon-to-be-daughter-in-law.
We traveled along the paved driveway until we reached a tall wrought-iron gate and guardhouse. The estate was surrounded by tall stone walls adorned with beautiful, strong ivy. The guard walked up to the car and signaled to another guard in the guardhouse upon recognizing Antonio.
Slowly, the gate opened, and he signaled for us to pass. We drove down a long-paved driveway lined with lovely purple and white flowers until we arrived at Antonio’s childhood home.
I’d been around people with money, but this place was beyond magnificent. He’d grown up in the lap of luxury where I had not until Abasi took me in and afforded me the finer things in life. But my past was never far from my mind.
I’d grown used to hotel rooms, and Antonio’s penthouse. But a home was what I wanted. A place to raise my children, and a place for me and Antonio to grow old together. A place like this.
“This place is incredible,” I exclaimed, as Antonio helped me get out of the car.
Manicured hedges framed the entrance with white columns covered in green ivy. It was a home out of the movies.
Alessandro stood in the doorway, smiling, as we approached.
“Hello future sister-in-law.” He planted a kiss on my cheek.
“Hello, future brother-in-law.”
“What are you doing here?” Antonio asked as we entered an entryway with high ceilings and a large chandelier hanging from ebony beams.
“I came to keep you calm, Tony,” Alessandro said.
My gaze shifted between the two brothers. Confusion washed over Antonio’s face.
“Francesca and her father are here,” Alessandro said with anger in his eyes. “They showed up about twenty minutes ago on an invite from our mother. Papa is furious.”
“Francesca?” I asked. “The woman from the restaurant?” My anger soared. “Your mother would disrespect her future daughter-in-law in this way?”
Antonio pulled me into his embrace, wrapping his arms around my waist. and I laid my head against his chest. “Calm down, Aaliyah and let me handle this.”
Feminine laughter echoed as Marianna and the woman, I recognized from the restaurant entered the room. I stepped outof his embrace and faced the woman who was quickly getting on my bad side.
“Antonio!” Marianna smiled, her arm linked with the woman’s. “Look who decided to stop by.”
Francesca’s eyes lit with excitement and desire when they landed on Antonio, and I wanted nothing more than to kill her with my bare hands, gouge her eyes out and served them to my mother-in-law on a silver platter.
