Page 1 of The Sound in Silence

Erico

Some people come into our lives and change it, even before we realize what they’re doing.

That’s what Aurora Corsetti is doing to mine. Altering the course of my life in ways I couldn’t even begin to predict before today.

Entering Nico Corsetti’s office, I’m met with a tense silence as he leads me inside. An air of agitation rolls off him, making the room more stifling, but it’s a familiar sensation. Comforting, even, which makes me more curious about the pending conversation, even before we’ve begun. The few times I’ve met Nico in the past, he’s concealed his emotions, so this tension is unlike him.

When Nico, underboss of Montreal’s mob, invited my parents and me to his engagement party, it was a prime opportunity for me to meet his sister, Aurora, who’ll be my future fiancée. An arrangement I would only be completing for the benefit of theFamiglia. Us meeting for the first time with the distraction of an engagement party seemed less contrived.

Aurora is every bit as classically beautiful as photos showed her to be. She arrived at the party with her head high, which was admirable considering the obvious anxiety radiating from her. When she requested we avoid a swarm of guests, it was nearly laughable because if she couldn’t handle her brother’s party, she would fail at being my wife.

Her need for ‘air’ or whatever fucking excuse she gave before running off was met by deaf ears. If it was a game, I had no desire to play. As I later explained, when she was in the hospital after being drugged, our union was a wise move for both families. Other than a few pointless vows, the exchange of rings, and a marriage certificate, I couldn’t care less.

My role as underboss keeps me busy, and I’m weeks away from moving into Father’s role of Boss. After I wed, he’ll be stepping down and handing over complete control of theFamiglia, which makes the requirement for an heir more pressing. Getting married is simply the first step in ensuring the organization’s leadership continues under our bloodline.

“You can take a seat.” Nico gestures to the chairs in front of his ornate, oak desk. It reminds me of mine, with the carvings on the side. At least my future brother-in-law has good taste.

Months ago, he proposed a union between me and his sister to mend past feuds, started long before either of us were born, when his father and their organization’s current head, Lorenzo, slaughtered my uncle. On the day of my uncle’s wedding to Caterina Bellini—now Caterina Corsetti being Lorenzo’s wife—control of the organization shifted to his brother, my father, and soon, me.

Nico claimed it’s time to look forward and not at the past, and I agreed to the idea of combining our families. Having no immediate female relatives to wed him or his brother, since our initial conversation happened before he married his wife, Della, it came down to myself and his sister.

So at the party when Aurora took off, I excused myself under the guise of searching for her, which appeased my parents. But instead of turning the way she had, I went left down the hallway and strolled through the Corsetti mansion, thinking about how different it looks from my own, especially after recent renovations.

With the engagement to Aurora planned, my parents moved out of our mansion in the Hamptons, so she and I could make that our home. It’d be more Aurora’s than mine though, since she’d be living there, while I stayed in my Manhattan condo, as I typically do since it’s close to work, and would only visit on weekends. Nonetheless, the mansion I’ve called home my entire life is too stifling and old-fashioned for the updated Hamptons beach-style homes now there, so I had it redone. Walls replaced with massive windows, letting in natural daylight and the oceanfront view. New fixtures, fresh white paint, and the bathrooms and kitchens refitted with finer building materials.

“Drink?” Nico offers, gesturing to his sidebar. He certainly needs one, I think, to ease his tenseness.

“Please.” I force a smile, granting him a look of ease. Within minutes, I have a glass of liquor in my hand, and I sip it, appreciative of the bourbon’s smooth, rich texture.

Nico finally takes his chair, the leather cracking loudly in the silent room. Everything seems louder in silence…especially people.

One woman in particular.

As if the universe wanted me to think abouther, a large man bursts through Nico’s office at that precise second, agitation radiating off him in waves as he explodes at his boss. Nico looks appalled, but I excuse them to talk, amused by the show, even while my head blocks out their conversation, using the few moments to think about a silent woman that has been plaguing my mind for weeks.

Never would I have believed Aurora’s need for escape would have led me toher. When I walked the seemingly empty hallways, I found one that wasn’t.

She stood at the very end, gazing at an abstract painting of mute browns, tans, and white. Its boringness instantly made me want to gouge out my eyes, but thankfully, the woman gained my attention instead.

There was a lot I noticed about her, but the most striking feature was her deep, burnt hair. So bright against the dreary walls, and even more unique against the swarm of blondes and brunettes in attendance. It hung in soft waves, over the back of a jade green dress, which made everything about her seem even more vibrant. The dress was the second thing to capture my attention. A slim gown, curving around hips that demanded to be held, and greeting the floor with her barely-there sways. It was simple and not elaborate, unlike Aurora’s gown, which was obviously chosen to make a statement.

It was there that Aurora’s absence changed how I’ll forever look at the colour green.

It was also there that I realized, twice already, I was comparing this stranger to my future fiancée, all without even seeing her face.

She heard me approach, based on the stiffening of her back. Shockingly, she turned to face me too, and I recall my steps faltering, my heart literally skipping a beat with my stolen breath. Captured by a soft, round face, speckled with the lightest of freckles, a slightly upturned nose and full lips. But her eyes. Those are what I still see in my dreams, weeks later. It was those fucking eyes I got lost in, and was unable to stop gazing at, even later that night, when I learned who exactly she is to the Corsettis. Sapphire blue eyes that widened slightly with my approach, and when I spoke, I expected some acknowledgement within them. Some flicker of unease or curiosity.

But instead, she gave me nothing but silence.

Still, I stood in the silence that dulled the throbbing in my head caused by the party. When I commented on the painting, she gave no response.

It was a strange encounter, lasting about ten minutes, before she returned to the party. Trying to process our interaction, I remained behind for a few extra minutes, and when I also went back, she was nowhere in the crowd. Later at dinner, she was seated by the head of the table, beside Della, and met my gaze for the briefest of seconds before shyly looking away. She never glanced my way again. I knew this for a fact because I couldn’t stop looking, even when my mother explained she’s Della’s sister.

“Sorry about that.” Nico’s voice pulls me from my memories, right as the distant sound of office doors slamming shut make their way to us. “He’s normally not like that.”

“It’s fine.” Whatever to move this conversation along so he can finally explain why I’m here.

Nico requested support with a potential war he was facing, which I almost denied since we’re not technically allies yet. It seemed like more of a bother for my soldiers. But with the engagement to Aurora only weeks away, being here might move the engagement along quicker and get it over with sooner, so I chose to come.

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