Page 51 of Stalked to the Altar

We rode with my brother to my parents’ house. The driver pulled into the cylindrical driveway. The lawn was lush and freshly cut. We got out. It hadn’t been that long since I’d been at my childhood home reconciling with my father, but it felt like years after all that happened back in America.

As we walked up the winding stairs, I leaned into Eden to assure her. “If anyone makes you feel uncomfortable, you can tell me. Got it?”

Her face was riddled with confusion. “It’s not like I’ve never met someone’s family before. I don’t see what the big deal is.”

She was so innocent.

Maybe this was a bad idea.

I brushed my lips across her knuckles. I couldn’t help it. “No matter what. Don’t get excited. Just stay calm. Trust me.”

“Exactly what does that me—”

She was cut off as we made it to the top and the doorman opened the double doors showing us a glimpse of the inside.

“Woah,” she gasped. “This is a fucking palace,” she then whispered.

I nodded my agreement, used to seeing the opulence.

We walked down the corridor. The butler opened a door up ahead of it and we walked through. The whole family was sitting at the table, and I wasn’t going to address at least half of them. My mamma sat on the left of my father, smiling at everyone. The head of the table.

Sebastian sat on my papa`s right, and next to him, my Uncle Celio. On the other side of my uncle was my poor cousin Caterina. My heart ached. She didn’t meet my eyes. She seemed so sad.

Since I was the banished outsider, I was sitting next to my mamma along with Eden beside me. That was my punishment, though I didn’t consider it such. There was no shame in sitting with my mother.

Mamma clutched her rosary as she thanked God her prayers have been answered. The family was back together.

“Don’t just sit there and stare. Eat.”

At his command, the food was passed around the table as everyone filled their plates. Small talk happened in small bursts. No one spoke about business.

???

Eden

The meal was excellent,but I found Don Caputo intimidating. I wouldn’t want to be brought before him for anything. He had a coldness to him. Like he could slit my throat and not blink. Like it was a typical day.

I accidentally glanced in his eyes and shivered.

Too scary for me.

“Relax, my little Eden. No one is going to hurt you.” He brushed his lips across my ear as he whispered.

As if to contradict this assessment, Silas’ uncle hit the table with his meaty fist. “I cannot remain silent any longer. I demand a blood retribution for what happened to my daughter.”

Don Caputo politely dabbed his mouth clean with a napkin and wiped off his hands. Before he could grab, what I was assuming was his gun, his wife’s hand stilled his own.

“No,” she hissed. Then she spoke in Italian so fast that even if I had passed Silas’ class I wouldn’t have understood her.

I caught a few words and phrases.

“..not kill my son. As if…the consequences of our actions. He is too…headstrong. I will not stand by…married…live and give us grand babies….the oath.”

She also told him that no one was killing her first born. She eyed the uncle and stated that he would have to go through her.

“What?” Celio jumped out of his seat. “My child has never been the same after what happened to her. He cannot get away with this.”

“Claro,he won’t. Sit. Down.” The Don glared at Silas’ uncle, his hand on his weapon once more for the interruption and disrespect.

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