Page 11 of Labria

“I’m thirty-two.”

“Almost an old man.” She joked.

“I’m not that old and I don’t need a wife right now.”

“I don’t want to disagree with an underboss, but yes, you need a wife and you need children. There’s no time like the presence.”

“And presently don’t want to be married.” I said, trying not to sound rude.

“Well, my selling points are, I’m a great cook, loyal and don’t have any children. I’m not a rat. I was raised to look the other way and shut my trap. I know how to run a household. I went to school for nursing so I can treat wounds.”

“If those are the pros. I need to know the cons.” I played along with this little game of matchmaker.

“The not so good points. I’m twenty-eight, and not a virgin. Which is a good thing or bad thing depending on the man. If you’re into virgins, my sister is twenty-one and a virgin. I won’t be upset if you choose Danika over me. She’s young and very beautiful.”

This was too much information to take in unexpectedly. I wondered if this was all a part of Nicco’s plan. Was he trying to marry me off to someone Italian? I knew Bria wasn’t one of his favorite people, but he was the one that brought her back to me.

I wasn’t raised Italian or in the mafia, so whatever old school customs that had; I didn’t know them. Selling your daughter to the highest gangster was a cave man thing to do in this modern time. Not to mention all this bloodline bullshit. I wouldn’t call myself a feminist, but even I thought pimping your daughter out to men was prehistoric and gross.

Before I could respond to Lolita, her father and sister showed up. I was relieved to see Primo, but then I realized I was going to have to contend with two women staring at me like I was a piece of meat. It wasn’t the worse feeling in the world. It was just different. I was usually the hunter, not the prey.

I stood to greet Mr. LaGrassa with a firm handshake. I gave his other daughter Danika a kiss on the cheek. I hadn’t kissed Lolita and hoped she would be jealous. Not because I cared, but because I was bored. Once we were all seated, we exchanged pleasantries and ordered food and wine.

“Mr. Bregoli, were you shocked to see my daughter Lolita here?” Primo asked me and I could tell he didn’t like that Lolita got to the restaurant before him.

“Yes, but more like pleasantly surprised.” I didn’t want her to get in trouble with her father.

“She wasn’t invited.” He glared at his oldest daughter. She seemed unfazed.

“The more beautiful women at the table, the better.” I added to squash whatever, or wherever, this was going.

“Mr. Bregoli, I wanted to introduce you tomia giovane bella figlia(my young, beautiful daughter) Danika.”

“Lord, you can call me Lord.”

“Okay, then Lord.” Primo repeated.

It was clear which daughter he favored. The eye roll from across the table at the precise moment Primo spoke in Italian was my indication that Lolita knew she was the underdog in this scenario.

“I welcome the company of all the LaGrassa’s that are present.” I shot a quick wink over at Lolita.

“I’m sure telling people your real name never gets old.” Primo said probably wanted to divert the conversation from the feeling of awkwardness.

“No, it doesn’t.” I clipped. Was this old man really peddling his daughter to me? This felt like some new age dressed form of slavery. My daughter would never have to deal with this.

“Danika is twenty-one, and she is a pure.”

“Pure meaning what, exactly?” I smirked as I watched as Primo’s face flushed a bright red.

Lolita laughed. “Father, he’s joking with you. He knows what you mean.” She smiled and me. Danika giggled.

“Oh, Lord you’re funny.”

“Primo, both of your daughters are beautiful.”

“If you are interested in one of them, I can assure you that they haven’t been promised to any other man and they are both healthy and disease free. There are two options depending on who you prefer.” He waved his open palm at both of his daughters like they were cattle being sold at auction.

“I will take everything you said under consideration.” I didn’t want to spoil this for him. He wasn’t dicking around. He was literally trying to give me one of his daughters. Maybe both, I wasn’t quite sure.

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