SOLD TO THE MAFIA KING

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3

“Welcome home, Ariana.”

I look at my father, who is on his knees, and back at the stranger who sat dominantly on our sofa with a rifle in his hand. I wasn't completely sure it was Alejandro until I saw the marks on his neck from last night.

“What's….what's going on?” I ask, my voice trembling.

Alejandro's face remained expressionless as he stared at me cold in the eyes. “I'm happy you joined the show. It's been tiring waiting for you.”

I ignore his remarks and go to my dad, kneeling to look at him. “Papà, what's going on?” His eyes were bloodshot, and he reeked of alcohol as usual.

“Get your hands off me,” he pushes me away in anger, and I almost hit my head on the sofa, but Alejandro catches me.

I shudder in fear and look up at him to see him staring at my father in anger, the vein on his forehead was so close to splitting open.

“Watch the way you f*****g touch a woman,” he warns heatedly. I take out my hand and stand.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked, staring down at him in tears.

He glares at me, “ Is this your apology?”

“Is this all about last night?” I nearly scream, suddenly gaining confidence.

“Not even close.” He said playing with the rifle. “Your father has been naughty lately…borrowing what he can't afford and owing what he can't pay back.”

I look at my father who's bowing his head in shame. How can he borrow money from the Mafia?

“And all that money for f*****g drugs and alcohol.” Alejandro said angrily. “I gave him money because he wanted to boost his business, and my price was just 30% interest, and it all had to be paid a year later. But, two years of running and f*****g addiction later, the hide and seek’s over and your father can't pay back a dime.”

I watched my father in awe, the whole confidence in me seemed to have disappeared.

“I don't like being taught to be a fool neither do I enjoy filthy debtors,” he said. “That's why, I get the honor to punish them and their family.”

My eyes widen and I look at him with pleading eyes, “Please, I'll pay it off, just give me some months.”

His eyebrows raised in amusement. “Even if it is a decade you'll never be able to pay me back.”

“How much does he owe you,” I asked grimly.

He points the gun at my father, who gasps. “Tell her.”

He hesitates but speaks, “Three…three…three hundred million dollars.”

My jaw drops and so does my shoulder. How can someone waste so much money?

“Since your father can't pay his debts, I'll be glad to lock him up in my custody and disembowel your brothers. “ He says evilly and I feel like there's nothing else to do but beg.

I kneel in front of him and cry, putting my hands together. His gaze softened for a second. “Please, forgive him. I'll do anything you ask, please.”

“Anything?” He says, intrigued, and I nod.

“If you don't want your father to rot in my custody or your brothers to die a… slow…painful…death, you'll have to be my bride.” He says and at that moment, I couldn't hear anything else.

“She'll do it,” My father shouts heartily, and I stare at him in hurt.

“Have you lost your mind?” Francesco barks in anger. I flinch at the sound of bones breaking afterward.

“I'll do it,” I say, my tears are gone now. Alejandro pushes my father away and stands.

“Good girl,” he said. “I'll send my driver to pick you up this evening, so be ready. Pack all your things because you'll never return here unless I permit it. The marriage will be done two weeks from now.” He spoke like it wasn't a big deal.

My father laughs happily. This wasn't the life I wanted. I can't believe this is the same man I almost gave my virginity to. The Mafia King is going to be my husband!

Am I dreaming?

“Give me your hand,” he instructs and I do as he says. He searches through his pocket and takes out a five-carat diamond ring. My father gasps, and I just stare at it weakly as he slips it into my finger.

Did he know I was going to accept the marriage in the first place or did he just want my approval first?

“If you don't like it, I'll get you another.” He grumbles when I don't respond. I look up at him in confusion. Was he expecting me to scream in happiness? Because I do want to scream and it's not something he'd like to hear.

“Can you tell them to drop their guns?” I ask weakly, ignoring him. His expression hardened like he wanted to hear my reply.

“Go wait outside,” he orders the men. They nod and uniformly leave.

“I'll send a doctor to clean them up, and don't try to run away because I'll find you, and I won't hesitate to make you scream this time.” He threatened and walked away.

I stand fixed at my spot and I look at my brothers as they groan in pain.

“Ariana, you don't have to marry him,” Gabriele says as he falls on the sofa.

“Our life isn't worth your sacrifice,” Leonardo groaned collapsing on the bean bag next to the sofa.

“Have you all f*****g lost it or do you really want to die?” Father shouts standing up.

“Papà, Ariana had nothing to do with your debt; how can you let her marry a man like that? How can we even trust him,” Adriano says in defiance standing in front of me.

“Are you saying I'm wrong?” He fumes.

“Have you ever been right?” I flinch when my father's fist collides with Adriano's face. My other brothers tried pulling my father away, and I just watched them, not knowing what to do…

And at that moment, I lost it. “STOP IT!”