A Bond by Marriage

Chapter 10

Gia’s POV-

I walked silently behind Marco as he pointed out different rooms to me. The house was just as beautiful from the inside, not that I had expected anything less from the Capo dei Cremini. Marco was assigned to take me around the house but we never went inside which was as clear as it could get that Marco was not interested in this tour at all. He was most probably forced to accompany me by a certain brother. I wanted to start a conversation but I couldn’t understand what to say. Especially after the revelation at the table. Of course I knew what was expected of me but the fact that even a teenager knew was disconcerting. Did everyone just see me as another necessary burden?

“This is the library,” he said before turning around to move on to another mark, but I stopped him. This was probably where I would spend most of my time, so I might as well see what it was like.

“Can we have a look around?” Marco opened the doors, looking bored and the familiarity of the shelves brought a smile to my face. It was bigger than the one at my uncle’s or even my parents’. I still needed to know what books they had.

The library was cleaner than my uncle’s and it had all kinds of books. “Do you like books?” I asked him, turning toward the comic section. That is what the teenagers liked, isn’t it?

“I used to. When someone read them to me. Now, I just like video games.” He sounded bored but his eyes dared me to sympathize with him. Everyone knew about Dino’s half-brother and his story.

“I’ve never played video games.” I admitted. I never had.

“Were you born yesterday?” He gave me that ‘duh’ expression but I didn’t mind his remark.

“Will you teach me?” He pursed his lips. Guess not then.

“No. If you are a beginner, you’ll lose a lot of time and I’ll get bored playing with you.” Oh well. Just when I thought we were conversing.

“So, what else do you like?”

“Sneaking out, and I’m guessing Dino told you that already.” He had. “I do it because I feel like I’m a detective out on a deadly mission. Besides, there is the fact that it annoys the s**t out of Dino which is worth it. It also proves that I’m good.”

“Do you wish to be a detective too?” I didn’t know if it was possible, but I could entertain his interests.

“No,” he said after giving it a thought. “I don’t know,” he shrugged. “Possibly, but for now, I just want a dog. Preferably more but one would do for the starters.” He nodded to himself.

“A dog?”

“Yes, everybody has it on YouTube and it’s cool. I want one too. I’ll train him to be my best friend. But I know Dino wouldn’t let me.”

“Have you talked to him about it?”

“Oh, I know he’d say no.” I thought about it for a moment.

“What if you strike a deal with him? Figure out a way to earn it?” I offered.

“There is nothing I can give him.” He was wrong. He could turn a bit pliant and who knows, Dino might agree to it. “You could ask him, you know.”

“What?”

“Yeah, you are his wife. Happy wife, happy life, right? Ask him for a dog.” He looked at me pointedly. “I’ll teach you video games.” Now there was an incentive involved too. When did the tables turn from me trying to bait him to this?

“Well, I mean—”

“I’ll teach you regardless of what he does. You need to talk to him though.” He added. Well, it couldn’t hurt to ask and I could get more time with Marco so I nodded quickly.

“And if you can’t wrap your head around the game quickly. I’ll quit.” He said sauntering out of the library and I smiled anyway. Teenagers could be hard to handle but Dino had said that I was family now, so I had to at least try being a real family too.

.

“I’ll go clean the kitchen now then,” Maria— the middle-aged cook said. When I had come to her earlier to try and help with dinner, she had graciously given me the liberty around the kitchen. She seemed sweet unlike the help back at my uncle’s house.

Having heard Dino and Vittorio just a few minutes ago, I was expecting them to come downstairs soon. I didn't know they were going outside because I was reading a book while Marco tried to do his homework before switching to playing some video game. I couldn’t get my hands on the other controller either because, according to our deal, I had to first talk to Dino about a puppy. And I wasn’t going to make demands on my very first day here.

I stood pondering whether Vittorio had a set spot on the table or he just sat wherever he wanted. I wanted to avoid him and more for him than for myself. Just then he walked in. I nodded in acknowledgement and he took purposeful strides towards me. Closer and closer until I had to arch my neck to look at him. He was too close.

“Hi,” he said. It echoed in my ears. Swallowing, I stepped back but he crowded me until I hit the back of the chair. My breath hitched and he stepped yet another step closer, making it unattainable for me to even lift my head and look at him. I clutched my dress but my nails anyway dug into my palm through the fabric. He made it worse when he brushed a single strand of hair behind my ear, lightly caressing my cheek.

“Vito.” Dino didn’t sound mad but his voice held certainty. My toes curled in desperation to turn around and face Dino, but I didn’t dare move with Vittorio so close to me.

“You were right,” Vittorio said, stepping several steps away from me. “This has nothing to do with her dead boyfriend. She fears touch. So much so that she didn’t once stop me. Like I would do something even worse. Someone has got to be behind it.” Instantly, I wanted to disappear into the thin air. Not even a day and they knew something was wrong with me. Instinctively, I knew they wouldn’t ignore it. There would be questions; questions I couldn’t answer, and I suspected that not answering wouldn’t be an option either.

I wanted to be out of their sight, out of Dino’s sight but I couldn’t affirm anything. I couldn’t just run away confirming their assumptions. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“I have seen fear in a lot of people, Gia. I am very familiar with that emotion, so cut the bullshit, and tell us what happened,” Vittorio said instead.

“Nothing, nothing happened. I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“God, would you just say what’s the matter? And do not cry.” He ordered sternly. “We see through your act so it’s better you start speaking the truth,” he said before adding, “for all of our sake.” I didn’t respond. All my will was being used just looking at him. We stared at each other for a few seconds before he snarled and strode towards me making my eyes go wide with trepidation.

“Back off, Vito.” It was a command. One that Vittorio obliged. Although I was grateful for it, having Dino question me wouldn’t be any better. So, I did what I knew best. I ran. I stormed out of the room and ran up the stairs, locking myself in the room.