Six Months in the Mobsters Bed

Chapter Eighteen

Luca's POV

The smoke that came from Don Moretti's Cuban cigar drifted slowly and gracefully through the air. It created shadows that swirled and moved between us as he relaxed in his chair.

He leaned back comfortably, and his eyes were locked on me with a focused intensity that made me feel a little uneasy, almost like a chill running down my spine.

“Very soon, my boy,” he said in a calming voice which was as smooth as the smoke he was blowing out. “Camila Moreau will become your wife.”

I blinked my eyes several times, trying to make sense of the words I had just heard.

“Hold on a second, what exactly do you mean by that? My bride? Don, I really don’t get it…“ For a brief moment, a feeling of disbelief washed over me as I shifted my gaze to Camila, who was sitting right across the table from me. She was, without a doubt, a very beautiful woman.

Her golden curls framed her delicate face perfectly, and her green eyes sparkled with a mix of attraction and confusion that made the moment even more surreal.

However, as I took a closer look at her I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was a disconnect between us. Deep down, I realized that she just wasn’t my type.

Don Moretti let out a quiet laugh that sounded somewhat like the low rumble of thunder coming from far away. He looked at Luca and said..

“You know, my friend, beauty isn't the only thing that matters in life. It’s really important to have someone by your side who can provide support and stability, someone who can help strengthen the connections within the family. In this case, Camila is a great choice because she comes from a family that is highly regarded and respected in our community.”

I moved my head from side to side in frustration, showing that I was upset.

“But I really do not want to get married to Camila. I have absolutely no plans or desire to ”

He interrupted me suddenly and cut me off in a very abrupt way. He took a long and careful puff from his cigar, and then he let the smoke rise and linger in the air for a little while as he thought about what he wanted to do next. He looked at me and said..

“With all due respect, Luca, you really don’t have the option to say no to me in this situation. You are going to marry her, and there is no room for discussion about it.”

When he waved his hand in a certain way, I noticed that Camila's eyes got very big, almost as if she couldn’t believe what was happening. I could also see that her delicate hands were shaking a little bit on the table as if she was nervous or frightened.

Moretti then leaned closer to her and spoke in a low, rough voice that was almost a whisper. He said..

“But before we go any further, Camila, my dear, I believe it would be a good idea for you to go outside for a little while. What I am about to say next is not something that is suitable for sweet and innocent ears like yours.”

Camila looked over at me for a moment, and I could see a mix of uncertainty and hesitation in her eyes. Despite that uncertainty, she stood up with an elegant movement, gently smoothing down the fabric of her dress as she did so.

“Luca…?” she began to say, her voice trailing off. I responded with a reassuring nod to let her know everything would be okay, even though deep down inside me, I was feeling a swirl of anxiety and worry.

When the door made a clicking sound as it closed, Moretti lost his temper and started shouting a stream of curse words. He yelled..

“What on earth do you think you are doing, Luca? Do you honestly believe you are better than her just because you hold the title of Capo?”

As he spoke, his cigar made a loud crackling noise when he pressed it down forcefully into the ashtray. This action caused a cloud of ashes to fly up and scatter all over the shiny, polished surface of the table.

I looked at him with a concerned expression on my face and said...

“It's not that I think I'm better than anyone else, Don. What I'm trying to explain is that I really don't want to get married to someone I hardly know at all. This is a big decision that affects my whole life, and I want to make sure I am making the right choice.”

He looked at him with a contemptuous smile, his voice filled with annoyance and derision.

“So whose responsibility do you think it is? Do you really believe that this is a matter of choice? If you want to keep advancing and reach the highest levels of success, you absolutely must create and build stronger alliances. Camila would be an outstanding partner for you. She is just what you need to transform yourself into a significant and influential person in this world.”

“Are you asking if this is what I truly need, or are you just thinking about what you want for me?” I replied, feeling more and more frustrated. “I understand that family connections and relationships are very important, but I also really need to have the freedom to make my own choices.”

He relaxed in his chair, a sly smile showing on his face, almost as if he found my refusal to go along with his wishes entertaining.

“Listen, my friend,” he said, “it seems like you don't really understand what family means in this situation. You are going to marry Camila whether you like it or not, and I want to be very clear about this; it is not a suggestion; it is an order.”

I let out a deep sigh, feeling the heaviness of his words wrap around me like a heavy cloak. I tilted my head a little, feeling defeated and accepting what he said.

“Alright. But I want to make it clear that I don’t think this is the right thing to do.”

“You have decided what you want, even though you didn’t say anything. So we will end this meeting now.”

Moretti moved his hand in a way that showed he was not interested anymore, and as a result, the other members of the Mafia stood up right away. They were eager to leave the room, wanting to get away from the uncomfortable tension that had been hanging in the air….