Crimson Embrace

Chapter4

Dante’s POV

"Yes, ISA, just parched." She smiles at my Mom, holding the outstretched hand.

"Let's eat," I say and we dig in.

I am the eldest child, with four siblings. There is Carlo, who is thirty-three and oversees the Company's Finances, there is Domenico, who is thirty and runs our Tech Industry, with all his knowledge in the field.

Paolo, twenty-eight, and in charge of Marketing and Advertising. Then, there is Lucia, the baby of the house, who is crowned by her four brothers. She is twenty-five and works directly under Mom.

I glance at Mila, then smile wide when I see the hickey on her neck.

Feeling mischievous, I lean in and whisper "There's a huge hickey on your neck, Wife.

I expected some form of response, anger, even, but she says nothing, just picks at her food, with her head held up high.

Did what we did yesterday f****d her up that much?

I catch Mom's eyes, and she is looking at me in amusement and a bit of warning.

"This was a very lovely dish, Cath," Leonardo says, and I sit up, knowing it's time for discussions.

I lean back and spread my legs, placing one hand on the table, with the other by my side.

"Thank you so much, Leo, I like to dabble around in the Kitchen. My new daughter deserves just the best." Mom says, and I glance at my wristwatch.

"Shall we begin?" Mom asks.

"Of course, let's." Alessandra, Love’s Mom smiles, and I wonder if Love will have that timeless look.

She is the first child and has three siblings. Lorenzo, Elisa, and Isabella. We share similar burdens on our necks.

"The wedding's reception was postponed, not canceled, we need to plan it, or that will be suspicious," Mom says, and I glance at Mila, who has a blank look on her face.

"I was thinking we throw it as a celebration, to commemorate like their month together," Elisa says, and Mom stares at her.

"Yes, that is such a nice idea, Mom, it could be like the start of something beautiful, in a wedding reception style," Lucia says, and Alessandra nods.

"A fabulous idea, girls. It could be even better if by then . . ." Alessandra trails off and Mom picks it up.

"Yes, if by then, Mila is with child."

Mila chokes on the air, and my eyes bulge out of my head. What the f**k.

"f**k, Camilla," I say, rubbing her back softly.

"Can you not, Mom, Cath!" She yells the second she gets her bearings.

"It's a marriage, you are expected to eh? .consummate it." Her Dad stammers and she gasps as blood rushes to her cheeks.

"Oh my God, can we stop or I will work out of here. It's bad enough that I have to be married to him, but consummating is absolutely disgusting." She shudders, and I keep my eyes on her, before looking down, grouting my teeth, knowing fully well she was saying something else last night.

"Moving on," Paolo says, glancing at me, but I keep my face frozen, Mila's words ingrained into my memory.

"Since the wedding reception is decided, let's know what the Media is saying," Lorenzo says.

"They love them, every blog in the country has taken up the story about their wedding, and the masses are eating it up. Some people are a bit skeptical, saying it was put out of the blue, but I was able to dig out some old pictures of them, like prom." He says, and I still.

"We are flying to New York, it's a long flight," I say, cutting Paolo off.

"Very well, few more minutes. Is it safe to say Mila will move into her office at Gambino?" Mom says.

"It's not. I am not changing my last name, neither am I working for you. I will keep my name and position because we all know this is fleeting, I won't be left with nothing when the inevitable divorce comes."

Mom is stunned into silence, everyone is quiet while I grit my teeth, feeling the urge to punch something.

"You got married yesterday, you will keep that word away from your mouth. You will take the Gambino name." Her Mom states with the same tone that leaves no room for argument.

"New York is an eight-hour flight." She simply says, getting up, then walks away. Her sisters follow her.

"Camila can be a bit like this, frequently." Her Dad says, and I look at him.

"You just have to be patient with her, give her some time to get used to everything as it is now."

"You used to be close, what happened?" Lorenzo asks, and I get up.

"Thank you for the food, Mom." With that, I walk out of there, only to see Mila crying, and being consoled by her sisters, talking about a knife to the heart.

I didn't realize being married to me was that bad, I am that bad?

I cough, getting their attention.

"Goodbye." They say to her, and they leave.

I get into the car and sit, this is the beginning of the rest of my life, with a woman who can not stand me, and cries.

______

I glance at her, seeing that she is still softly asleep. My eyes roam over her features, her beautiful milk skin, those halos of hair, so white and so divine. Her eyes are the deepest brown, whiskey-coloured.

I glance at my phone, seeing different headlines about us, some even say she's pregnant.

"Stop manspreading, Dante." She says, and I look at her, her eyes startling me.

"Hm," I grunt, keeping my legs open.

Soon, we land, and are in the car, driving to our new home. I would have gladly stayed in my Penthouse in Soho, but Mom insisted that this place is domestic.

I don't like it, but looking at Mila, she seems to like it.