The Mafia's Forgotten Vows

Chapter 2: Shadows

Giuliana

The man waiting for me in front of the altar was someone from the shadows of my past. The past that I never thought would catch up to me. He was my first love. My first in everything.

At twenty one years old, I have only loved one man and that person was only a few feet from where I stood standing, frozen in place.

"Giuliana! What are you doing?" My father tried to pull me, but I was rooted to the spot. Despite the murmurs and curious stares of the crowd around us, I couldn’t bring myself to move my feet. It was as if they had lost their will to move—just like I had lost my will to live two years ago, when I was left alone without explanation, with no knowledge of whether the man I loved was still alive. And now, he has the nerve to show himself here at this place and time.

"Just walk. I’ll keep up," I said, trying to force myself to stay calm despite the storm of emotions inside me. I wanted to run, but I knew I could never hide—not from my father, and certainly not from him, who I had no idea possessed the power to merge with one of the most influential Italian Mafia families in America.

"What do you mean, you'll keep up?! This is not a marathon, Giuliana! This is your wedding, for f**k's. . . I mean, God's sake!" He whispered with enough venom to make anybody crawl with fear, but not me since I'm used to it. Just then, the man I couldn’t tear my gaze away from started walking toward me. I had the urge to step back, but my father’s hand gripped my arm far too tightly to let me.

The worry in his eyes vanished, replaced by a stone-cold fury the instant he saw the hand clutching my arm.

"I'll take over now, Father," Lorenzo stepped between me and my father, his closeness made my heart hammer loudly inside my chest. I tried to keep calm for fear that he would hear how my heart still beats for him, but Lorenzo's baritone voice also made me shiver, not with fear, but with longing.

"Perfetto." My father replied as he walked toward his seat, not even sparing me a glance.

"What are you doing here? Why. . ."

There were so many questions I wanted to ask but all I could do was gasp as he grazed his lips on my ear as he whispered, "Later, Gia. We have no time to loose. Come with me, Mia Cara." I stifled another gasp when I heard his term of endearment, Mia Cara, which meant, my dear in Italian. His right hand gripped my right one and even though I was wearing a white glove, I could clearly feel the heat of his palm, just like I felt the heat of his breath on my ear. He didn't stop with that, he wounded his left arm onto my shoulder as if he was afraid I might turn and run, weighed down by all the tulle, sequins and mile long train of my gown.

The walk towards the altar seemed to take on forever and all I could focus on was the hand that was enclosed with mine and the other arm that slung on my shoulder and his body that kept on brushing onto mine.

"Relax, Gia. It's just me, Enzo." He whispered again, as if teasing me with his hot breath and the way his lips grazed on my sensitive ear. Then it hit me—he was trying to weasel his way out of trouble again, using himself as bait: his touch, his lips, his dangerously addictive self.

"Starting from when we reach the altar, stay away from me. You vanished from the face of the earth for two years. Don't expect me to welcome you and your scheming ways with open arms, Lorenzo." I forced myself to utter those words, my voice trembling with barely contained anger. I heard his sigh but felt his hand tightening his hold on me.

Lorenzo

The ceremony and reception flew by so slowly I thought I would die from boredom. When I contracted the marriage with Vitale Family, I didn't know I would be put into a tight spot with the bride herself.

Serves me right for not saying goodbye and just vanishing into the face of the earth, just like she said. But I had my reasons and I hope the reason itself will be enough to pacify Giuliana's anger.

"Stay in touch, dear-a. It’s-a good thing you’ll be having your honeymoon in Palermo, our hometown, eh?" Nonna Rosita was all smiles as she bid goodbye to me and Giuliana.

"I'd rather stay here with you, Nonna, but the monster of my life wouldn't leave me in peace."

I raised an eyebrow at her when she looked at me while she mentioned the word monster.

"Lorenzo, when you come back after two weeks, let's start with the merger." Antonio Vitale, my brother-in-law, only aged twenty, said with a bravado of someone older. Him being the future heir of Vitale Mafia Clan made him tougher and more authoritative.

"Can you just talk now? Handle all your affairs right now. We don't need to go to Palermo for our honeymoon. This is a fake marriage, anyways." Giuliana said with obvious annoyance, sending daggers to her brother by her glare. It was Antonio who forced Giuliana to accept the marriage as a way to merge the two families. All because of a failed shipment that could have destroyed their family's honor and reputation.

"Dear sister, you need to have your child soon. Lorenzo here needs his heir and you also need something to be busy about. You need something going on in your life."

I heard Giuliana's irritated groan as she elbowed her brother.

"I am fine on my own! Don't you dare accuse me of not doing anything with my life! "I have done everything I can to fit this Mafia life since I was seven!" Her voice filled with her pent-up fury. It was a side that I had missed seeing. The fiery side of my Mia Cara who would always say what is on her mind. I hooked my arm on her waist. She stomped her foot on mine, and I was able to bite my lower lip to refrain the pained groan from leaving my lips.

When I recovered, I answered her brother, “I’ll have my right-hand man prepare everything for the formal merger. We’ll be leaving now. Where is your father?” My question was meant for both Antonio and Giuliana, but Antonio was the first to respond.

“He already left. He had some business to take care of. I won’t see you both off to the airport. You’ll be back in two weeks anyway—or, if you’re lucky, Lorenzo, you might be back sooner than that.” Antonio’s teasing might have amused others, but it irritated me the most. I restrained myself, not wanting to add fuel to Giuliana’s anger, and simply pulled her toward the car waiting for us.

When we were already inside the car, Giuliana moved farther away from me. I allowed the distance she wanted but every part of my body was itching to be close to her.

"Why? Where have you been? Why now, Lorenzo?"

I knew I couldn't ignore these questions anymore but before I could even answer, gunshots ripped through the air. The car lurched violently, drifting sideways as the tires screamed against the asphalt.