Dangerously In Love

Chapter One

Maria

    The sunrise was absolutely breathtaking from my balcony at our condo in Manhattan. I could just stand here for hours and watch the city life. This was one of the few peaceful times that I could enjoy and soak up a sense of normalcy in my life. This was my place to be normal. Outside of this balcony and the sunrises and sunsets I've watched over the years my life was never actually mine. I didn't have choices to make or get give opinions. Every choice was made for me by my father, Vincent Salvatore II, Italian Mafia Boss.

    I felt arms wrap around my waist and a kiss at the back of my head, "What are you thinking about this morning, love?" I turned around to face my fiancé, Marco St. Claire, my father's third in command. I tried to keep out of the inner workings of the family business because I really didn't want to know what things they've done. Women really didn't have any part of the business. Our job was to keep our husbands happy and to have babies.

    "Nothing really, just enjoying this little piece of normal." I didn't really love him but my mother kept saying that I would grow to love him just like she grew to love my father. I don't know how such an amazingly sweet and caring woman was married to a mafia boss and was the daughter of an enforcer but I guess she decided that those things wouldn't take away from her happiness and joy. My parents were almost complete opposites but somehow they fell in love with each other over the years. My father was a hard man to love and a very cold man but with my mother he was as sweet as can be. He used to tell my brother's that the only person that should weaken your resolve is your wife.

    "I know this isn't the life you wanted, Maria. But I promise to keep some sense of normalcy in your life. I would do anything for you." He kissed me passionately and held me in his arms. I didn't really want to marry him but I had no other choice. My father chose my husband when I turned sixteen. "I have some business in the city and I have to leave. I'll leave Paolo and Louis here to protect you while I'm gone. Be good and don't try to leave, please. I can't deal with hearing your father lecture me again on making sure you stay put. If you want to leave call me and ask first." He kissed my forehead and walked away. I was forever doomed in this life. I had dreams like every other girl my age...the only difference? I'm the daughter of the Italian Mafia boss...those dreams were never really mine to dream.

    I walked back inside and went to the kitchen to make myself something to eat. I had made Marco's breakfast earlier when he had woken up just before dawn. I'm just glad that I enjoyed cooking because if I didn't it would be such a chore. Louis and Paolo were the two most trusted enforcers that Marco had. "Are you guys hungry? I'm making frittata's and coffee," I asked the guys as I walked past them. They both moved to sit at the counter and watch me cook.

    "Marco is lucky to have such a willing girl to cook and that offers to cook for others." Paolo smiled at me and laughed.

    "I'm not so lucky. My wife hates to cook and she always complains. Her food tastes awful so I just have our daughter cook. Lucia loves to cook." Louis laughed.

    "Do you know when we're going back home? I love it here but I miss my Mama and Anna." I asked quietly.

    "Marco said as soon as the business here is finalized." Paolo said as he folded his arms and leaned back on the bar stool.

    "And that will be when?" I asked with a slight attitude as I put a cup of coffee and a bowl of fruit in front of each of them.

    "Hell if I know. Marco said it could take days or weeks depending on how smoothly the club visits and house checks go. Maybe he'll bring me back some fun this time." Paolo smirked and chowed down on the fruit.

    "Don't talk about strippers in my kitchen or I won't feed you." I folded my arms and glared at him.

    "Sorry, Maria. That wasn't something a woman should hear." Paolo frowned and continued to eat.

    "It's okay." I smiled and finished the frittatas, sliding some of it on each of the three plates I had pulled from the cabinet. I sat one in front of each of the guys and they chowed down. "Hope it's up to par." I teased.

    "Damn, Maria. This is the best frittata I've ever put in my mouth. Better than your mom's." Louis smiled from ear to ear. I blushed and refilled their coffees.

    "Anything else you want boys?" I put my hands on my hips and watched them eat before I thought about eating. Housewife 101: don't eat until all your guests are served and satisfied. They both shook their heads no so I sat down next to Paolo and ate my frittata and fruit. I had to admit it was pretty darn good.

    After they finished and went into the living room to watch TV or play video games, something they wouldn't dare do around Marco; I cleaned up the kitchen and put the leftovers in the fridge. There was a loud knock on the door and they both jumped up and shuffled to answer it. I heard some voices and then some running footsteps toward the kitchen. "Ria!" I heard the sweet sound of my little sister calling my name. I turned around and ran to her, picking her up. I kissed her all over her face as she giggled and smiled.

    "My sweet little love! What are you doing here and without father or mama?" I kissed her cheek once more before setting her on the edge of the counter and handed her a sippy cup full of apple juice. My sweet little sister was only three and she was the light of my life! My mama had gotten very sick a week after Annamarie had turned one, who we just called Anna for short. So, I stepped up and took care of her for mama. Anna was my little shadow, she felt like more than a sister. I had practically raised her. Mama lives at another house under the watchful eyes of my grandparents and her numerous doctors. My father didn't really want her around the business so he moved there with her and commutes to the main house for business. I live with Anna and my brother's families in the main house.

    "Mama got sick and papa is with her. Zay brought me!" She struggled to say my brother Xavier's name so he just told her to call him Zay instead. Xavier stepped into the kitchen and leaned up against the island. Anna looked at him and smiled. I wiped off the counter and placed Anna on the floor and she ran into the living room to watch TV with Louis and Paolo. I walked towards Xavier and gave him a long hug. We were never all that close growing up but over the past couple of years we had grown closer.

    "What happened with mama?" I frowned and stepped away to hand him a glass of water. He took a few sips.

    "She has a fever and can't keep any food down." He set the empty glass on the island counter and looked down.

    "Is there anything the doctors can do for her?" I filled his glass again.

    "Not right now. They want to take her to the hospital but you know how father is. He won't let them take her because the Russians could get to her." He gulped half the glass and sat it down.

    "How are you and Arielle?" I tried to change the subject.

    "If we're gonna talk about that infernal woman that I'm married to then get me a glass of whiskey." I walked away and grabbed the bottle of whiskey from the liquor cabinet and a short glass. I filled a separate tall glass with ice and walked back to him. I sat the bottle down and the glasses and filled the short one with the ice and then the whiskey and placed it in front of him.

    "So...you've got your whiskey, now start talking." I teased him.

    "We've been arguing, she was flirting with another man and I caught her doing it. She keeps doing it. I got extremely angry the other night at her for locking me out of our bedroom. I broke down the door and yeah, the rest I'm not telling you. I hate her so much. She used to be so sweet but after she had Asaro..." he paused and took a huge gulp of the whiskey. I filled his glass again. "...she has become so irritable. She complains that I'm never there enough and that I don't treat her the way I should after she gave me a son." I sighed.

    "She clearly doesn't understand what responsibilities you have. How could father match you with her? She's not even in one of the main families anyways. I got lucky with Marco, well for the most part." His cell started to ring and he stepped away. I walked into the living room and picked up Anna in my lap and held her close.

    "You need a baby." Anna whispered softly and gave me a kiss on the cheek. She giggled and jumped onto Paolo's lap. He tickled her until she was laughing hard. Paolo wanted a wife and kids so badly, but he didn't want a woman to suffer what his mother went through. His father died when he was young at the hands of the Russian boss. He said that he never wanted a woman to worry about him not coming home at night.

    "Maria needs a baby!" Paolo looked over at me and laughed.

    "She and Marco will have one after they get married, little one." He kissed her forehead.

    "They need to marry!" She jumped down and started to sip on her juice. Paolo and I both just laughed. Xavier walked into the living room with a sad look on his face.

    "What's wrong?" I stood up and grabbed Anna into my arms.

    "I have to go back to Staten Island. Louis. Paolo." The guys stood up quickly. "Watch them and protect them. I mean it. You need to stay close to them at all times." I didn't like the tone of his voice. He came over to us and hugged us, kissing our foreheads. "Or I'll kill you." With that he walked out and Paolo locked the door behind him.

    I took Anna to my room. I sat her on the bed, "stay here, Anna. I need to talk to Paolo and Louis." I kissed her forehead and she nodded. I walked out and shut the door behind me. They both looked up at me.

    "We can't tell you, you know that.." Paolo walked towards me and put a hand on my shoulder. "I wouldn't tell you regardless of if you wanted to know or not. All I'm saying is that you both aren't leaving our sight. If I don't have eyes on you at all times, I won't feel like I've protected you." I nodded and sat on the couch.

    A couple of hours had passed and Marco still wasn't home. I got up to get a glass of water from the kitchen. Marco stumbled in the door with blood all over his shirt, scratches on his face, and a couple of knife slashes across his arms and gashes in chest. I stood there and gasped. I had never seen him like this before. I rushed over to him. "Get towels and get him to the guest room! Call the doctor!" I screamed at Paolo and Louis.