The Mafia King's Contract Bride

Chapter 12

SERA

I sat in my room and thought about what Damian must have told Marcus. I had stood right there, but I didn't hear anything and the dread on Marcus’s face made it even worse for me. I facepalmed myself and sighed, Marcus was a great friend, and I liked him– even more than a friend and I wouldn't be happy if those words scared him away. ‘But you're a married lady’ my inner voice whispered and I scoffed. So? What's wrong with having friends? ‘A friend you have a crush on?’ it asked again and I picked up the pillow and let out a frustrated yell in it. Marcus was the only person that didn't hate me when they saw me, he was kind and sweet in school and even now, today when I saw him at the event, he was still kind. Though he was surprised I married Damian, I sighed as I remembered his face when he saw me, like I had entered a dungeon.

My door opened before I could think about the face any further.

“The boss wants you downstairs now,” the housekeeper said and walked out, not explaining anything. I slowly stood up from my bed, confused. What did I do? We didn't speak much after the Marcus encounter but I didn't think he was angry.

I walked out and one of the men stood at the side of the staircase, waiting for me. He nodded when I was close and let me through a corridor I had never been before—ground floor, east end, the air slightly cooler here, the doors heavier. He stopped outside one and pushed it open without knocking.

Damian stood over two people that I couldn't see their face, I walked over to him and that was when I saw them. My stepmother and Isabella. My breath seized then as I remembered what he did to that man, was he about to do that to them? No!

They rose immediately they saw my face, like my presence had ignited something in them. I stepped back and pressed myself close to the wall near the door, my heart climbing steadily into my throat.

The man brought two chairs then and Damian slowly sat on one, his eyes on the two women that didn't know what their fate was. He suddenly turned to me and I held my breath.

“Sit,” he ordered and I quickly sat down, avoiding both his eyes and that of my family. He turned towards them again and started speaking, quiet and precise. He named my father's businesses, Isabella's deals and even my mother's little jobs. He paused after naming them.

"If anyone from your family," he said finally, "touches my wife again — I start with the business and I don't stop until there is nothing left." He paused. "Are we clear?”

My stepmother nodded so fast I thought her neck would break, but Isabella said nothing, she just looked at her hands. I sighed in relief then, he wasn't going to kill them. He looked at me and I blinked, I didn't know I was loud.

“This is the last warning,” he said and signalled to the man who led them out then. He turned to me then.

“You're pathetic,” he said after a while. “Being kind to people who wouldn't bat an eyelid to take you out.”

I looked at him and swallowed. “They are still family,” I said and he scoffed.

“Don't be silly, Moretti,” he said and stood up. “This is your family now,” he said and walked out. Leaving me alone, thinking about what he had just said and how he saw me as pathetic.

“You good?” The man suddenly said and I turned. I didn't know he came back.

“Yeah,” I whispered, surprised he was speaking to me today.

“Matteo,” he said after a while and I nodded with a smile.

“I’m guessing you know mine already,” I said and he chuckled, making me gasp. He looked at me. “You okay?”

“Uh- yeah. I just didn't know y’all laughed,” I said and he chuckled again.

“We do,” he said and turned to walk out but–

“Does it get easier?” I suddenly asked and he turned, his eyes held understanding that I was grateful for.

"The events get easier," he said finally. "The rest…" another pause. "You just get better at carrying it,” he said and I nodded.

“That was reassuring,” I said sarcastically and he straightened his jacket.

“Goodnight, Mrs. De Luca,” he said and walked away. I sat for three seconds before I stood up too, that room felt suffocating

********************

Christy was in my room when I got in, she lay on the bed like it was hers. I smiled when I saw her, she was the only good thing happening in the house.

I dropped on the bed beside her and she opened her eyes.

“You slept off in my room?” I asked with a smile and she noticed.

“I was waiting for you.”

“Hmm,” I said and lay down beside her, surprised at how easy I had done that.

“Elena,” Christy suddenly said and I opened my eyes immediately. I had decided not to think of the rude lady at the event, I was sure Damian had something going on with her but I didn't want to dwell on that.

“She's beautiful,” I said instead and Christy scoffed.

“She's stupid.” She turned to face me then. “She's been circling Damian's world for years but she's never made it past the door, Sera. Don't let her words live in your head rent free.”

"She said he doesn't like women like me," I said quietly.

Christy looked at me then, really looked, like she was deciding the words to say next.

"He chose you," she said simply. "Whatever that means to him — out of every option available, he chose you. Hold onto that when people like Elena open their mouths.”

I didn't answer. I didn't know what being chosen by Damian De Luca was worth yet, or whether it was something to hold onto or something to brace for. But I held the words anyway, and thought about it even when I didn't want to. Christy stood up after a while and left the room, but not without promising to take me out tomorrow.

I sighed and locked the door as she left. I didn't like my new life, I never liked my life anyways but I liked Christy and everything her friendship looked like. I walked towards the wardrobe and opened my box, suddenly having the urge to look at my mother's picture. I opened the box and a package fell instead, an unfamiliar package that wasn't there earlier. I raised a brow as I slowly opened it and my face fell.

Pictures of my mum, pictures I've never seen before, pictures of some of her happy moments. I picked one that caught my eye, a picture of her pregnant, carrying who I supposed was me. I looked towards the door then.

Someone was watching me, and the person was in my room earlier.

My face fell again.