THE MAFIA FAKE FIANCE

TWO

ANDREA

I was still sulking in my room when my brother showed up he didn't even bother to knock he just pushed the door open like he owned the place... typical Enzo.

“Missed me?” he asked, leaning against the doorframe.

I didn’t even bother to look up from my phone.

“You missed your chance to be an only child… huh?”

He laughed that kind of warm but low laugh that reminded me why he was the only person in this house I could actually stand. He stepped inside with his hands behind his back like he was hiding something.

“Got you something,” he said.

That got my attention because Enzo doesn’t do gifts, not unless it’s Christmas or a bribe to do something that could put both of us in trouble. So if he was standing there with something behind his back, it meant there was probably a catch.

“What is it?” I asked while sitting up.

He grinned and pulled out a small box the kind that looked like it should hold jewelry, then he tossed it on the bed next to me.

“Open it.”

I raised a brow curiously and I opened it and inside was a bracelet.

It was gold but simple , it had tiny charms around it shaped like a chess queen.

For a second I just stared at it trying not to smile… Enzo actually got me a bracelet. With meaning.

“You remember,” I said quietly.

“Of course I do,” he said plopping down next to me.

“You used to kick my ass at chess every summer so I figured you should have your piece.”

I turned the bracelet over in my hand and fixed it myself. I knew Enzo wasn’t perfect half the time. He was just our father’s puppet; he was the perfect son who never rocked the boat. But this? I guess this was his way of reminding me that I was not completely alone in this family.

“Don’t let Dad see it” I muttered. “He will surely say it is a waste of money.”

Enzo chuckled. “Yeah!! well… screw him. Do you ike it?”

“I love it, thanks Enz.” I admitted.

He gave me a quick side hug before standing up again like he couldn’t risk showing too much softness.

“Don’t read too much into it, sis, I just figured you’d need something to hang on to before dinner. You know how Dad gets when he says he’s got ‘important news.’”

“Yeah, well,” I muttered.

“if his ‘important news’ is him telling me I disappointed him again I might actually flip the table tonight.”

Enzo smirked. “Please do. I’d pay to see his face.”

I swear dinners in this house always felt like business meetings disguised with food, the dining table was massive, probably long enough to host a whole boardroom and the air was always too stiff and too quiet like nobody could breathe without Dad’s permission.

I walked in wearing a fitted black dress, something sleek enough to say power but not enough to give my father the satisfaction of thinking I was trying to impress anyone.

Dad sat at the head of the table already holding his whisky glass like a king waiting for his subjects while Enzo was by his right, my shoulders were tense but giving me a small smile when I sat across from him and of course, Bella was there because why wouldn’t she be? My cousin-s***h-frenemy and her fake ass smile.

“Well look who finally decided to show her face,” Bella said sweetly like she was actually happy to see me.

I gave her my best glare. “Missed you too.”

Before she could come back with something nasty, a voice I didn’t expect cut in.

“Ladies, play nice.”

I froze. Lucio.

He walked in like he owned the place in a dark suit and a smug smirk across his face while his eyes lingered on me a little too long. My stomach dropped. Why the hell was he here?

Dad raised his glass.

“Good, good everyone is here, now we can begin.”

Oh, great.

We all started eating, nobody talked just the clinking of forks and knives against plates, the occasional fake laugh from Bella then Dad asking Enzo some questions about company numbers. My chest buzzed with tension. This wasn’t just a family dinner. Something was coming.

Finally Dad set his glass down with a heavy clink. The sound made my heart jump.

“I have news,” he announced his voice was calm almost too calm. “It is time we secured our family’s future. Andrea, you will be marrying Lucio.”

The world stopped.

I blinked repeatedly as I tried to find my words.

“What??”

Across the table Lucio smiled like this was the best day of his life.

“Surprise,” he said amusingly.

I pushed back my chair so hard that it screeched against the floor.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” I yelled.

Dad’s eyes narrowed. “Sit down.” He said in his usual commanding tone.

“No,” I snapped.

“You can’t just decide who I marry like I’m… like I’m some pawn you can trade.” I scoffed.

“This isn’t about you” he said with no atom of guilt.

“This is about strengthening our alliances and you will do your duty for this family.”

I wanted to laugh but it came out shaky. “Duty? You mean sacrifice, you’ve already handed Enzo the CEO seat on a platter of gold… What’s left for me, huh? A marriage contract? A leash?”

Enzo shifted in his seat, clearly uncomfortable.

“Dad…” he started but his voice trailed off when Dad shot him a deadly glare then Lucio raised his glass with a grin.

“To our future, Andrea. You’ll see… it won’t be so bad.”

I swear, I almost lunged across the table to smack that grin off his face.

“I’ll never marry you,” I spat out.

“Enough!” Dad’s voice cracked like a whip, the whole table went silent and his face was red, his jaw was tight.

“You will do as I say, Andrea. Or you will regret it.”

Bella smirked behind her wine glass like she had been waiting her whole life for this drama. Enzo shot me a look which was half pity and half apology but didn’t say a word.

I couldn’t stay there, not another second… I shoved my chair back and stormed out, my heels clicking hard against the floors .

I barely made it down the hallway before someone grabbed my arm. I spun around already ready to bite and of course it was Lucio.

“Let go,” I snapped while trying to yank free from his hard grip but he didn’t, his grip was really tight and I was already bruising, his smile was dangerous.

“You’re feisty. I like that.”

“Don’t touch me.”

“Relax, princess,” he murmured while leaning in way too close.

“Soon enough, you’ll be mine anyway.”

“You’re delusional. I’ll never be yours.”

He chuckled before he continued “We’ll see.”

Then he let me go and walked off like he hadn’t just threatened me in the middle of my own house.

My skin crawled.

I was back in my room, I paced like a caged animal, my father wanted me chained to Lucio, like property. Lucio wanted me broken and owned.

If Dad wanted to play games, fine. Two could play.

He wanted to trap me with Lucio? I’d find my own shield. Someone untouchable. Someone who would make my father furious and Lucio lose his smug grin.

I thought about it, the answer flashing in my mind so fast it almost made me laugh. Nathan De Luca.