MARRIED TO THE MAFIA BOSS

DANIELLE I stiffen when the sound of gunshot being fired echoes through the air. Then, a thud follows. I’m guessing that must be the body of the unfortunate victim falling to the ground. He must have gotten into an argument with Luciano . Less than five minutes since I got to the Mafia Boss’ door and he has killed somebody. This is the man I’m expected to enter a fake marriage with if I want to escape an arranged marriage that my adoptive father is planning. The thought of marrying someone that I don’t love makes me shudder. Which is why I came to this family for help. But, before I even knock on my supposed benefactor’s door or eavesdrop on the argument, someone is dead. My eyes fall to the blood seeping from beneath the door and my stomach churns, waves of nausea hitting me. It’s very unfortunate that I’ve witnessed a lot of similar incidents that blood doesn’t faze me at all. Or, maybe I’m just heartless like papa Elio used to say. Papa Elio is my adoptive father, who is also a priest and the man who wants to marry me off to one of his closest ally who is almost twice my age and a two-faced mafioso who is peddling drugs and ordering hits when he’s not leading the congregation in prayer. I could have sworn he swore off women after his wife died about five years ago. But somehow, I’m in the mix and his soon to be bride. The door opens and a blond rushes out, clothes clasped to her chest with her hands, wearing nothing but pink lacy set of lingerie. I take a quick peek at her mascara-smeared face before she walks past me without even a glance in my direction. I think she was crying. What exactly is going on in there? The blonde does not close the door after her so I take the chance to peek inside and I see Luciano sitting behind his desk, eyes closed and massaging his temples with his fingers. Careful to avoid stepping on the blood on the floor, I walk into the office. My eyes fix on the dead bald man clad in black suit lying down on the floor. He was shot execution style and blood is still coming out of the hole in his head. “Darling, did you change your mind?” Flinching, I turn my attention to Luciano Morelli who still hasn’t opened his eyes. Well, he just did and they are so dark from a distance. He looks completely different from the 20 year old man I last saw ten years ago. But the last time I knew him was fifteen years ago, and that teenage boy with his jet black hair and hearty laugh could not kill a fly. Time has changed that. At least, he still has his dark hair, except with a darker aura revolving around him. His office is small, a lot smaller than expected. On the left side is a sofa and a tea table and to the right is a bookshelf with mostly old books and files stacked on it. There’s only a short walking distance between the two sides. The entire building is weird on its own. What is supposed to be a warehouse is as silent as a graveyard and empty. This is the only room that I think has something in it. As if drawn by a magnetic force, I cover the equally short distance from the door to his desk, and lean on one of the chairs across from him. A small smile spreads across my lips. “Hello, Luciano .” Silent, he regards me with narrowed dark eyes hooded under thick black brows. I’m unable to tell what he’s thinking , and I’m starting to feel like a fool just standing there while he reaches down his memory lane to pick my face out of the ones he has long buried. “Nico asked me to come to you,” I say as I sit myself in one of the chairs. He smirks, leaning forward. “I don’t remember asking Nico for a Sicilian brunette. I like blondes, like the diva that just walked out.” He nod his head in the direction of the door. “She was giving me the best head before that animal bleeding all over my f*****g carpet came and ruined the mood.” My mind goes to the dead man on the floor but I don’t look. I’d still have to see him on my way out. I maintain my small supposed-to-be-polite smile. “I’m afraid that is not what I’m here for, Mr. Luciano Morrello.” I take a long look at his rugged face – hard lines chisel his high cheekbones and square jaw. Even though I have seen several pictures of him over the years through his brother, Nico – who I’m very close with – none of them comes close to the accuracy of seeing him in the flesh. He’s stroking his chin, looking back at me. The sly smile tugging on his lips does nothing to soften his hard and unreadable expression. “And, I’m afraid my brother hasn’t briefed me on the purpose of this visit, Danielle.” His smile grows wider as my eyes widen in surprise. He knows my name. He remembers me. “It’s been what? Ten years? I must say you’ve become quite a woman.” His eyes drop to my chest, lingers a little before flicking back to my face. My cheeks warm with discomfort. I can’t believe Nico asked me to come and try to propose a contract marriage to his brother without informing him about it. Gathering myself from the waves of shock and the tinge of annoyance that just rippled through me, I maintain my smile. “I guess we have nothing else to talk about, then. It’s nice to see you again, Luciano,” I say as I turn around to leave. “Leaving so soon?” His question stops me in my tracks. “Don’t you at least want to sit down and catch up on the years lost between us?” He is spotting a sly smile that makes my palm itch to meet his face. I don’t know why, but something about him aggravates me, and the more I stay here, the more pissed off I get. I turn to look at him. The, my eyes drop to the dead body on the floor again and I feel the sudden urge to puke. “That’s why I don’t use expensive rugs,” he says and my attention returns to him. “It gets messy here sometimes.” I have to remind myself that this is supposed to be ‘normal’ in this world. Men are killed like flies and nobody questions anyone. No one knows who’s next either. It’s a really dangerous world and, instead of running away from it, I’m dipping my legs into it. “Goodbye, Luciano.”