He Loves Me Not (Mafia Love Story)

Famiglia, something Catarina held high in standard. She may have been the eldest daughter, but that didn't mean she wasn't involved in family politics. At a young age, her curiosity outweighed her rationality and she was roped into the lifestyle by accidental eavesdropping. She was well educated on book study, life skills, and common sense but she also knew the ins and outs of a family. She knew which guns were the stealthiest, which cars were for who and what families were the most important. As she looked out of the window of her large bedroom, she found herself sighing as she observed her father's car pulling into the driveway. His driver soon after opened his door for him, and she listened for her mother's call. "Caterina!" Her mother called from the bottom of the stairs and she smoothed out her black dress before walking out of her room and clicking the door shut. "Caterina, your papa is here! Come down to welcome him home." Caterina was Valentina's middle name, from a young age it's all she'd ever known and nobody, not even her own family called her by her first name. The sound of her heels clicking against the marble flooring echoed through the grand house as she descended the stairs. Her father's bright smile greeted her first and she returned it gracefully before embracing him tightly. "Papa, you weren't due back for another day." He wrapped an arm around her shoulders affectionately before sighing. "Amore, you know I couldn't wait to see my girls. The business ended early and so I came home as soon as I could." His smile told her that his trip had gone exceptionally well, but she knew her father better than that. There was a spark of doubt behind his eyes that not even her mother could see. "Well, I think we all should rejoice that papa is home early, Caterina, go upstairs and change and we will go out to eat." Her mother smiled, urging her up the stairs. "Ah, but I've invited some people over for dinner. It is still early so we have some time for preparation my love." He kissed his wife briefly and Caterina shuttered in mock disgust. "Alright well if they are important enough to invite over on the day of your return, I suppose we should all meet them." Caterina's mama spoke. "Caterina, join me please we have much work to do." Caterina groaned and protested. "But mama, Luciana-" She held her hand up, cutting her protests short. "Andiamo." Her mother urged her into the kitchen to which she complied reluctantly. -- A few hours had passed and the food was out of the oven and sitting on the table, Caterina's mother had dismissed her half an hour ago and she was now sat in her room on the end of her bed deciding on what to wear. Her walk-in closet may have been stocked with clothing but her mind was still empty, groaning in frustration she laid her back on her bed and listened as her sister giggled at the doorway. "What's wrong my dear sister?" She teased. "I don't know what to wear." She replied in angst to which Luciana smiled and let herself into the room. "What about this? Mama always said red is your color." Luciana held up a red peplum sleeveless dress with a sweetheart neckline. Caterina shook her head and watched her sister rummage through her clothes once more. She had always felt like the black sheep of her family, while her sister was fair skinned and as thin as a sheet of paper but exceptionally tall Caterina was anything but. Her mother and father were gifted with height as well and they both were slender which made Caterina question if she was related to them at all at one point in her life. Caterina's body was curvy and she was short, standing at five foot four and her hair was dark brown and fell just above her hips. Her breasts were too large for her liking and her bottom was always bumping into something. Her torso was small as was her back and her eyes were stark blue, the rest of her family donned brown eyes and light brown hair and their slender figures stood out from the crowd. "Here, you must wear it." Luciana's words brought Caterina out of her thoughts and she stared at the dress being thrust into her arms. "Luciana..." Caterina started but before she could say anything her sister was pushing her into the bathroom with a pair of heels. She slipped on the dress which dipped deep into her small abdomen, the sleeves coming to just above the elbows and the thin see-through material falling down around her feet while the small portion of the dress met her upper thighs. She had to admit, it was a gorgeous dress...but for a formal dinner, she couldn't say it was appropriate. "Luciana this dress is beautiful but-" Caterina's words were cut off by her sister's gasp at the window and she rushed over to her. "What? What is it?" She questioned as she pushed her long wavy hair behind her shoulders. "Two long Bentleys, whoever these people are that papa invited they're very important." Luciana gushed and Caterina sighed before shaking her head and adjusting the strap on her heel. "Designer shoes? I'm impressed, Caterina." Luciana teased as Caterina placed her heel back down on the floor and sighed. "Luciana, Caterina! Come down quickly!" Their mother called for them and they took each other's arms and descended the stairs one at a time. "These are my daughters." Caterina heard her father introducing them at the foot of the stairs. She watched as Luciana descended in her baby pink pleated dress as her father introduced her. "Luciana Rosa Beneveti." He could hear the smile in his voice and she sighed, wishing she could be as beautiful as her sister. "And Valentina Caterina Beneveti." Caterina walked down the large marble steps and looked to her left where the head of the De Marco family stood. She nearly lost her footing at the sight of him but managed to keep a composed face as she took her place beside her sister. "A pleasure to meet you both, belle ragazze." Giacobbe De Marco kissed both of their hands and smiled. "I am Giacobbe De Marco, and this is my family." He held his left arm out gesturing to the people beside him. "My wife, Amata Eleanora De Marco." The woman was round-faced and looked upon them with warm smiles which Caterina returned. "And my sons, Lucio Antonio De Marco and Santino Vittorio De Marco." Both of the men were exceptionally handsome. "My daughter, Rosa Elizabetta, was unable to attend tonight's dinner, she is overseas with her husband." Giacobbe continued and Caterina didn't miss the scoff that escaped Lucio's mouth. Lucio was slender as well and his hair had a little bit of blonde running through it as if he had been kissed by the sun. His smile was kind but his eyes looked hard as if he were tense about something. Santino on the other hand also appeared to be the black sheep of his family, he was tall and his body was built with great muscle, his jaw ticked and she noticed his eyes on her as she descended the stairs and even now. "Shall we eat?" Caterina's father motioned for everyone to enter the dining room and everyone followed after him. Luciana took her place beside her mother while her father sat at the head of the table, Giacobbe took his place next to Caterina's father and his wife sat next to him followed by their son, Lucio. Which meant Caterina had no choice but to sit next to Santino. Perfetto. "So they tell me your trip went well?" Giacobbe questioned Caterina's father and he responded by nodding and speaking in a hushed tone while the rest of the table became better acquainted with each other. "Luciana, your mother tells me you are a model is that true?" Mrs. De Marco questioned eagerly and Luciana shook her head as she put the spoon of her soup down. "Oh no, I was modeling in Los Angeles for a few months but the action is far too intense so I returned home to do some freelance modeling part-time." They continued their conversation and Lucio remained quiet as he continued to eat. "Caterina, will you please go and get some wine for us in the cellar? Take Santino with you, I'm sure he'll be able to help you." Her father instructed and rather than make a fool of herself she nodded and waited for Santino to follow. The walk towards the wine cellar was awkward, to say the least, neither of them spoke a word until Santino opened his mouth. "Tedioso." She heard him mutter. Caterina rolled her eyes and sighed. "At least you don't have to pick a good wine if I go up there with anything but family crest I'll be crucified faster than Christ himself." He looked shocked before composing himself and clearing his throat. "You speak Italian." It wasn't a question, more of a surprising statement. "Of course, my father made me learn. Luciana didn't have the time, so don't make her feel bad about it." She sighed as she eyed one of the older wine bottles. "Ma she is older, no?" He questioned. "She's taller, but I'm the eldest," Caterina spoke as she turned to face him, finding him eyeing her suspiciously. "I know, she's a greater beauty than I am but don't let that fool you I'm older by a year." She smiled timidly before ducking out under his gaze and walking back towards the table. Santino didn't know what to make of this woman, she was breathtaking and far sexier than the women he'd seen around these parts but for her to doubt herself...he wasn't sure if it was for attention or if she truly thought this way. When his father said they would be dining with the Beneveti's he was eager to meet Nicolo but when Valentina walked down the steps he hadn't anticipated for the throbbing in his groin he was met with. Even now as she sauntered away from him he felt the need to be close to her, so he decided he might bed her later on. It probably wouldn't be too hard, Luciana was beautiful but he could tell she was spoiled beyond reason and he wasn't a fan of grown children. "We're back, I hope this is to everyone's liking. It's nineteen thirty-eight, you know what they say...lo vino è come un belladonna." Everyone at the table laughed at this, with the exception of Luciana and he furrowed his brow, she really didn't know Italian? "What?" She asked, her features turning up in confusion. "She said wine is like a beautiful woman." Her mother clarified and Luciana smiled tenderly, embarrassment covering her face quickly. The rest of the dinner went smoothly as Santino thought it might, soon Nicolo and his father were smoking cigars on the patio and Luciana was wandering the house with his mother and Mrs. Beneveti while Lucio spoke to Valentina. This angered Santino for some unexplainable reason and before he could stop himself he joined them at the table and cut himself a slice of Napoleon cake. "I liked dinner very much, but dessert was too hard to resist a second time." He spoke and watched as a red blush crept up Valentina's chest, he couldn't help but wonder what was under that delectable fabric she was wearing. "My mother helped me, but I'm pleased to hear it." She smiled gratefully and turned back to Lucio. "Then comes the Russo Famiglia, along with the Bianchi's and finally the Colombo's. Our families rank in the top three in terms of solidarity and honor. I have a friend that went to school with you, her name is Lia Marino do you know her?" To say that Santino was impressed was an understatement, not only did this woman know Italian but she knew the family rankings and was even close with one of the families. "I know Lia, she and I went to the same grade school together. I think Sonny has a friend who is familiar with your family. Is Lorenzo Ricci's father close with your family?" Santino's brother questioned. "Sonny?" God, even his name off of the tip of her tongue sounded amazing. "That is what my family insists on calling me." Santino groaned as he took another bite of his cake. She laughed, and the sound was as enticing as it was loud. "I don't mean to laugh, Mi dispiace truly it's just that Sonny does not suit you." He found the corners of his mouth turning up into a smirk as he heard this. "I agree, just as Caterina doesn't suit you." He spoke before forking another slice of cake onto his plate. "I have to disagree, Valentina is too formal of a name nobody would ever take me seriously." Before he could say anything more his father walked back through the doors, shaking hands with Nicolo and it looked as though Valentina noticed this as well. Lucio, Santino, and Valentina all stood as their fathers entered the dining room. "We need to have a talk Santino, Caterina, follow us please." Nicolo gestured for them to follow and they obliged, walking up the stairs and into the study. "We've come to an agreement." Giacobbe crossed his arms over his chest and leaned up against the large desk. "We would like to combine families," Nicolo spoke as he smiled proudly. Caterina grinned as well and spoke. "Oh, papa, which one of our cousins is it?" Caterina questioned the very thing which was on Santino's mind. "No amore, we were thinking perhaps we would arrange a marriage between our families." Santino stood up straighter and cleared his throat before his father spoke next. "We think Santino and you, Caterina should wed to preserve our family's allegiances." Fanculo! ITALIAN WORD BANK: Famiglia- Family Amore- Love Andiamo- Let's go Belle Ragazze- Beautiful girls Perfetto- Perfect Tedioso- Tedious/ boring Ma- But Mi dispiace- I'm sorry/ forgive me Fanculo- Fuck