The Mafia Boss's Accidental Bride

Chapter2: Term and Conditions

ALIA

I wasn't able to sleep at all last night. And by morning my apartment looked like a crime scne made of coffee cups and printed logs. A knock sounded at exactly eight am.

I opened the door and there was Luca kooking like he hadn't lost a minute of sleep unlike me.

"You look tired" he said

"And you look like you timed that knock with a stopwatch," I replied stepping to the side. "Come in before the neighbors start making assumptions."

He entered quietly, his eyes taking in my living romm withiut any judgement. He held a folder in his hand. "I broight the terms of our marriage" placing it on my table.

"Terms," I repeated. Like conditins? Rules? Alist of my freedom you are revoking?"

"None revoked, just clarified."

I raised my brow. "Clarifeid by who? Because I'm not hte one confused here."

He ignored that. "Sit. We should go through them."

I sat arms crossed. "You know you can at least pretend this is as wierd for you as it is foe me."

"This isn't my first council negotiation."

"That's not reassuring Luca."

"Wasn't meant to be"

I let out a breathe I didn't know I've been holding. "Okay, fine show me."

He opened the folder and passed the first page to me. "The marrriage will be public but not intimate. No one expects more unless you choose it."

"Well that's good," I said. "Because I'm not planning any wedding photos anytime soon."

"Understandable."

"That was a joke," I muttered.

"I know," he said, completely serious.

"Do you ever laugh?"

"On occassion."

"When? At night? Alone? In secret?"

A hint of amusement flickered in his eyes but it was gone just as quickly.

He moved on. "Secondly, you keep your job, I'm not here to control things"

My eyebrows rose in a mocking manner. "Really? No curfew? Or don"t talk to anyone apart from this list of twenty seven people?"

"No"

"Wow, ypu're surprisingly....reasonable."

"You say that like its an insult"

"It's confusing," I said honestly." I half expected you to show up with rules carved into a stone."

"I don't work like that."

"Okay but why me?" I asked, leaning forward "Why are you so sure that I wasn't the one who did it?"

He met my eyes and said, "because you didn't panic."

I blinked. "That's you reason?" cofusion written all over my face.

"It's part of it"

"Well, forgive me for not fainting the moment a mafia boss stepped into my office.."

"Most people do react more strongly."

"I'm not most people." I shot back

"I'm aware". His tone wasn't cold, just factual like he already analyzed me. He slid another page over. "Thirdly, I will handle the council. You are not required to attnd any meeting, that is unless you want to."That sounds nice" I said, "almost too nice. What's the catch?"

"No catch," he replied. "The fewer people questioning you, the safer you are."

I looked at him carefully. "And you are just taking that on? For me?"

"Yes."

"You barely know me."

"I know enough"

I huffed out a small laugh "You are impossible."

"I've heard that"

I pushed the folder back slightly. "Luca... This is a marriage I'm sure you understand that, right?"

"Yes."

"And you are OK with that?"

"Yes."

"Hold on." I said, rubbing my temples with the tip of my fingres. "You're answering too fast."

"I don't hesitate."

"That's not the compliment you think it is"

His expression softened just a little. "If there was a safer path, I'd probably take it but there is someone is targeting you and they're not sloppy. If the council turns against you, believe me, it won't end with the conversation."

A chill ran through me. "So marry you will stop all of that?"

"No, it buys us time," he corrected. "Time to figure out who did this."

"Do you have a suspect?" I asked

"Not yet"

"Do you think he's someone from the council"

"Possibly."

"Do you think it's someone from your family?" I asked gently.

He held my gaze. "If it is, they won't have stayed hidden long

I swallowed that tone was more intimidating than shouting would have been. I t reminded me of the mafia boss that he is. I close the folder gently. "OK. So what is next?"

"We meet your father today," he said. "He requested it."

"Great," I muttered. "He'll act like this was all done for my future like he's handing me a gift instead of throwing me under the bus."

"He'll sau what he needs to say face," Luca said bluntly. "but you won't deal with him alone"

I looked at him. "you are really coming with me.?

"I don't stop things halfway."

Something in my chest loosened but it was not trust and it was not comfort. But it was a bit close to that. "Fine," I said standing up. "Let's go hear my father lie."

Luca opened the door and motioned for me to go out first. I stepped out knowing my life had already changed and knowing the next part might change even more.