Arranged Mafia Marriage

“I mean giving neither of them a choice. She’ll do as I say.”

“You’re assuming that you’ll be able to control her.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“Don’t underestimate women.”

“Don’t underestimate my way with women.”

“Hmm.” He purses his lips in that annoying way he’s had from when we were little. I am the older one here, and yet, Luca is the one who has a wise head on his shoulders. It’s why I use him as a sounding board more than any of my other brothers.

“What?” I scowl, “What’s on your mind, stronzo?”

“It’s risky.”

“It’s better than killing her, which is what I had in mind when I came upon her.”

“What changed your mind?”

Her eyes, her lips, the scent of her skin, the way she looked at me with her bright green eyes, so curious, so full of life that it had sparked a yearning deep inside.

“I need to consolidate my position at the earliest possible time,” I murmur.

“Maybe you’re attracted to her?”

“I need to send a message to the other four families that we have some strong powers aligned behind us.”

“There are easier ways to do that.”

“How?”

“You could deploy our men and shoot them.”

I laugh, “And start an outright war?” I shake my head, “There’s a time for violence and a time for…”

“Romance?”

“An arrangement.” I frown.

“With her or with yourself.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” I growl, “Whatever is on your mind, just come out and say it already.”

“Just that this seems a very long and contrived way of consolidating our position.”

“She’s already here with us,” I point out. “Half the job is done.”

“You’re hellbent on this?” He scowls, “There’s nothing I can say to change your mind?”

“Why should I?” I widen my stance, “She’s the key. Don’t you see it? Her sister is married to the fourth richest man in the UK, one who is part of a close-knit circle of powerful men who hold the ability to open up not only the British Isles, but also Silicon Valley.”

“So, in one stroke, we not only send out a message to the other families, we also widen our sphere of influence geographically.”

One of our father’s stipulations: I have to marry and produce an heir before I turn forty in order to secure the role of Don. Else it will open the line of succession as a free-for-all. Anyone from the four other ruling families could challenge me to a fight, and if they won, I’d lose everything I have worked toward. Not that they can’t attack me now. The only thing stopping them is the fact that my team and I are too strong. However, like most things, power ebbs and flows. I need to marry and quickly consolidate my position.

A sound comes from the direction of the screen. I turn to it. Beauty yawns, sits up, and the cover falls to her waist. Her breasts, encased in that stretchy sports bra, fills the screen.

“I see you’ve been keeping close watch on your assets.” Luca smirks.

I wave my hand and the screen shuts off.

“Hold on… It was just getting interesting.” Luca walks toward the screen, but I plant myself in his path.

“I see.” He bares his teeth.

“No, you don’t.”

“You sweet on her, hmm?” He scratches his jaw.

“Fuck off.”

“Your American roots are showing, cazzo.” He clicks his tongue.

“The fuck I care about that?” I rub the back of my neck. “You’re half-American too, or have you forgotten?”

“Tried my best, but it’s a stain that doesn’t wash off easily, and neither will the mistake you’ve made by bringing her here.”

“Bringing who here?” A new voice sounds. I glance up to find my second brother Massimo, followed by my youngest twin siblings Christian and Alessandro walking into the room.

Antonio, my right-hand man, stands to attention by the open door. He’s been told not to let anyone except family inside. Doesn’t mean he ever lets his guard down. Since he fell in love with one of the women that we’d saved from being trafficked, and married her-with my blessing-his loyalty has been unshakeable. Not that he had been anything but faithful before that. But finding his woman had made him even more faithful, something for which I am appreciative. He meets my gaze and I wave him off. He steps back, shuts the door behind him, and I turn to my brothers, “The fuck you guys doing here?”

“Someone’s pissed,” Christian murmurs.

“Think big brother, here, isn’t getting enough?” Alessandro smirks.

“Or maybe he’s getting too much and it’s not satisfying enough? After all, quality over quantity, and all that,” Massimo drawls as he precedes the other two further into the room.

I scowl as the three of them prowl around the space. Christian sinks into a couch, then promptly turns sideways and stretches out. Alessandro lowers his bulk into a chair, and props his feet on the coffee table, “Thought you were supposed to be in London?” He jerks his chin at me.

“I was,” I mutter.

“Is it a woman who had you returning so quickly?”

I hold his gaze, don’t say anything else.

“Knew it,” Christian crows. “It has to be a woman who’s put him in such a filthy mood.”

“It’s not only my mood which is going to be filthy soon,” I growl. “What the hell are you three stronzi doing here, anyway?”

“You’re repeating yourself, fratellone.” Massimo smirks.

“Vaffanculo!” I rub the back of my neck.

“Now he’s taking refuge in insults.” Christian chuckles, “And it was you who’d asked us over for a meeting.”

Of course, I had. How could I have forgotten that? I walk over to stand over the three of them. Luca follows me. “Get your foot off the table, Xander,” I growl at my youngest brother.

“Seriously?” He grimaces, “What’s wrong with where my foot is?”

“Want me to show you?” I pull my knife from my belt, flip it over in my hand. I glare at him, and he grimaces.

“You’re such a bore, Mika.” Xander lowers his foot to the floor anyway.

“Why did you call us?” Massimo straightens in his seat. “It has to be something serious that had you summoning all of us here.”

Goddam it to hell. I can’t believe I forgot about that. Shows just how much she’s addled my mind that I can’t recollect half the orders I’ve issued in the last few days. I glance between them, “Can’t I ask my own brothers to join me? After all, we are a family, aren’t we?”

“We met just before you went to London, so I take it there have been developments?” Massimo tips his chin up at me.

“You could say that.” I rake my fingers through my hair, then survey them, “I’m getting married.”

“Married?” Xander slowly bats his eyelids, then bursts out laughing, “Che cazzo?” He snickers, “You sure have a strange sense of humor, Michelangelo.”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“I hate that name,” I say through gritted teeth, “and what’s wrong with my getting married?”

“Everything.” He tries to school his features into some semblance of seriousness, then bursts out laughing. Again.