Page 2 of Bought By the Mafia

“Last I checked, marriage was a forever thing. Till death do us part. Isn’t that what the vows you recited said?”

“Yes, but…” I shifted my weight. Suddenly, the heels I was wearing felt too steep and clunky. “There’s going to be a divorce, right?” I spurted a laughter. “You can’t expect me to be married to you forever.”

“Looks like someone didn’t read the fine print,” he said and strode out further into the corridor. I followed him, doing that running-marching thing again to keep up with him. “I’m not doing this forever.”

“But that’s the deal you signed, Simona,” he said as he went down the stairs. His two bodyguards were entering the apartment carrying suitcases, most of them mine, and placing them on top of others.

“You can put them in Simona’s bedroom, Mike,” Gio said to one of them, who nodded. And the other guy followed the first guy’s lead as they passed me by one their way up. If this was any other time, I would be worried about two men handling my things, but this was different. My husband, who I had assumed was only going to be a temporary husband, was now telling me this thing was permanent. When I spoke to father, when I agreed to the deal, he assured me it would only be temporary. Five years at most. Two if the whole business with their ‘enemies’ was decided early. “Besides,” father had said, “He could die in this war they’re fighting before the five years is done. You could become a rich widow.”

“That’s not what I agreed to.”

He still wasn’t looking at me. I felt like I was a nuisance he could barely register. I watched him as he went over to the living room bar and poured himself a dark golden liquid. “Take it up with your father. He’s the one who insisted. Kids too, he said. I had to renege on that one.”

He took a sip of the drink and finally faced me. And a lot fell into place. This was his plan. He had planned all of this. His smile, which he couldn’t hide as drank his brandy, said everything. And my father. My father had willingly deceived me into marrying a man I hated.

“Why would you do this? Why would tie yourself to someone who hates you and guaranteed to make your life miserable?”

“That’s the thing, isn’t it? I’m guaranteed to make your life miserable.”

It was my turn to smirk. “So you still haven’t forgotten.”

His smile died. He placed his drink at the bar and stalked over to where I was standing and gripped my chin. Fear took hold of me. Fear and something else. My gaze fell on the opening of his shirt, bringing back memories of me running my hands over his chest. I raised my gaze to the lips that had once kissed mine with passion and ardor. The something else was lust, I realized. I held his gaze in defiance so he would not know whatever I felt. Be it fear or longing.

“I never said I’ve forgotten Mona. Only that I never want to touch you again.”

I dared not point out the irony of that statement. “Funny how you still hold a grudge after all these years over something that was just a prank.”

His grip on my chin tightened. “You almost ruined my life with that silly little prank. You almost upended a business with your little tricks. Forgive me if I feel a little vengeful over it.”

I know what I did. It was bad and some might even say unforgivable, but to say it derailed a business was going overboard. “You sound a little dramatic.”

He glared at me one more time and let go of my chin like it was a hot piece of iron. And went back to the bar, where he chugged the rest of his drink. “The point is, you’re mine to do whatever I want with, whenever I want, however I want.”

“And if I say no? Don’t think I would let you bully me and take it. I’m going to fight back, and I will divorce you after your little war is over.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that last part.”

“What have you got? Give me your best shot.”

“How about your mother?”

I froze. My mother was currently at a center recovering from multiple addictions for what feels like the first time in a long time. Our relationship was finally back on track and everything was going well. If Gio was thinking of doing something to her, he did not know what hell I would unleash. “What have done with my mother?”

“Nothing yet. But I doubt your father knows where she is, does he?”

“Where are you going with this?”

“If he knew, I can only imagine what he would do to her. I heard your parents have had a contentious relationship, in marriage and out of it.”

“Don’t you dare.”

“Then there’s the whole money aspect. Two million was it she stole from him? Or was it more than that? I can’t recall. The apple didn’t fall very far, did it?”

Gio was no longer the boy I once knew. He was a force capable of doing harm to me and to the people I care for. He could destroy me if he wanted. I wasn’t going to let that happen. “What do you want?” My voice shook as I spoke, the realization slowly sinking in. “H-how did you know? To find her. How did you find her?”

“Don’t worry, your father doesn’t know… yet. But who knows what will happen when he finds out?”

“Please.” I rushed over to him. “Please don’t let him know. I’ll do whatever you say.” I hated this position he had put me in, but I would do everything to protect my mother, flawed as she was, she was still the woman who brought me into this world. Giovanni knew my weakness, and he had exploited it perfectly.

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