Married to the Mafia Boss

Carmine

I am so fucked off with Dominic.

Not good enough?

Not good enough!

Since I was orphaned, I have run after the Sorvino boys cleaning up their problems. I was raised as part of the family. I spent schoolyard days protecting Frankie, avenging Alessandro, and kicking ass with Dominic. Any kids they asked me to, even if it meant I’d get my ass handed to me.

I joined elite ops for the family. I learned to kill for the family. I’ve never once turned my back on them.

Dominic is acting as though I’m just a random someone who joined the family and not someone who ate at their table for the last twenty-odd years. Someone who watched them grow, who helped them play chess against the other families, figuratively speaking.

Yes, I get it. I was a player in my early twenties, but that ended years ago. As my best friend and my closest brother, Dominic should have noticed that. He should see that I have settled down and that I don’t treat women like they are disposable.

I don’t understand why he hasn’t seen that and how he can think I’m not good enough for Arianna. I’m practically a Sorvino in everything except name.

Jesus Christ.

I try and contain my anger. I get dressed, and I go downstairs to the kitchen. Arianna has been in her room for a while, and I know she hasn’t had breakfast. It’s halfway to lunch, so I decide to cook her something.

I throw on some bacon in one pan and sausages in another. I get the ingredients out for an omelet. I whisk the eggs, set them aside, and grate some cheese. I dice some tomatoes. All goods Dominic had brought on Alessandro’s instructions.

Alessandro.

Dominic is probably running his mouth off about me now to the Don. He might not be as restrained as Dominic. Alessandro isn’t known for his rational thinking when it comes to the people he cares about.

“Smells good?” I glance up at Arianna standing in the doorway. “What are you making?”

“Toast, omelets, bacon, sausage, and all with some fresh orange juice,” I comment. “Your brother brought extra food. It’s why he was here.”

“My brother,” she says curtly. “So when he agrees with you, he’s your best friend, but when he’s pissed you off, he’s my brother.”

I’m about to say something when I see the teasing smile on her face and relax. “Yeah, well, he’s always your brother. I’m just collateral.”

“Don’t say that.” She walks closer to me. “You matter as much as any Sorvino son.”

I give her a half-hearted smile and turn back to start on the omelet. “You pour the juice.”

She gets out two glasses, and I turn my back on her while I work. It’s a moment before she says, “I’m sorry my brother had a go at you. He isn’t right, you know, you are good enough for me. More than good enough.”

I swallow hard. This isn’t a conversation I want to have with her after I promised Dominic nothing was happening between us.

“It’s just how things are,” I say quietly, and we fall silent. I prepare the food and set it out on the table. We sit opposite each other, and she smiles. “Looks great.”

I grin and let her dish up first before I help myself. “If you want another omelet, I can make one.”

She shakes her head. “No, I’m good.”Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.

We eat in silence, just enjoying each other’s company. Arianna glances out of the window. “I guess we can’t go out, right?”

“You’re right. It’s too dangerous,” I say. “We should lay low for now.”

“Dominic is driving around,” she points out, lazily stabbing a piece of omelet with her fork.

I roll my eyes. “You don’t know what he’s capable of.”

“I’m well aware of what my brothers do,” she says, looking at me with narrowed eyes.

I shake my head. “You might think you do, but trust me, your mind is romanticizing it. It’s worse in real life.”

“So what do we do if we can’t go out?”

“Well, we stock safe houses like these for situations like this, so we probably have a few board games stashed, and we can play those and watch movies to pass the time.” I push my plate away, clean.

Once I’ve cleared away the dishes, I come back to the dining room to find Arianna setting up a game of monopoly, and I grin. “Oh, you’re in for trouble now. This is my best game.”

“Well then, consider yourself challenged because I rock monopoly.” Arianna smiles at me. “I’m the car.”

“I’m the hat,” I say, picking up my piece and placing it on the board.

I settle down and say, “Ladies go first. You’ll need the head start.”

“No, we roll for it. The highest number goes first, fair and square.” She shakes the dice in her hand and releases them onto the board. “Nine!”

I scoop up the dice and shake them in my hands, making a show of blowing on them in my closed fist and rolling them on the board. She squeals, “Six, me first.”

As she scoops the dice up again, my phone rings. I pull it out of my pocket and look at the screen. “It’s your brother, Alessandro. I won’t be a minute, don’t play without me.”

“It’s not like I can cheat,” she scolds me but gets up. “I’ll go get us something to drink.”

“Don Alessandro,” I say respectfully as I answer the phone.

“Is Arianna okay?” Alessandro asks me.

“Yes, sir, we’re just sitting down to play a board game to pass the time,” I say honestly.

Alessandro pauses and then says, “Well, keep her at the safe house and keep her safe until we can rebuild and improve security. I don’t know how the fuckers got a hold of the layout of the house, but when I find that rat, I’m going to drown him personally.”

“Noted, boss,” I say, not wanting to incur his wrath.

There’s another pause, and I hesitantly ask, “Is there something wrong?”

“Carmine, I’m going to be candid with you. Dominic was here and said he was worried that you might be making moves on Arianna. I want you to tell me if it’s true. Are you making moves on my baby sister?”

I don’t hesitate to answer; there can be no hesitation, “I’m not. I’ve assured Dominic of that. I was comforting Arianna last night, and we fell asleep. Nothing happened.”

“Nothing better happen,” he says, and I hear the threat in his voice. “We go way back. You’re like a baby brother to me. But she’s my only baby sister, Carmine.”

“Dominic made it very clear that I will never be good enough for her,” I say coldly.

Another pause.

“He’s right. No one is good enough for Arianna until I say they are good enough. I know you’re loyal to the family, but this is not the life I want for her,” he sighs. “Keep me updated if anything happens. We’ll get another security detail to you as soon as possible so you can relax a little.”

He rings off, and I sigh, setting my phone down. I look up and see Arianna standing in the doorway, holding two sodas. “It’s not up to them to decide who is good enough for me,” she says.

“I know,” I say, and I mean it. “For now, though, let me kick your ass at this board game.”

She smiles appreciatively and sits down again, handing me a soda.