The Mafia’s Forbidden Desire

ROSALINDA.

My bum was hurting like hell, but that was the least of my concerns at that moment.

Giovanni and Sofia just caught me in Antonio’s arms, kissing passionately.

That was messed up. I really messed up, and I didn’t know what to say or do except that I was filled with shame. Complete and utter shame.

“Are you okay?” Antonio asked, his voice etched with urgency as he helped me back to my feet.

I nodded in response, my eyes looking everywhere but in Giovanni and Sofia’s direction. My cheeks burned up with embarrassment, turning them tomato red. But Antonio on the other hand, looked really composed.

He scanned my body, and after making sure that I was physically okay, his lips quirked up into an awkward smile.

“I think I’ll take my leave now.” He said, and before I could even reply, he trudged towards the door and dashed out of the room. Without acknowledging Sofia and Giovanni’s presence.

Knowing it was high time I faced my reality, I finally turned to look at them, my cheeks burning with embarrassment.

“It’s not what you guys think.” I blurted out without thinking.

It was exactly what they thought. I was caught in the act, and no explanation could cut it.

“Really?” Giovanni raised a brow, approaching me.

“I-” I trailed off, lost for words to say.

He came to a stop in front of me, folding his arms over his chest as he observed me. “I thought you promised not to do anything stupid.”

An idea to change the subject suddenly came to me, and I jumped at it.

“What are you doing here? When did you come back to town?” I asked, laughing awkwardly.

“Don’t try to change the subject, Rosalinda.” He clicked his tongue, shaking his head.

“I am not trying to.” I muttered under my breath, too embarrassed to say the lies out loud.

“Anyway,” he shrugged, and his face unexpectedly lit up. “Do you think I’ll miss my uncle’s birthday for anything? I came for his birthday party.”

Oh, right. Papà’s birthday party. I almost forgot about it. He suddenly announced his intention to celebrate his birthday out of the blues, and that was disturbing. Papà had never celebrated his birthday. He had always believed that birthdays were just another day in a year and classified them as unimportant.

So, his wanting to celebrate his birthday this year was really baffling. He had been acting strangely recently, and I was starting to get worried. Really worried.

I needed to talk to him about it.

“Have you spoken with Antonio about it?” Sofia asked, and that was when I realised that I totally forgot to ask him about Oliver. I got carried away, mesmerized with his charm.

“Yes.” I nodded. “He said he didn’t know anything about it.”

Lies. I was too ashamed to tell her that I didn’t ask him after catching us while finding comfort in each other’s arms.

“Then why can’t I reach him?” She breathed out exhaustingly.

“Whoa…wait.” Giovanni chimed in, his curious gaze darting between the both of us. “What am I missing? Who is not reachable?”

“Oliver.” Sofia said, sighing.

“Who is Oliver?” Giovanni asked again.

“Sofia’s-” I paused, thinking of the right words to use to address him. “Baby dada.”

Giovanni’s eyes widened in surprise as he flicked his gaze at Sofia’s abdomen. “You are pregnant?!” He exclaimed, unable to believe his ears.

“Yes.” She nodded, pressing her lips together.Original from NôvelDrama.Org.

“Wow. I have a lot to catch up on.” His hands went akimbo, darting his eyes between the both of us before settling his gaze on me. “Spill.”

I went ahead and told him everything that happened. From how the engagement was called off after Sofia’s announcement about her pregnancy to how Antonio and I were attacked outside the hospital and how Antonio believed it was Oliver who sent those men. By the time I was done, Giovanni looked really flustered.

“So you mean to tell me that two little creatures are growing in your belly?” He asked Sofia, his face still radiating with surprise.

She nodded. “Yes.”

“Wow!” He exclaimed, and before she knew what was happening, he held her by her hip and lifted her into the air. “Congratulations!”

“Drop me down!” She exclaimed anxiously, repeatedly tapping his shoulders.

He refused to listen as he went ahead to spin cheerfully around with her in her arms, his laughter echoing in the room. Sofia looked really terrified as she continued to struggle to free herself, but she couldn’t, as he was way stronger than her.

After a few seconds, he finally dropped her down, and her displeasure with his action was palpable in the way she glared at him. But he didn’t seem to care.

He shrugged, blowing out a sharp breath, as his playful demeanor suddenly faded, replaced by a more serious one.

“So, this Oliver guy is missing, yeah?” He asked Sofia, raising a brow.

“I am not sure. I just haven’t been able to reach him.” She told him, momentarily forgetting about her anger.

“Send his address to me. I’ll help look for him.” He offered.

“Really?! She exclaimed, her face lighting up as she wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you!”

“You are welcome, you pregnant woman.” Giovanni teased as they pulled away from the hug, and that earned him a smack to the shoulder.

“Ouch!” He exclaimed, wincing exaggeratedly. “Do you want to dislocate my arm?”

“Oh, please.” She rolled her eyes.

A chuckle emanated from his throat before he turned his attention to me.

“Nice to see you again, Rosa.”

He closed the distance between us, wrapping his arms around me in an embrace.

A smile formed on my lips as I wrapped my arms around him. “It’s good to see you again too.”

“Think carefully about what you are doing.” He whispered into my ears before pulling away from me.

I knew my forbidden desires for Antonio were dangerous, but I couldn’t help it. I was already involved with him, and I had no control over it anymore.

“I’ll see you ladies later.” He muttered before turning around and starting to walk away from us.

“Gio.” I quickly called, and he stopped in his tracks, then half turned to look at me.

“Yes?” He raised a brow.

“Please don’t tell anyone about what you saw here.” I muttered, my gaze flicking between him and Sofia.

“I am not a snitch.” He assured me before continuing on his way.

Silence lingered between Sofia and me after he left. I was completely speechless, not knowing what to say to her after she just caught me making out with her ex-fiancé.

The silence became so uncomfortable after a while, and I knew I needed to say something.

“Sofia, I-” I started, but she cut me off.

“You don’t have to hide anything from me, Rosa. I’m not judgmental. And I won’t mention it to anyone.”

Her words surprised me. I had expected her to express how disappointed she was in me, but she did quite the opposite.

“Girl, couldn’t you come up with a better lie when I asked about the hickey yesterday?” Her lips spread in a wide smile, nudging me. “Even Carlo wouldn’t believe that.”

A small laugh emanated from my throat as I thought of how dumb that lie was. “It was a stupid lie. I know.”

“I love you.” She suddenly said, wrapping her arms around me as she soothed. “I know how difficult it is for you already, so I’m not going to make it harder for you.”

A lone tear rolled down my cheek as I replied. “I love you too, Sofia.”

I couldn’t have asked for a better sister.

***

After Sofia left my bedroom, I went down to Papà’s office, intending to speak with him about his recent weird behaviors. I was really disturbed about it and couldn’t seem to wrap my head around why he was being like that.

“Good morning, Papà.” I greeted him, slipping inside his office.

“Rosa.” His face lit up as he set aside the document he was skimming through. “Thank God you are here. I was going to call for you.”

“Really? Why?” I asked curiously as I approached his desk.

He made a steeple of his fingers, swivelling in his chair. “I told you that you’d be engaged soon, and you never asked who you’d be engaged with.”

I thought he was trying his best to be a better father, but apparently, forcing marriage down his daughter’s throat wasn’t part of it.

“Who?” I asked as a sickening feeling churned in my stomach. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for his response.

“Lorenzo,” he said.

“What?!” I exclaimed, batting my lashes in rapid succession. An intense rage bubbled within me.

“Lorenzo Ricci.” He repeated.

“That pervert?!” I exclaimed in disbelief.

No. No. No. I began to shake my head repeatedly. I couldn’t even spend a day with Lorenzo; talk more of a lifetime.

Being with him would be an extreme act of torture. Hell on earth.

That aside, the idea of leaving Antonio for another man was driving me crazy, making me burn with intense rage.

I was still processing the sudden, devastating news I got when the door dinged open.

Swallowing against my dry throat, I turned my attention towards the door to see Antonio sauntering inside, holding Carlo in his arms.

When he noticed the profound dismay that was reflected in my expression, he came to an abrupt halt, his brows furrowing in concern.