Chapter Three
Matteo
M y face is red, redder than it has been since my Rosa died. I slam my fist on the table in front of me, the light mood from earlier when I was in here talking and laughing with my brother now gone.
“You will marry her, Ciro. This isn’t up for discussion!” I roar, my eyes shooting daggers at my stubborn son. His stubbornness is great when it comes to taking charge in business, but this is the one thing I don’t need him to be fighting me on.
“I will do no such thing! When will you let this go?”
“You will get married to her or you’ll lose everything! You will get nothing Ciro. Niente! No inheritance, no business, nothing!” I add, my Italian coming out more now with how worked up I’m getting.
With his back straight and his arms crossed over his chest, Ciro looks like he is ready to dig his feet in and stand his ground. His jaw stays set in a fine line, not a single muscle flinching as I yell at him. This isn’t the first time we’ve talked about him getting married, or the first time I’ve implied handing things over to Marco, but the boy seemed so sure I’d never follow through with it. Honestly, I didn’t want to, but damn, this boy was going to be the death of me before I even retired.
“Your words don’t move me, Father. You would never make anyone else Don and we both know it. You need me to rule after you. Heck, you need me more than I need you,” Ciro says, his words steady and firm, and slightly cocky.
Where did I go wrong? I wish Rosa was here, she was the only one Ciro listened to. Looking at Ciro now, I don’t know how I let him turn into the very man that made Luca leave this family to begin with.
“You think you’re smart Ciro? You fucking think you can talk to me without respect? You’re as stupid as they come if you think fear is the way to rule. Stupido! Just like your grandfather.” My anger fuels my words and the second they leave me, I start to regret them.
Looking at my reflection on the computer screen, I can tell my face is turning purple. My breathing is labored, and my body is vibrating with all of these emotions flowing through me. I know better than to be yelling and getting this angry, it’s not good for my health. I need to stay alive to make sure Rosa’s wishes come true.
“You will marry that girl, Ciro,” I breathe, my body deflating a bit as the exertion hits my tired body hard. “You will marry her.”
Carmela, who has been in the background this whole time, rushes to me as I stumble into my chair. She helps me sit up, taking my pillow and putting it behind me for support.
“Father, you should take it easy, please,” she begs, worried about me like she always is.
I take a deep breath before turning to her. Her eyes are identical to her mother’s, crystal blue that shone without remorse. She’d gotten her raven-black hair from me, but stole her mother’s smile and worried eyes.
I give her a small smile, take her hand in mine, and place a kiss on her cheek before turning to Ciro. “You will marry this girl in three weeks, Ciro. So get ready, we’ll be having dinner with her family soon and that is final.”
“You will do as I say. Hai capito ?” I ask as the silence drags on and he just stares at me.
I’m still Don no matter how soft I may have gotten after losing my wife. Ciro is a child, no matter how much he tries to act otherwise. A parent’s word is the final word, regardless of what the child likes or doesn’t. As his shoulders slump and he lets out a sign of defeat, I know he understands that.
His eyes met Carmela’s, and I can practically see the moment his brain registers that he’s lost this battle. “It’s your mother’s dying wish, Ciro. Please, honor her wish with whatever shred of humanity you have left. Non deludere tua madre. Please Ciro, don’t disappoint her.”
I know Rosa would have hated seeing us fight like this, she would yell at me for taking it too far. I’ve disappointed her again, but I didn’t want Ciro to do the same.
Ciro’s eyes flash with anger as he stares back at me, but he still nods and takes a deep breath. “I will marry her. But be rest assured, a loveless marriage is what she’ll be trapped in. And you’ll only have yourself to blame, Father.”
“Ciro,” Carmela called sadly, clearly disappointed by his words.
“But I will try to be a husband . . . for Mother’s sake,” he adds as the two stare off. It’s clear that he hates the look she’s giving him. The two have always been close and shared a special bond, one their mother always loved that they had since the day they were born.
“I will let you know when we will leave for the dinner,” I say, my eyes connecting with Ciro’s once more before he turns and walks out of the room, leaving his sister and I here alone.
My gaze stays on him until I can’t see him anymore. Though I should feel sad or disappointed about what he’d said, hope washes through me instead. If he is willing to give in and do this, then he isn’t a lost cause like I was starting to think he was. Maybe, just maybe, this marriage would prove just that.
“Your mother would be happy,” I comment, smiling up at Carmela.
“She would have been excited to plan a wedding,” she replies, hugging me tight.
Ciro
I’m in my room when Carmela finds me. I don’t need to turn to her to know what she wants to talk about, so I just sit here and wait for her to start.
“What do you think she’s like,” she asks, her tone too light for how I’m currently feeling.
She’s always been the one to support me, being my better half and someone I trust with my life, but she’s taking his side and I hate it. This was a war I had lost and the look in her eyes only confirms it.
“I don’t care, Cam, and you know this? So why bother?” I mutter, turning to look at her.
“Jesus, Ciro! You lost, you’re getting married, suck it up and quit with the attitude. It’s not hot,” she shoots back, rolling her eyes.
“So I’m hot?” I arch a brow at her.
“Eww, don’t say dumb shit,” she says with a cringe, crossing her arms over her chest as she leans against the dresser behind her.
“Why aren’t you mad at him for making me do this?” I ask her, almost sounding sad. I hate that I couldn’t win this fight. This is my life and I should be able to make this decision.
“Ciro, look at him. He’s still mourning his wife, he’s staying alive for her, and he’s exhausted. Fighting him isn’t going to help any of us,” she replies, her eyes showing just how worried she really is for the man. “I can’t lose him now too, Ciro.”
I go to her, placing a hand on her shoulder and squeezing. “I can’t either. I’m sorry about the fighting. I’ll do better.”
Dad and I aren’t best friends or anything, but I respect him more than anyone. I’ve looked up to him practically my whole life. He’s always ruled the Ballera and still is the kindest and loveable man. I respect him way too much to go against him. I’ve never enjoyed fighting with him, but this was one thing I’d wanted to keep my foot down on. Father had been firm on his decision, meaning all this fighting was for nothing after all.
“I know you will,” she says with a small smile, holding my hand firmly.
“I know the real reason why you’re not against this marriage though,” I comment, letting the anger completely fizzle out inside of me for the moment.
“Pray tell.” Her eyes like mine hold that curiosity she always has when she’s trying to figure out where my mind will take things.
“You’re excited about having a sister.”
“Fuck yes! Are you just realizing this now? Marco’s wife is never around. Now I’ll have a girl in the house that will be with me all the time!” she says, squealing in excitement.
“You should be the one marrying her then. Why am I being dragged into this?” I ask, rolling my eyes and falling onto my bed.
“I like dicks, brother. Boobs are great and all, but dicks are my thing,” she jokes.
“That’s a piece of information I didn’t need to know, Cam,” I mutter, shaking my head and trying to rid those images from my mind.
“Do you know anything about her?” I ask, my gaze fixed on the ceiling. While I don’t want to get married, I’m still curious about the woman I’m being forced to marry.
“Nothing, except her name is Vida and she has a sister,” Carmela says with a shrug.
“Vida,” I whisper. Her name feels so foreign, so strange, and if I’m being honest, I don’t like it. Who names their child Vida? “It’s a weird name.”
“I thought it was a nice name. I bet she’s pretty,” Carmela interjects.
“Didn’t you say you were into men?” I point out, reminding her of the discussion we just had.
“I am. I’m just telling you not to worry. You won’t be marrying a troll, in case it crossed your mind,” she laughs.
“It didn’t, Cam. I don’t care what she looks like, this marriage isn’t what I want and I still don’t know why she wants to marry me.” I sit up, running my hands through my hair. “That’s if she’s not being forced to marry me.”
“Forced or not, it’s happening. Let’s not dwell on that. So, will you two be moving to your house or will you stay here?”
“Here. I don’t have a room with a wall in-between it at my house,” I tell her instantly. I don’t want to be alone in my bed with a stranger I don’t even want to marry. Not going to happen.
“Ciro, no!” Carmela protests, realization hitting her.
“I’ve agreed to marry her, Carmela. I won’t be letting a stranger sleep in my bed. I said I’d try to be a husband, that’s why I’m not saying separate rooms.”
She sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose. “I’ll go check on Father.”
“Cam,” I call, not sure why I’m stopping her. I’m not going to change my mind but I don’t like it when she’s upset with me.
“The divided room is fine, she wouldn’t want to be in a stranger’s bed either,” she admits, and then she’s gone.