ALEX
I am officially married!
I can’t believe it, and at the same time I’m filled with this constant excitement that doesn’t let up.
Someone else might call it irresponsible, but the thing is, there isn’t a trace of doubt in me, I feel with my whole self, with every cell in my body, that this is the right decision.
For the last three and a half years Bay and I have been inseparable, and what’s funny is that not only have we not gotten tired of each other, I want to be with him even more, and I look toward the future with even greater joy knowing Bay will be in it.
A person who is absolutely devoted to me, who loves me without limits and would do anything for me. I want that kind of love, I need it in my life, I need to keep him in it, and now… I can, officially.
The best part is that we’ve decided not to tell anyone for now, it will be our secret, but we’re already planning everything around how we’re going to live together.
One of our first decisions is figuring out what we’ll do during our freshman year, because the college requires all first-years to live on campus, and on top of that alphas and omegas have separate dorms. There is one small dorm with officially designated spots for True Mate couples, but there isn’t an official married couples dorm, so we have to come up with something.
A few days before Bay’s concert, we head to the area around campus to check whether any of the nearby apartment buildings have places for rent.
Right next to campus there’s a small residential district, a long row of tiny single-family houses on narrow lots packed tightly side by side. Each building is only twenty-three feet from the next.
But it’s practically the perfect location, separated from campus only by a street. An ideal spot. The houses look newly finished and they’re very cute, neat little places with a first floor, a second floor, and a tiny attic, and I’m enchanted by them.
Apparently some developer bought a narrow but long strip of land and put up these houses, probably for a bargain price. Behind that strip is a larger, more elegant, fenced-in neighborhood with an apartment complex. The area is great, it’s obvious people will always want houses near the campus.
A sign catches our eye with information about the developer, and from it we learn the project belongs to… Ferro Development.
"Ferro?" I raise my brows when I see the name. Could it belong to the mafia?
When Bay calls the office we learn that all the houses have been sold except… one.
Its price is extremely high though, and we couldn’t buy it unless we paid in installments, which is nearly impossible to get when you’re eighteen.
We stand in front of the house, deep in thought.
But the company name won’t leave me alone. I squeeze Bay’s hand lightly.
"Remember the guy who helped us back then?
" I don’t say when, because we both know, "his name was Ennio Ferro.
The nephew of capo Anzo Ferro from the local mafia.
I once looked into what he specifically handled and I know he oversaw the affairs of the real estate development company owned by the mafia. "
"You really think this belongs to them?" Bay rubs his chin. "Maybe a coincidence with the company name."
I nod, checking the webpage one more time. "I think it’s them. Their website doesn’t list any specific names, but it says the whole thing belongs to Ferro Enterprises, and that’s the mafia’s company."
Bay gawks at me.
"Maybe we could contact them, contact Ennio…" he mutters pensively.
"You’re kidding?"
"Well, why not. I’ll vouch that we’ll pay it off over time, and we will. It doesn’t hurt to try."
"You have his number?"
"I do, but I can’t call him from a regular phone, that’s our agreement, I have to do it from a burner."
"Wow, I had no idea you were on those terms with him," I say uncertainly.
Bay stays silent and I don’t comment on that, because what could I even say? I never wanted to dig deeper into what conversations he had with Ennio back in those horrible moments… but I can imagine it was much more than just a drive home.