Chapter 5
Chapter
Five
Sunday
“Are you fucking serious right now! I can not believe you agreed to marry that man. He’s old enough to be your fathers’s father.” I sigh as Valentina paces my bedroom, ranting and raving about my life.
Figures.
“That’s called a grandfather. What are they teaching you at that college?” The one I secretly envy, she gets to attend.
Sure, I’m in college too, but online isn’t he same. There was no way in hell that I’d be allowed to attend classes without a whole security team, though. I was not going to do that.
“Mostly drinking, fucking, and how to make drugs.” She deadpans as she stops, placing one hand on her cocked hip.
She stares at me as if I have answers to questions she hasn’t yet asked, so the silence stretches until her famous Italian temper flares.
“SAY SOMETHING!” I roll my eyes at her theatrics.
“Try asking me a question I can answer, bitch.” She drops down on my bed like she’s been pushed and wacks me in the head with my own pillow.
“HEY!” I snatch it away before the room fills with feathers like the last pillow fight she started.
“You called me a bitch.” She pouts, and I giggle at her.
It’s the first real laugh I’ve had in weeks, and her face brightens up like she just won a prize.
“It’s true,” I say once I stop shaking from the laughter.
“Worth it. I missed that smile.” I sigh and nod, knowing she’s right.
I missed it too.
“Ok, up. Let’s get you out of this monstrosity.” I was still in my wedding dress, and it weighed a ton.
She pulls me up to a standing position and starts the process of carefully unbuttoning the fifty-plus pearl buttons that line my spine.
“I need a plan,” I mutter out loud as I watch the progress in the mirror directly in front of me.
“An escape plan?” She looks up from her work to meet my eyes in the reflection and waggles her brows at me.
“Exactly yes.” That makes her frown.
“Gen, you know there’s no escape from the mafia.” The silence that fills my bedroom is deafening.
But she’s right. You’re born into it or sold, married, or traded off to get in, but the only way out is death.
“How about you come stay on campus with me this weekend. It’s Halloween.” My brow arches like she’s lost her mind.
“Talk to Uncle Al. If you’re really going to marry Don Carmine, it’s the least he can do.
That old man isn’t gonna remember your pussy from your ass, and you should not have to suffer through losing your virginity to a man so hopped up on Viagra he’ll properly croak the moment your bra falls off. ” I tilt my head in thought.
“That’s not a half-bad plan,” I say, lost in thought.
“What Halloween?” I shake my head.
“No, the Viarga. I heard he’s got a bad heart.” She gasps, and I smirk.
“You are evil!” We laugh as the dress finally gives way for me to peel it off.
“Christ, what a waste. That corset set is fucking gorgeous.” I sigh, knowing she’s right, but I get satisfaction when I walk over to my fireplace and rip it off, throwing it into the fire.
“ARE YOU CRAZY! THAT WAS LAPERLA!” I shrug.
“And a gift from my husband not to be.” She wipes the look of outrage off her face and points at my crotch.
“In that case, burn the panties too.”
Amen sister.
I pull them off and throw them into the flames, then walk into my bathroom to wash off the day. Valentina sits on the edge of my tub while I shower in the walk-in, talking about how her sorority runs this massive party every year and donates the door fee to local charities.
“Sounds like an excuse to party and get bargaining rights for your resumes.” She snorts and nods.
“Yup, but it’s a blast and they’re the best way to socialize. Come on! It’ll be fun.” I turn off the water and grab my robe.
The moment I see myself in the mirror, I relax.
I look like myself again, not some uptown wannabe mobster wife from the Upper East Side. I sit at my vanity and start combing out my curls.
“I’ll ask, but don’t get your hopes up.” She bounces up and down like a child on Christmas morning.
“He’ll say yes. You’ll see!” I look away cause after the embarrassment I caused today, I’m lucky to be breathing.
Asking if I can have a sleepover on a college campus without my security detail after agreeing to marry his closest mafia friend may come off as a way for me to try to run.
I’ll need to find a compromise.
A knock on my door stops whatever Val was saying as she stands and answers it for me. Around here, doors don’t lock, and a knock never goes unanswered.
It’s a curiosity that you’d never get back.
“Chikita, I have wonderful news.” He’s been at me, and my eyebrows go up, hiding behind my bangs.
“Yes?” I ask worriedly.
“Do not look so glum. Carmine has accepted the proposal and has granted you leave to finish your studies before marrying.” My heart skips.
I glance at Valentine, and her face mirrors my own shock.
“Truthfully?” That would mean six more months of freedom since I’m set to graduate in the spring.
“Yes. He believes in proper education, and since you will not be expected to sire him an heir, he wants his wife to be college-educated.” Wait, what was that last part?
“No heir?” He shakes his head.
“Carmine is very progressive. He will leave his side of the family to his nephew, and you, my dear, will be able to live life how you see fit.” He grins at me and cups my cheeks in his palms.
“I don’t know what to say.” It was the truth.
“He only asks that you stay loyal until his passing. However, he felt it best that you sow your oats before the wedding.” Alfie winks at me and then turns away, leaving me sitting with my mouth open in shock.
The door clicks closed, and ten seconds later, Val shrieks.
“DID YOUR NEW FINANCE GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO GET LAID?” I wave my arms at her.
“Will you hush! Fuck, why are you so loud!” I throw my pillow at her, and I regret the error instantly.
Feathers fly all over the room as we wack each other like we’re six again. When we’re both too tired to stand, we collapse on the floor in front of the fireplace to catch our breath.
“Lucky. Bitch.” Val says between gasping breaths.
I manage a nod but nothing else.
It’s more than I could have wished for, and you know what they say about wishes.