Chapter 4
CARMELA
“Ican’t believe this!” I yell, slamming my purse down on the kitchen counter.
Sophia jumps, nearly spilling her glass of wine. “Whoa, what’s got you so worked up?”
I pace back and forth, fuming. “My idiot brother Giovani, that’s what! He arranged for me to marry some mafia guy from a rival family. Without even asking me!”
“What?” Sophia gasps. “He can’t do that! Can he?”
“Apparently, he can,” I say bitterly. “It’s to unite the families or some crap like that. Never mind what I want.”
I collapse onto the sofa, holding my head in my hands. Sophia sits down next to me, rubbing my back soothingly.
“That’s so messed up,” she says. “You deserve to be with someone you actually love, not some random guy.”
I look up, my eyes blazing. “Oh, it gets even better. I’ve already met the guy Giovani wants me to marry.”
Sophia’s eyes widen. “You have? When?”
“Last night at the club,” I say. “Tall, muscular, tattoos everywhere. We bumped into each other at the bar and ended up flirting. And then...” I trail off, my cheeks flushing at the memory of what happened next.
Sophia gasps again. “Wait—the guy you left with last night?”
I bite my lip sheepishly. “Yeah. We couldn’t keep our hands off each other. It was so intense and passionate.”
Despite my anger, I can’t help but smile a little, remembering Silvo’s kisses, his hands on my body.
Sophia fans herself dramatically. “Wow, sounds steamy. So the guy you left with last night—you had no idea who he was?”
“None,” I say, my smile fading. “But then today, Gio introduced me to him. I walk into the restaurant and find the man I fucked last night sitting at the table, smirking.” I groan, dropping my head into my hands.
“Of all the guys in that club, I had to hook up with my future husband. The one I’m being forced to marry against my will! ”
“Oof, awkward,” Sophia grimaces.
“It’s so unfair!” I cry. “Silvo is incredible in bed, but I don’t even know him.
And now I’m expected to just marry him, no questions asked?
” I jump to my feet, resuming my angry pacing.
“That’s not even the worst part,” I continue.
“Get this. I’m going to be forced to move all the way to Philly with him! ”
Sophia’s eyes widen in shock. “What? Philly? But that’s so far from LA!”
I throw my hands up in exasperation. “I know! Giovani calmly informed me that Silvo is from Philadelphia, so I’ll be expected to relocate there after the wedding.”
I collapse onto the sofa again, utterly defeated.
Sophia looks stricken. “But… but Carmela, your whole life is here!” she cries. “Your family, your friends, everything you know is in LA!”
I bury my face in my hands. “Tell me about it,” I moan. “I’ll be completely isolated in a strange city, married to a virtual stranger. It’s like a nightmare.”
Sophia wraps her arms around me tightly. “That evil brother of yours!” she says vehemently. “How could he do this to you?”
I shake my head wordlessly. We sit in silence for a minute, contemplating the mess I’m in.
“Maybe I should run away,” I muse. “Disappear somewhere Giovani would never find me.”
Sophia looks thoughtful. “You know, that’s not a terrible idea. I have an aunt in Seattle who would take you in, no questions asked.”
I consider it briefly, but then shake my head again. “He’d hunt me down in no time. When it comes to family matters, there’s no one more ruthless than Gio.”
Sophia sighs. “Yeah, you’re probably right.” She gives me a sympathetic pat on the back.
I wipe at my eyes, which are starting to fill with angry tears. “I just feel so powerless, like I have no say in my own future.”
Sophia hugs me again. “We’ll figure something out,” she promises. “I’m here for you, no matter what.”
I manage a small, grateful smile. At least I have my best friend on my side. But the rest of my life is spiraling rapidly out of control.
Sophia gets up and heads to the kitchen, returning a moment later with a generous glass of red wine.
“Here, drink this,” Sophia says, pressing the glass into my hand. “I’m ordering us pizza too. Pizza makes everything better.”
I take a long sip, letting the rich wine slide down my throat. “Thank you, Soph,” I say. “I don’t know what I’d do without you right now.”
She waves her hand dismissively. “Oh stop, you know I’m always here for you.” She picks up her phone to call our favorite pizza place.
While she orders, I nurse my wine, feeling some of the tension start to ease from my shoulders. Sophia is right—between the wine and the cheesy deliciousness on its way, I am already feeling a little less stressed.
My best friend just gets me, always knowing how to make me feel better. She never judges, never pushes me to open up before I’m ready. With everything going on, I need that unconditional support more than ever.
Sophia hangs up the phone. “Alright, pizza will be here soon. In the meantime...” She tops up both of our wine glasses.
I smile, some of my spark coming back. “Well in that case, cheers!” We clink glasses and I take another sip. Having Sophia here reminds me that I’m not alone, that she has my back no matter what.
“Thank you, seriously,” I say. “Just having you here, being able to vent and cry and curse out Giovani—it helps more than you know.”
“Of course, what are best friends for? Now drink up, pizza will be here any minute!”
I laugh and take another big gulp of wine, feeling bolstered by my best friend.
With Sophia’s support, I know I can handle whatever curveball my brother decides to throw at me next.
The problem is, once I’m married I won’t have her support.
I’ll be on the other side of the country, thousands of miles away.