8. Chapter Eight
Chapter Eight
YOU HANDLE IT ANTONIO, OR I WILL
Aaliyah
Since we woke up this morning, my stomach had been continuously churning. Antonio found my uneasiness amusing and believed I was overreacting. Even though I had already met Antonio’s parents, today we were going to their house to discuss our upcoming wedding and the potential impact it could have on the Rizzo family.
This had been what we both wanted since I accepted his proposal. For his family to accept me as his bride. Now with excitement and dread, I couldn’t wait to see where Antonio grew up and meet with his father. Marianna, on the other hand, I didn’t look forward to any interaction with her. She made her feelings for me known at Chantal’s wedding reception. I hated to see how she would react when I entered her home.
Antonio reassured me that there was no need to worry especially when it came to his mother. To him, it didn’t matter if she liked me or not. But I wasn’t too happy to come between a mother and her son. However, I also wouldn’t walk away from my happiness just because she didn’t want to accept me as her soon-to-be-daughter-in-law.
We traveled along the paved driveway until we reached a tall wrought-iron gate and guardhouse. The estate was surrounded by tall stone walls adorned with beautiful, strong ivy. The guard walked up to the car and signaled to another guard in the guardhouse upon recognizing Antonio.
Slowly, the gate opened, and he signaled for us to pass. We drove down a long-paved driveway lined with lovely purple and white flowers until we arrived at Antonio’s childhood home.
I’d been around people with money, but this place was beyond magnificent. He’d grown up in the lap of luxury where I had not until Abasi took me in and afforded me the finer things in life. But my past was never far from my mind.
I’d grown used to hotel rooms, and Antonio’s penthouse. But a home was what I wanted. A place to raise my children, and a place for me and Antonio to grow old together. A place like this.
“This place is incredible,” I exclaimed, as Antonio helped me get out of the car.
Manicured hedges framed the entrance with white columns covered in green ivy. It was a home out of the movies.
Alessandro stood in the doorway, smiling, as we approached.
“Hello future sister-in-law.” He planted a kiss on my cheek.
“Hello, future brother-in-law.”
“What are you doing here?” Antonio asked as we entered an entryway with high ceilings and a large chandelier hanging from ebony beams.
“I came to keep you calm, Tony,” Alessandro said.
My gaze shifted between the two brothers. Confusion washed over Antonio’s face.
“Francesca and her father are here,” Alessandro said with anger in his eyes. “They showed up about twenty minutes ago on an invite from our mother. Papa is furious.”
“Francesca?” I asked. “The woman from the restaurant?” My anger soared. “Your mother would disrespect her future daughter-in-law in this way?”
Antonio pulled me into his embrace, wrapping his arms around my waist. and I laid my head against his chest. “Calm down, Aaliyah and let me handle this.”
Feminine laughter echoed as Marianna and the woman, I recognized from the restaurant entered the room. I stepped out of his embrace and faced the woman who was quickly getting on my bad side.
“Antonio!” Marianna smiled, her arm linked with the woman’s. “Look who decided to stop by.”
Francesca’s eyes lit with excitement and desire when they landed on Antonio, and I wanted nothing more than to kill her with my bare hands, gouge her eyes out and served them to my mother-in-law on a silver platter.
As I moved towards them, Antonio’s grip around my waist tightened, guiding me towards Alessandro.
“Alessandro, could you take Aaliyah to Papa’s study, while I have a conversation with your mother? I will join you in a few minutes.”
“My mother?” Alessandro’s laughter echoed through the room. “When did she just become my mother, Antonio?”
Antonio glared at Alessandro, and I gripped Antonio’s chin forcing him to look at me. “You handle it, Antonio, or I will. She knows we are engaged and even if she doesn’t like it, she will respect it.”
He pressed his lips against mine in a kiss. I wiped the lipstick off with my thumb after pulling away from him. “No worries, Bella. I love you, forever,” he said.
“And I love you always.”
“Come on gorgeous,” Alessandro said. “Let’s get out of his way.”
I linked my arm with Alessandro’s as he guided me away from the approaching disaster. Marianna was who she was. If she didn’t like me, I wouldn’t force things between us. But she would quickly see I wasn’t like the women of the Five Families. I wasn’t docile and I sure as hell wouldn’t be a doormat. Abasi raised me to be a queen. And I would be Donna. She’d get used to it, or I’d handle her, and it wouldn’t be pretty.
“Excuse my mother,” Alessandro said, bringing me out of my thoughts. “She’s still set in the old ways.”
“She may be set in the old ways, but my grace will only extend so far, Alessandro.”
“Oooh, beautiful and deadly.” He laughed. “I should have jumped on you before Tony got his hooks into you.”
“You’re crazy,” I said, laughing.
I was so glad Alessandro was here. He’d become like a brother to me and a protector but most of all he could make me laugh even when I wanted to do nothing more than slice his mother’s throat.
Outside his father’s study, I took a deep breath. The Don had been nothing but gracious every time I had been around him, but it was still nerve-wracking to be here. This was my future father-in-law. He was trusting his son to pick the best person to stand by his side to continue a legacy that went back more than a hundred and fifty years. And Antonio had picked me. I saw it as an honor to represent the Rizzo family as their Donna.
“Are you ready?” Alessandro asked, his infectious smile somewhat calming my nerves some.
“I’m always ready.”
“That’s my girl.”
He winked, then knocked on the door.
“Come in!” a firm voice boomed through the thick wood of the ornate study doors.
Alessandro led the way, opening a door and pulling me inside, his grip on my arm never loosening. Antonio Rizzo, Sr stood behind a large oak desk. The smile on his face was so much like his son’s it was almost looking at Tony thirty-five years in the future.
Although Alessandro already let us know their father was not happy with the Lombardo’s being in his house today, I couldn’t tell it by his expression.
He stepped from behind his desk and met me in the center of the room with his arms outstretched. “It’s so good to see you again, Aaliyah.” He kissed me on one cheek then the other. “I’m so glad you could make it today.”
“Thank you, for having me, Mr. Rizzo.”
“None of that Mr. Rizzo stuff. You are going to be my daughter, call me Papa.”
My heart warmed. Abasi had been the only father figure in my life. No one could replace him, but I wanted a close relationship with my father-in-law, too.
“Okay, Papa. I like the sound of that.”
The smile on his face grew wider. “Me too. I’d like for you to meet, Marco Lombardo,” he said, motioning to the man sitting in front of his desk.
Although the man stood, with a smile, it didn’t reach his eyes. He wasn’t happy I was here, and I knew why. I was in the place he wanted his daughter. However, his feelings or hers didn’t matter. Antonio was mine.
I nodded my head in acknowledgement and maintained a smile. But I didn’t speak, and he didn’t speak to me, giving me a slight nod in return.
“Tony is having a chat with mother,” Alessandro said with humor in his voice. “He said he’d be in here momentarily.”
His dad gave a nod.
“Well, Marco. I’m glad you stopped by, but I’ve got to help plan a wedding,” Antonio said, shifting his focus to Marco Lombardo. A name I’d make sure I remembered.
He was beyond livid. While he tried to portray calm and civility, he was definitely pissed. And pissed men do stupid things. The man stood with his hand out to Don Rizzo.
“Thanks for having us,” Marco said but his anger was barely disguised.
Don Rizzo gave a nod. “Alessandro, will you please see, Marco and Francesca out.”
“Sure, thing Pop.”
Alessandro escorted Marco Lombardo out of the study, shutting the door behind them.
“I hate that motherfucker,” Don Rizzo, mumbled before he slid behind his desk. “Excuse my language, darling. Have a seat. Let’s chat while we wait on my son.”
I wanted to say I didn’t like him either, but that wasn’t my place. At least not yet. But I would make sure in the future, Marco Lombardo, his daughter as well as any person who thought my place wasn’t beside Antonio, would learn otherwise.