3. Emilio
Caterina is not going to win.
She gives me a smug look, like she has me beat, but she doesn’t even understand the meaning of that. I’m Emilio De Luca. I don’t fold so easily.
Later, as we’re driving away from Francesco’s house, I don’t realize just how much she got under my skin until Rocco asks me why I’m clenching my hands. I immediately relax them. “I’m not clenching them,” I mutter.
Rocco lifts an eyebrow. “Are you ok? I’ve never seen you look so rattled before. Intimidated by your future wife?” he teases. Normally Massimo is the one to tease me, but ever since Rocco married Lara, he’s been much more at ease.
“I’m not intimidated by her.”
“Then what is it? You don’t want to marry her? Francesco is a loyal employee, and he has contacts who can help our business. I want to reward him by marrying you to his daughter. I wouldn’t want to disappoint him.”
“She’s just not as innocent as she appears.”
Rocco sighs, his hands moving on the steering wheel. “What does that mean?”
I’m tempted to tell Rocco about meeting Caterina at the club, but for some reason, I hold back. That’s leverage I have over her. I want to keep it to myself.
“It’s nothing,” I say instead. “I’m just not sure about her. That’s all.”
“Well, you’ll have time to learn more about her once you’re married.” He pauses. “She does have a bit of an attitude, I’ll admit.”
“She does,” I growl.
“But so does Gabriella. And speaking of our sister, she wants to meet at Mom’s grave tomorrow.”
“It’s not her anniversary.”
“I know. But Gabriella wants to tell us something. She doesn’t stay quiet on things for long, so we’ll find out soon. But make sure to show up.”
“You know I always do. It’s Massimo you need to remind.”
Rocco chuckles as he pulls up to my townhouse, which cost me a couple million dollars. “True.” He parks the car and turns to me. “Thank you for doing this, Emilio. You never complain about your duty, and I appreciate that. With Massimo, I had to drag him kicking and screaming to the altar.”
“And look at how happy he is now,” I say, scoffing.
“So, maybe you’ll find happiness yourself. I know I did with Lara. You’re doing your duty to our family, and I’m proud of you.”
His words lift me up. “Thank you, Rocco. I really appreciate that. You know I’ll always do my duty.” Even if I don’t like it.
Even if the woman I have to marry makes me want to scream in frustration.
* * *
I showup at the cemetery the next day. My family is clustered around my mother’s grave—Angelica De Luca. It was never confirmed, but we always thought our father killed her. He’s dead now because Rocco killed him.
Massimo is there with Ophelia. Her red hair is a stark contrast to everyone else’s dark hair. Rocco has his arm around Lara, and Gabriella stands off by herself. I join her.
“Good, you made it,” she says.
“What did you want to tell us?”
My sister takes in a deep breath. “Ok. I have something major to say. I wanted to tell all of you, in front of Mom, so you know I’m serious.”
“What is it?” Rocco asks.
“I’m not going to get married.”
Everyone is quiet.
Until everyone isn’t.
“What are you saying?” Rocco asks, while Massimo chuckles and shakes his head, saying, “Good for you, sis.”
Lara and Ophelia share a worried look, then Lara asks, “Are you sure about that?”
Gabriella rolls her eyes. “Guys. You all act like I just said I’m dying. I just don’t want to be married, so I’m not going to be.” She makes herself look taller. At only foot-foot-two, Gabriella struggles to do that. “I thought about it and realized marriage isn’t for me.”
Rocco scoffs. “Gabriella, you’re speaking nonsense. You’re of a marrying age.”
“I’m twenty-one. I’m too young.”
“Need I remind you both Lara and Ophelia were the same age when they were married? And Emilio’s fiancé is also the same age.”
Lara raises her hands. “Honey, don’t bring us into this mess.”
“So?” Gabriella asks. “Who cares if they were the same age. I’m Gabriella De Luca. Rules don’t apply to me. I’m not going to be a cow for you to sell at auction, Rocco, just to make an alliance with some old man I don’t care about.”
“Your brothers had to. I had to,” he reminds her. “Emilio and I just came from seeing his future wife yesterday. If he can do it, so can you.”
“But it’s not fair,” she whines.
“Who ever said life was fair?”
Lara steps forward. “What I think Rocco means is you have a duty to this family, Gabi. Both Ophelia and I had to marry men who were strangers, and it turned out great for us. It can for you, too. You just have to have an open mind.”
“I don’t want an open mind. I don’t want to get married. Look at what it did to Mom.” She puts her hand on the gravestone. “Dad killed her. I don’t want to end up in a marriage with a man who might do that. You two”—she looks at Lara and Ophelia—“got lucky. You both married my brothers, who are good men. But I obviously won’t be marrying one of my brothers.” She shudders. “One, that’s disgusting, and two, that’s illegal. And three, ugh.”
“Get to the point,” Rocco says.
“The point is the man I marry will not be from this family. He’ll be an entirely new Mafia man, and how can we know he won’t hurt me? I don’t want to be married. Can’t you respect that?”
I’m impressed by my younger sister’s impassioned pleas. It takes a lot of courage to stand up to Rocco. Even I struggle with it sometimes.
But I also find her desire to not get married trivial. I want to tell her to just suck it up and do her duty. I have to, and I don’t even like the woman.
Gabriella grew up spoiled. As the youngest in the family and the only girl, she was pampered a lot. Now, she thinks the rules don’t apply to her, but the rules apply to everyone, even the De Lucas.
Rocco stares at her hard for a moment before answering. “No. I can’t respect that.”
Her shoulders deflate.
“Rocco,” Lara says in a soft voice.
“No. She needs to hear this,” he responds. “Gabriella, you know I would never marry you to a man who would hurt you. And if I did, I’d kill him in a heartbeat. You’re never at risk of marrying a man like our dad. You have my word. Now, if you’re done, I’d like to go home. This is my one day off, and I’d like to spend it with my wife.”
“Yeah,” Massimo says, “Ophelia and I have date plans later. So, you good, Gabi?”
The hurt on her face is palpable. “No, I’m not good. But sure. Those of you who are in happy relationships can leave. I don’t want to bore you with my boring singledom.”
Ophelia grabs Gabi’s hand. “We’re here for you. You were there for me when I really needed it. If you need us to stay, we can stay.”
Massimo looks like he wants to object, but Ophelia ignores him.
Gabriella’s eyes soften. “No, you can go on your date. Don’t let me keep you.”
Both Ophelia and Lara give her a hug before they walk away with their husbands, leaving Gabi and me behind.
“Now, it’s just us,” she mutters.
“Not for long. I have work to get to.” I start walking away.
“Don’t you care, Emilio?” she calls out to me.
I look back. “You know I love you. You’re my sister. I always will. But I think you’re being a little dramatic.”
She gasps. “Dramatic.”
“See?”
She scowls. “I’m only partially dramatic right now. You haven’t even seen me at my full dramatic.”
“I don’t want to. Just do your duty to this family, Gabi. And stop complaining. We don’t all get what we want.”
“You say that, but are you happy? Because you sure don’t sound happy about doing your duty.”
Caterina’s face flashes through my mind. Am I happy to be marrying her? Not at all. But I’ll do it because it’ll benefit our family.
“It’s not about being happy,” I tell Gabriella, then walk away.
She doesn’t stop me. When I glance back, I see her kneeling beside our mom’s grave, her shoulders shaking and tears streaming down her face.
* * *
Later that evening after work,I return to the club. I need to unwind with a drink. Even though I won’t be going home with any women because I have a duty to Caterina, I can still admire them.
I’m nursing my drink when I see a familiar face on the dance floor.
Blonde hair. Beautiful face. Dancing like she doesn’t have a care in the world.
Caterina.
A man joins her on the dance floor and grabs her around the waist. I immediately start seeing red.
Caterina will be my wife, and she’s out here flirting with other men? And in another skintight black dress and heels that make her look more like a stripper than a respectable Mafia girl.
I toss my drink back, then get up and stalk toward her.
She stops dancing when she sees me. For a second, her eyes widen in fear before she plasters her typical bravado-filled smirk on her face. “Emilio. Care to join me? I was just out having fun.”
I look at the man who still has his hands on her waist. “Leave us,” I growl.
He must sense how serious I am because he lets Caterina go and scurries away.
“Rude,” she mutters before turning back to me. “So, what did you need?”
“I need to talk to you. Outside,” I add when she doesn’t move.
She rolls her eyes. “Fine.” She follows me out of the club. “What?”
“We’re engaged.”
“I know.”
“Oh, good. Because judging by how you were dancing with another man back there, I thought you’d forgotten.”
She sighs and leans against the building. “I didn’t forget, Emilio. I just wanted to have a bit of fun before we get married. I can just tell you won’t let me go to the club after we’re together, so I thought I might as well make the most of my time before that happens.”
“We’re together now. You make a mockery out of me and my reputation. It’ll soon be known all over the city we’re going to be married, and you’re in the club dancing with another man. How do you think that makes me look?”
She scrunches her face up. “Um … not good, I take it?”
I resist the urge to strangle her over her blasé attitude. “Yes. Not good, Caterina.”
“Sorry.” She shrugs and stands up straighter, stretching her hands over her hands. It shows off her body, and I take a second to look. “But I didn’t think it was a big deal. Are you seriously telling me you’ve never been with other women before me?”
“Are you saying you’ve been with other men?” The thought of Caterina fucking another man makes my blood boil. I’ve never been this possessive over a woman before. She will be my wife, though. I want to be her one and only.
“I’m not not saying I’ve been with other men.”
“What?” I snap.
She sighs and flaps her hands against her legs. “Emilio, what’s your problem? You need to learn to lighten up and have fun. Instead of watching me dance with other men, you can be the one to dance with me.” She holds out her hand. “What do you say?”
I stare down at her outstretched hand for a moment. “I say no. I don’t dance.”
She huffs. “Well, you’re no fun.” She drops her hand. “You’re not the boss of me, Emilio. I’m going back into that club, and I’m going to shake my ass off for all the men to see. Try and stop me.”
I grab her arm, preventing her from going back inside. “I just did.”
“You’re insane.”
“And you’re mine now, Caterina. No dancing with other men. You hear me? Or anything else you’ve ever done with them.”
She raises an eyebrow. “Are you saying I’m a slut?”
“I’m saying if you’ve slept around, you need to stop it now. I have. I didn’t come here to find a woman to fuck.” Her breath hitches at my words. “I came here for a drink and spotted you. So, stop acting out. I’m taking you back home, and your father will hear about this.”
“No.” She wrenches her arm away. “Don’t tell my dad.”
“Then stop sneaking out to a club, and I won’t have to.”
“Ugh. You’re so annoying.” She rakes her hands through her hair. “Fine. You can take me home. But you have to tell me more about yourself.”
I frown. “Why would I do that?”
She looks at me like I’m crazy. “Because we’re going to be married, Emilio. We should get to know each other. That’s not an insane thing to ask for, is it?”
She has me there. “No,” I admit. “It’s not.”
“Good. So, then, we can talk on the way home. Tell me more about the mysterious, bossy Emilio De Luca. I don’t know anything about you other than you love telling me what to do. Don’t you want to learn more about me?” She bats her eyelashes as if that’s going to do anything to me.
“Not really. You’re just a means to an end.”
She pouts. “You don’t have to be mean.”
“I’m not. I’m just being myself.”
“Oh, wow. So, I have that to look forward to once we’re married. Understood.” She grabs my hand, which surprises me. “Let’s walk and talk. Get to know each other. That way, you know I’m not flirting with other men. And you don’t have to boss me around because you’ll be right here. Sounds good?”
“Fine.” It doesn’t sound horrible. I don’t really care to get to know Caterina, but if this keeps her out of trouble, then so be it.
“Great!” She flashes me a smile that probably makes a lot of men want her. “Let’s go. But first, you have to catch me.”
And with that, she takes off running down the street.