Married to the Mafia Boss

Carmine

I have to find her after I hear her and Alessandro arguing. It hasn’t even been five minutes at the new estate, and he’s trying to tell her what to do, and she, as always, is defiant.

It takes me a few tries, but I eventually find her bedroom. When I knock, she says, “Fuck off.” I know it’s her.

I say quietly, “Arianna, it’s me. Let’s take a walk.”

She flings the door open. “Fine, but if you’re coming to defend my brother, don’t bother.”

I smile. “Let’s go check out the orchard.”

I can see she’s reluctant to follow me because she already knows what I’m going to say.

She takes off, and after turning around a few times downstairs, she leads me out the front door. “If you calm down, we could even explore your new house.”

“It’s Alessandro’s house,” she says snidely, “I’m just a captive.”

I shake my head. “Don’t be like that, Arianna. Alessandro is just trying to protect you.”

“That’s the thing. Someone always has to protect me as though I can’t protect myself! I’m not completely useless, you know. Katya protects herself,” she barks as we enter the trees.

“Katya has her own security detail as well,” I point out. “There’s a legitimate threat, and we need to take it seriously.”

“One minute back near my brother, and you’re already bossing me around.” She frowns, walking ahead of me.

I don’t rush to keep up. I want her to spend her energy and her anger.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

We reach what I assume is more or less the center of the orchard, as there’s a bench set here. The old timers used to like doing that. Arianna sits down in a huff. “You could speak to him, Carmine,” she says. “You could convince him to let me race while you’re with me.”

“That would raise a bit of suspicion, don’t you think,” I point out, sitting beside her. I look around slowly, then take her hand in mine. “Sometimes you need to compromise and listen to your family.”

She shakes her head. “That’s all I ever do, and look what it’s gotten me. All I am is a prisoner, and a trophy to them, nothing in my life makes me happy.”

I squeeze her hand. “I’m sorry, Ari, but I can’t go against your brother’s wishes.”

“I’ll ask him if I can do it if you come with me. Will you at least back me up?” I bring her hand to my lips and kiss them. “I suggest you approach him with a level head.”

“That’s not possible.” But she smiles, and I fall in love with her all over again.

I nod. “Let’s go speak to him…calmly,” I add.

She nods, and my hand feels cold when hers leaves my grip. We walk back from the orchard and find Alessandro sitting outside having a cigar with Romero.

“The answer is still no,” he says when he sees Arianna approaching him.

“At least hear me out before you shoot me down,” she growls.

Alessandro raises an eyebrow. “Fine, out with it. What loophole do you think you can worm your way through?”

“I’ll take Carmine with me to the races. He’ll protect me.” Alessandro looks at me, and I give a curt nod. “I will.”

Alessandro sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Are you going to keep attempting to sneak out regardless of what I say, Arianna?”

“Yes,” she says confidently, “but this way, I won’t get killed.”

Alessandro sighs and says, “Are you okay with this, Carmine? You’ve basically become a glorified babysitter.”

“I don’t mind taking care of any Sorvino family members,” I say with a smile. “Even the spoiled ones.”

Arianna punches my arm, and I chuckle. “She’ll be fine with me, Alessandro.”

“Arianna, go unpack so long. I want to talk to Carmine about your security.” He nods to Romero, who also leaves, snubbing out his cigar in the ashtray on the table.

Arianna glances at me and then walks inside with her father.

“Have you been cuddling with my sister again?” Alessandro asks, blowing out a last ring of smoke.

“No, Don Alessandro, nothing.”

“You aren’t making a move on her? Because Dominic is convinced you are. Now, that boy can be paranoid, I’ll be the first to admit, especially when it comes to our baby sister, but I’d hate for there to be truth to his beliefs.” Alessandro meets my eyes. “You have always been a playboy, Carmine. It’s the only way we’ve ever known you. A playboy isn’t good enough for my sister, no matter how much he does for the family. I won’t risk Arianna’s heart being crushed by someone who doesn’t think twice about sleeping with a woman and never calling again.”

“There’s nothing between us,” I say, clenching my jaw. “And I haven’t done that in ages, Alessandro.”

“Once a playboy, always a playboy,” Alessandro says calmly.

“By that logic, you’re all still playboys, too. You, Frankie, and Dominic. You were all there breaking hearts alongside me,” I point this out cheekily, though I know my limits with Alessandro.

He considers me for what feels like an eternity before he re-lights his cigar. “Don’t get involved with my sister, Carmine. That’s my final word.”

He leans back against the wall, looking past me, which is my cue the conversation is over. I return to the house, where Arianna is waiting just inside for me. “Meet me tonight at the garage. Ten.”

I watch her leave and go back to my room to unpack. I stay there for the rest of the day until ten minutes to ten. Then I go to meet Arianna.

The race is exhilarating, to say the least. These chumps don’t stand a chance against Arianna’s skill, and it makes my blood pump.

When we pull up to collect the winnings, I get out of the car with her.

“Konstantin, I believe I need to be paid,” Arianna says with glee.

“I think not,” he says with a thick Russian accent. “Why don’t you and your little boyfriend fuck off and never show your faces at one of my races again. People don’t want to race when you’re always the winner.”

“Pay me, or you’ll regret it,” Arianna says.

“Will your boyfriend try to hurt me,” Konstantin laughs, but before I can do anything, Arianna has a gun out and points it at Konstantin’s head, then points it at his crotch. “Give my friend the winnings, or I’ll blow your cock off. Don’t worry about me coming again. I don’t like racing for someone who doesn’t pay.”

“You’re making a mistake.” Konstantin slowly picks up a bag and throws it at me. “Don’t show your face around these parts again.”

“My brothers own this area,” Arianna says. “So if you want to keep racing, you’ll remember who you’re speaking to.”

She puts away the gun, and we climb back into her car, speeding off.

I chuckle, “Seems like you don’t need me.”

She grins and then shouts, “Whoop! That was exciting.”

“Let’s get home before your brother kills us,” I say, but she doesn’t turn toward the new house. “Are you lost?”

“We’re making a quick stop,” she says, grinning. She pulls into a darkened lot near Central Park and cuts the engine. She immediately starts undressing.

“What are you doing?” I gasp.

“We can’t fuck at home, so we’ll do it where we can,” she grins, unclasping her bra and letting her breasts spill out.

“Who am I to argue,” I say, starting on my jeans.