Married to the Mafia Boss

Sofia

At some ungodly hour, Dominic pops his head into my room to tell me he has work to do, so he’s going. I groan in response and go back to sleep. When I wake up again, it’s already afternoon, and I feel a little less like a truck hit me.

I don’t feel like making breakfast, though I’m sure a grilled cheese will make me feel a ton better. I go to the living room instead and turn the television on, lowering the volume.

I scroll through the channels until I get to the news channel, which is covering a large explosion in a warehouse. I quickly turn the volume up and listen to what the reporter is saying.

“This warehouse is rumored to belong to the infamous Catalan cartel. Some are whispering that this is a hit from another mobster family in retaliation to gang wars held here in New York. Several people associated with mafia families have turned up dead this week, and police are trying to find the perpetrators as fast as possible. Several immigrants died in the bomb explosion. It seems a small explosion went off but triggered off a bigger explosion with chemicals that were illegally stored in the warehouse.”

I stare at the screen and wonder instantly, or rather I know, Dominic had something to do with this. He left early today and had more than enough time to do this. I need to know if he killed those people.

I eventually make myself something to eat, and while I’m eating, he comes in.

“Dominic,” I say.

“You need to get dressed. We’re going to my family for lunch,” he says, glancing at me. “My brother Alessandro’s orders.”

I frown and stand in front of him. “What did you do this morning?”

Dominic looks down at me, expressionless. “That’s none of your concern.”

“Did you set that bomb off? At the Catalan warehouse?” I ask. “There were innocent people killed there.”

“There are no innocent people in the underworld; everyone is fair game.” He runs a hand over his hair and shakes his head. “I don’t expect you to understand, Princess, but for now, I need you to get dressed for family lunch. Okay?”

I shake my head as well before I go upstairs and change into a cute summer dress that Arianna bought for me. I put on some of my new jewelry and brush out my hair.

I slip into a pair of sandals and come back downstairs, where Dominic is waiting for me. He’s in those damn jeans again, well, different ones, but him in jeans elicits feelings from me. He has a golf shirt on and is wearing an expensive watch I haven’t seen before.

I don’t speak to him as we leave the estate, and I don’t say anything to him in the car. I understand what he means by some things have to happen in this underground world of ours, but I still carry a heavy sense of guilt. Maybe if he showed he felt it too, perhaps I wouldn’t feel so bad. But I don’t know how to say that to him without him becoming upset or offended.

He leads me into Alessandro’s gorgeous home, and a beautiful woman in a white pants suit happens to be crossing the entrance hall when we walk in.

“Katya,” Dominic greets her. The woman looks somewhat intimidating but gives me a curt smile. “You must be Sofia, right?”

“Yes,” I say quietly, and she holds her hand out. I shake it as she says, “Katya, I’m Alessandro’s wife. Welcome to our home.”

I give her a hesitant smile back. “Thank you for having me and for protecting me.”

“It’s our pleasure. It’s in the best interest of the family. Everyone is already outside in the garden. Follow me.”

I follow her, glancing at Dominic, who doesn’t seem surprised by her dominant nature. We are led to the garden, where large benches are interconnected to make a ‘U’ shape on the lawn. At the head of the tables is the older-looking version of Dominic, who I now know to be Alessandro.

I look to Dominic for where I should sit when Alessandro stands. “Ah, Sofia and Dominic, please join me here.”

I awkwardly walk to the head table where two chairs are free next to Alessandro, “Sofia, sit next to me. I want to get to know you.”

I nod. “Thank you, Don. It would be my honor.”

Alessandro laughs. “Ah, but that’s not the feisty woman my brother has moaned about.”

I look at Dominic, but he just smirks as he sits down.

I sit, and everyone talks to each other while the women bring out the food. Once everyone is settled and has food, Alessandro turns slightly to me. “Tell me, Sofia. Your father says you want to study digital art in New York. Have you applied to university?”

“I applied to two but only got into my second choice. I actually registered yesterday and updated my address details so that I am ready to start,” I say casually.

Dominic quickly says, “You did what?”

Alessandro waves him off. “Why didn’t you get into your first choice?”

“I don’t know,” I say honestly. “Maybe because I am a foreigner.”

Alessandro shakes his head. “They discriminate badly against people not from this country, even Italians. But I wish you the best of luck with your studies.” He turns back to his food, and I’m unsure what to say, so I quietly say, “Thank you.”

He asked me a few more questions about Argentina and my experiences there during the meal. What I love about New York and my family, but not my family’s business. I don’t think he has any bad intentions towards me, or so it seems.

On the other hand, Dominic keeps glaring at me as though he could kill me on the spot with a look.

I try and ignore him and answer Alessandro’s questions politely. Once lunch is over, Dominic stands. “We should get going,” he says tersely. “Alessandro, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Alessandro raises an eyebrow but doesn’t comment on Dominic’s mood. “Bright and early. I have things for you to do. Sofia, lovely to meet you again.” He looks at Dominic as he says, “You are safe in my brother’s hands.”

I nod. “Thank you for having me.”

I get up and follow Dominic to the car. He doesn’t say anything the whole way home, but I can tell he’s fuming. Once we’re inside the house, he turns around. “Are you really that stupid?”

I frown. “Excuse me?”

“You used your actual name and address to register for your classes?”

“What’s wrong with that?” I say incredulously.

“Would you like to phone the Catalans and let them know you’re here to pick up?” he roars. “You’re supposed to be hidden from them, and you’re advertising where you are.”

I am taken aback, but before I can apologize, he continues to rant, “You never think before you act Princess, and that’s your biggest problem. You’re supposed to run things past me….”

“Just because I had drunken sex with you once doesn’t mean you own me,” I snap at him angrily.

“You must run it past me because I’m your security detail. God, you don’t think at all.”

“And you don’t give a damn about anyone except your family,” I say, storming upstairs.