The Mafia’s Substitute Bride

“We are the Mafia,” Leonardo said, his voice steady, gaze fixed on his wife’s face.

Sofia’s eyes widened in horror, her lips quivered as she tried to question.

“What… what… do you mean?” Sofia stuttered, her voice shaking. “D… do you work for the M… Mafia?” Her words barely escaped her lips, the fear evident in her every syllable.

Leonardo sighed, clueless about how to make this easy for his wife. He never wanted to scare off Sofia, but the truth demanded to be spoken. He struggled to find the right words, to soften the blow without diminishing the gravity of his confession. The silence between them stretched, heavy with unspoken words.

“Listen, Sofia, don’t freak out.” He shifted closer,, his eyes pleading for understanding. “I need you to understand that my involvement in the Mafia is not what you think.”

Sofia’s gaze wavered, a mix of confusion, fear, and curiosity dancing in her eyes. She waited, her heart racing, for him to continue.

“I… don’t work for the Mafia,” Leonardo confessed, his voice filled with a mixture of vulnerability and determination. “In fact, I… am… a Mafia king… as the leader of the Mafia Empire.” he declared.

Sofia watched him with a horror-filled expression, the fear was evident in her trembling body. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard. Her hand instinctively covered her mouth, trying to stifle the gasp that threatened to escape. Leonardo observed her reaction, his heart sinking as he realized the extent of her fear. He despised himself for causing such distress, for being the source of her terror.

At that moment, Leonardo’s desperation took over. He couldn’t bear the thought of Sofia hating him, of her being afraid in his presence. He would do anything to make her feel safe. His voice trembled as he spoke, a plea laced with sincerity.

“Listen, baby girl,” Leonardo began, his voice cracking with emotion. “Please, listen to me very carefully. I could never harm you. I won’t ever hurt you. Always remember that.”

He leaned closer, his eyes locked with Sofia’s, hoping to convey the depth of his sincerity.

She seemed relaxed after hearing him.

“Tell me, angel, that you trust me,” he implored, his gaze fixed on her. His heart yearned for her to believe in him. All he wanted was to hold her, to provide comfort, but her fear of him pierced his soul.

Leonardo had always taken pride in his title as the mafia king, reveling in the power it bestowed upon him. However, witnessing her terror in the face of that power made him question everything he held dear. He contemplated forsaking it all if it meant she would no longer be afraid.

Her lashes lowered, and she nodded ever so slightly, a glimmer of trust flickering in her eyes. As Leonardo witnessed this, he released a breath he hadn’t realized he had been holding, relief flooding his being.

“Please don’t be afraid of me,” he pleaded softly, his voice filled with longing. “Look at me, angel.”

Gently, he reached out, tucking a finger under her quivering chin, attempting to guide her face upwards. Yet, she flinched instinctively, pulling away from his touch, her face turning away.

Leonardo’s brows furrowed in anguish. The fact that she loathed his touch, that she was so petrified of him, tore at his heart. She was his wife.

“What’s wrong, Sofia?” he demanded, his voice laced with a mixture of worry and frustration. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, but the words hit him like a sucker punch to the gut.

“I… I am feeling dirty,” Sofia choked out, her voice barely above a whisper. She paused, swallowing the lump in her throat before mustering the strength to continue, “They… they touched me.”

Leonardo’s heart sank, his chest tightening as a surge of anger coursed through his veins when he saw her beautiful eyes brimming with tears looking at him.

He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white as he fought back the urge to lash out.

“Those fucking bastards are dead, Sofia,” he growled through gritted teeth, his voice laced with venom. “You don’t need to feel bad. You are my angel. Pure and innocent.” Leonardo’s words were filled with a mixture of protectiveness and love, a desperate attempt to shield Sofia from the darkness that had invaded her life.

He wanted to erase the memory of the monsters who had violated her, to bring her solace and peace. Hell, he wanted to make those bastards alive and kill them again thousands of times, each time giving them ever a crueler death.

Finally, Sofia lifted her gaze to meet Leonardo’s eyes, and a flicker of relief crossed his face.

“Let me hold you, please,” he whispered, his eyes pleading for her to relent.

She shook her head, her eyes downcast and filled with a mixture of fear and uncertainty. The pain was evident in her expression, but she remained adamant in her refusal.

“I… I want to take a shower,” she finally managed to say.

His heart ached as he watched her, knowing the reason behind her request. Those sick-minded bastards made her feel dirty and violated. He couldn’t bear to see her like this. He wanted her to know she was still as pure as her innocent heart, his beautiful angel.

With a gentle determination, he peeled the cover off her body, revealing her vulnerable form beneath. Carefully, he scooped her up into his arms, feeling the warmth of her bare skin against his own. A myriad of desires threatened to consume him, but he fought them back, reminding himself of the purpose of his actions.

Confusion and fear etched across her face as she squirmed in his arms, her voice trembling as she spoke.

“Wh… what are you doing, Mr. Morelli?” she managed to stammer, her wide eyes searching for answers.

“It’s Leonardo to you, angel,” he replied, his voice steady and filled with a tenderness he hoped would reach her troubled heart. He knew he needed to establish a connection, to let her know that he was not like the men who had hurt her.

Her protests continued, her voice laced with desperation and panic.

“Let go of me!” she squealed, her voice breaking.

“Put me down!” she shouted, her voice filled with a mix of anger and fear.

But he remained resolute, his grip firm yet gentle as he carried her towards the bathroom. Ignoring her protests, he gently placed her down in the comforting embrace of the bathtub.

“What are you doing?” Sofia squeaked, her voice filled with surprise and curiosity as he switched on the water supply in the bathtub and adjusted the temperature.

She gasped softly as the warm water cascaded over her skin, the sensation soothing and comforting.

He poured a few drops of bubble bath into the tub, creating a frothy mixture that filled the air with a gentle fragrance. With a soft smile, he picked up a bath sponge and looked at Sofia, his eyes seeking permission.

“Baby girl, allow me,” he asked, gesturing towards the sponge.

Sofia, feeling a mixture of shyness and trust, bowed her eyes and nodded silently. Leonardo knelt beside the tub, gently gathering her soft blond hair in his hand before starting to rub her shoulder with the sponge, his touch tender and gentle.

As he worked his way from her shoulder to her arm, his movements slow and careful, he couldn’t help but ask, “How are you feeling now?”

Sofia let out a soft moan, her eyes closing in blissful surrender, unaware of the effect she was having on Leonardo. The desire swirled inside him as she innocently let out those erotic sounds.

Setting the sponge aside for a moment, he bit his lips as he placed his hands on her shoulders, his touch light and hesitant. He was afraid of her reaction, worried that his actions might trigger painful memories. But to his relief, she relaxed under his touch, leaning back slightly as he began to massage her shoulder and arm, the tension slowly melting away.

Amidst the serenity of the moment, Sofia’s curiosity got the better of her. She turned her head towards Leonardo, her eyes searching his face.

“So you are the Mafia king?” she blurted out, her words catching him off guard.

He couldn’t help but chuckle at her innocent question, finding her curiosity endearing. “Yeah!” he replied, a hint of amusement in his voice.

“So you are like a boss… the Don,” she continued, trying to grasp the concept.

Leonardo nodded, a smile playing on his lips.

“Yes, baby girl, and let me tell you, I attained this position through our marriage. It was a condition for me to become the head of the Mafia an alliance between the Ricci and Morelli families.”

As the truth slipped from his lips, he watched Sofia’s expression change, a mixture of shock and surprise washing over her delicate features.

Oh, no!