I'm sitting at the dinner table and can immediately tell something is off.
My father is sober for once an odd occurrence in deed.
My mother is picking at her food and I can notice the shake in her hands.
Neither Matteo or Phoenix are here. My brothers always eat with us it's a rule.
I'm debating if I should speak up when my mother clears her throat.
"Elle darling your not eating"
"Your all acting weird"
She swallows and glances at my father who stares at me.
"You know being who we are comes with issues yes?"
I nod slowly.
Being the daughter of a mafia boss is not ever going to be easy.
"Good my love, you know that sometimes we uh- make mistakes"
I blink a bit. He's building up to something bad.
"Yes I know papa" I reply.
He nods. I stare at him. The silence is making my skin crawl.
"We made a deal...with the wrong people" he says quietly.
My mother looks away.
"We made a...€15 million deal with uh the Irish mafia and we..were played"
I almost laugh.
The Irish mafia? Seriously? I didn't even think that was a thing.
What's next the Belgium mafia?
"Okay" I reply not trusting myself to laugh.
I laugh when I'm nervous.
"And to get out of that issue we had to extend to the Russian mafia"
"But Papa they are very dangerous, you know their leader is young they say he's crazy you cannot-"
"I KNOW." He yells slamming his fist on the table making me jump.
I look at my mother she's staring ahead like she's not really here.
"They are dangerous their leader is insane but..they are the most successful mafia organisations we have ever known...I had to ASK for help I had to call in a debt they owed"
"Okay" I say.
"The old leader was in a tricky situation and I gave him €18 million. I asked to call in my debt and to be offered protection from them."
Okay. Not that bad.
"My old friend is long in the ground" he says bitterly.
I've lost my appetite.
"His son, Ivan runs it now. Young boy not that much older than you he's only 25, attractive too yes" he says to me.
I have a horrible feeling I may know where this is going.
"He told me he wanted me to give him something to guarantee if he were ever in an issue I'd help and so fourth: a union. I told him while I have money I cannot given the circumstances give it over"
I look for it he millionth time at my mother, her expression is blank and she sits still looking ahead at nothing.
I force myself to look at my father.
"He said he would take...a bride."
I almost laugh.
Almost.
"What" I say my voice far calmer than it ought to be.
"He said he'd take a bride..a permanent tie of our families he'd look after you and you'd go to live with him and-"
I rise from the table.
"Tell him I say no"
"My love I cannot...he decided for me he's-"
"NO PAPA" I yell.
"he's coming here tomorrow, you will prepare..you will meet him and you will be married on the Friday"
IN 3 DAYS.
"No please" I beg.
I look at my mother she's still not here mentally.
"I could not turn him down" my father reasons.
"He's crazy..I've heard about him. YOU HAVE TOO" I scream.
"I have trained you to look after yourself-"
"FROM ENEMIES. FROM PEOPLE I HATE. NOT FROM MY HUSBAND"
"YOU HAVE A DUTY TO THIS FAMILY YOU WILL DO IT. YOU DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE. YOU WILL MARRY HIM."
"FINE. BUT I WILL BE ANYTHING BUT THE PERFECT WIFE. IF HE'S RUINING MY LIFE I WILL MAKE HIS EQUALLY AS MISERABLE" I scream running from the room.
I do not stop running until I've made it to my room.
I slam the door shut behind me. I turn and on my bed there's a black box.
I pause and walk towards it.
I unwrap it carefully.
I open it and inside there is a beautiful red dress.
I stare at it and notice a note attached.
Wear it when we meet tomorrow, I look forward to meeting you Elle x
- Ivan
I scream louder in frustration. Fuck him. Fuck his dress. Fuck my life.
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