Vincent's pov
Saturday 1st May 2021
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"What?" Me and Alessandra both yell at the same time.
"I'm not marrying him! You know I have a boyfriend!" Alessandra argues with her papà.
"You are not marrying that boyfriend of yours! He's a bad influence and not what we need in this family!" He shouts back. They start arguing as I try to gather my thoughts.
"Can I speak to you outside?" I ask papà. He nods and we go to the hall outside the lounge.
"She's beautiful isn't she? Perfect for you," he says and I frown.
"She is pretty, but I don't want want to marry her," I say.
"I don't care what you want to do, you're marrying her."
"I'm not marrying her. I want to marry someone I love, not someone I don't even know," I say and papà glares.
"You will marry her. You have plenty of time to get to know her because she's staying with us until the wedding. She will be sharing your room so make sure it's clean," he tells me.
"No! I can't marry her! You can't make me do this!"
He pulls a gun from his waistband and holds it to my forehead with a furious look on his face.
"You will do whatever I tell you to do. My marriage to your ma was arranged by my papà and we love each other. I know what's best for you and she is it, so show her to your room and be a gentleman," he warns. I look up to the cold metal on my head and then back to my very angry papà.
"I don't want to marry her, you're being ridiculous by making me do it," I say bravely. I don't get to protest before I'm hit across the face with the gun and sent crumpling to the floor. His foot hits me in the stomach and I roll over with a groan.
"I am your Cappo and you will do anything I say. I do not tolerate this disrespect and if it happens again you'll be very fucking sorry. Now show Alessandra to your room and do as you're told," he growls. I struggle to my feet and cough as I try to get air into my lungs again. I lean against the wall as I hold onto my stomach and take deep breaths.
"Okay, I'll show her to my room," I say carefully and he puts the gun away. I go into the lounge where Alessandra has her arms crossed over her chest and an annoyed expression. "I'll show you to your room."
I take her upstairs and open my bedroom door as she follows me inside.
"What happened to you?" She asks as she looks at my face.
"My papà wasn't too happy about me retaliating," I grumble as I go to my mirror and look at the forming bruise on my cheekbone.
"He hits you?"
"Yes, he is Antonio Romano he is not against beating his child," I laugh dryly.
"That's not good. He seems scary," she says and we fall into a silence.
"I'm sorry about this, I'll find a way out," I say and she sighs.
"There is no way out of it. We either get married or be shot," she says and covers her face with her hands.
"I'll think of something, I promise. But for now you have to share my room," I say and she sighs again.
"Why do we have to share? You live in a mansion."
"My papà say we have to. But you can have the bed and I'll sleep on the couch," I say and she looks to my very small couch.
"No it's okay, we can share just don't try anything."
"I won't, don't worry about it. How will you tell your boyfriend?"
"I don't even know, he's going to be devastated."
"Mi dispiace," I apologise again.
"It's not your fault. Maybe we just get married and see other people secretly," she suggests.
"Maybe," I say as I think of Damian. I know he's just a fuck buddy but I'll miss him if I can't see him again.
"Well, I better go home and pack a bag," she says and I take her back down to her parents. Before they leave, her papà stops me.
"You better take good care of my daughter," he says threateningly.
"I will, I promise," I say back and smile. They leave as Luca comes down from his room.
"What did I miss? I heard arguing but was scared to come out," he says as he looks between me and my papà. My ma comes out of the longue as I wait for papà to explain.
"Vin is getting married to Alessandra Bianchi to make an alliance between our families," he says and Luca's eyes widen.
"Seriously?" He asks as he looks at me.
"Yeah," I answer sadly.
"Oh. Do you want to go outside for a while?" He asks and I go to the garden with him. "What the fuck!?" He shouts when we are out of earshot.
"I know! I have to marry some random girl and he hit me with his gun when I said no," I say as I gently touch my cheek.
"You're gay!" He whisper yells.
"I know that! What am I supposed to do?"
"I don't know, is she for it?"
"No, she has a boyfriend already. She has to share my room with me which she isn't too happy about but we'll get through it."
"But if you marry her that's for life. There is no getting through it."
"Cazzo," I sigh and sit on a deck chair beside the pool. Luca sits opposite me as Enzo and Matteo come out to see what's going on.
"I can't believe you're getting married," Matteo says. Papà must have told them.
"Why not just kill your pops then you'll be Cappo," Lorenzo says.
"I can't do that," I say as I look up at them.
"Fine, I'll do it for you. You'll always be my Cappo anyways not him," Enzo shrugs.
"Don't kill him, no one would accept me as Cappo if I did that. I'd be killed and Emilio would take over," I say and he nods.
"Run away," he suggests.
"These are terrible ideas, I'll figure something out."
"Come on Vin, we can help," Matteo says.
"Why don't one of you marry her instead?" I ask.
"I would, she hot," Luca says.
"You didn't even meet her."
"I've met her before, and she's very pretty. I'll ask my pops if we can swap places," he says seriously.
"It's worth a try, but if my papà doesn't agree then I'm in trouble."
"We have your back," Matteo says.
"Gio too, but he's busy," Enzo says and I nod.
"Grazie," I say and stand up to go speak with my ma. I find her in the kitchen and she kisses my cheek when she sees me.
"I'm sorry Vin," she says as she turns to cut vegetables for dinner tonight.
"It's okay. I'll find a way out of it," I say and she shakes her head.
"Please don't anger your papà anymore. I hate to see you with bruises," she says as she gently touches my cheek.
"But I can't marry this girl."
"You have to for the family. I married Antonio and we fell in love. I know it's scary, and it seems unfair but it's needed," she explains and I sit on the stool at the counter.
"I can't do this ma," I say as my voice breaks and tears start to well up in my eyes. She stops her cooking and hugs me so my head rests on her shoulder.
"I know it's hard, and I know you think it's unfair but me and your papà just want what's best for you," she says as she strokes my hair.
"But I want to marry someone I love, not this girl."
"This is the end of the conversation Vincent, you have to do as your papà says."
I take a deep breath and stand up so I can leave to go to my room. I fall onto my bed and wince when my stomach hurts in the impact. I roll onto my back and groan, swearing under my breath.
How will I explain to Damian that I'm marrying a woman? Will he stay my fuck buddy? I really hope so.
Translations:
Mi dispiace- sorry
Cazzo- shit
Grazie- thank you