Arranged Mafia Marriage

Axel

I raise the glass to my lips, then toss back the whiskey. Reaching for the bottle, I top myself up.

“You did well,” the man standing on the other side of the bar counter murmurs.

Maybe too well. Now, my entire family thinks of me as having betrayed them. She thinks I kidnapped her…which I did. Though considering I married her, perhaps it doesn’t count as a kidnapping? But the very fact that I pulled a gun on the Sovranos before I took her and left seems to point to the contrary.

I pull out the gun from the small of my back where it has been tucked into my waistband and place it on the counter, pointed at him.

He doesn’t even glance it. Asshole simply pushes his glass forward, as if he expects me to fill it. When I ignore him, he reaches for the bottle and tops himself up without acknowledging the snub.

He raises his glass, “Cheers,” he clinks his glass with mine, “to the successful completion of phase one.” He tosses back his own liquor, then tops up his glass with my whiskey. Forty-year-old Macallan’s, which he definitely does not deserve to partake of.

“Fuck you,” I say in a low voice.

He laughs, “Now, why would you say that? Considering you were the one who wanted to have your revenge on the Sovranos. Unless,” he tilts his head, “unless you developed familial feelings. And if you did, I don’t blame you. After all, blood is blood, and you may have spent your life hating them, but having spent time with them, you may be feeling otherwise inclined.”

“I’ll do anything to destroy them,” I say in a hard voice.

“Ah,” he scratches his chin, “is it the woman, then? Honest to God, I didn’t foresee that and I do think of everything, you know. But it seems even I cannot predict human nature or the power of love.”

“Love,” I scowl, “the fuck you talking about, man?”

“Don’t be upset now.” He clicks his tongue, “It happens to the best of us. No one can avoid the power and the suddenness of love. When it hits…it hits; it has no rhyme or reason.”

“Get to the point, motherfucker.”

“Marrying her must have seemed like a good move, a way to get closer to the Sovranos without eliciting suspicion… A brilliant move, if I may say.”

“You may not,” I say through gritted teeth.

“Kidnapping her in front of the entire town was a master-stroke.” He nods his fucking head. “One way to make the Sovranos’ lose face, something to expose their weaknesses and have their enemies circling around them like vultures. Gotta hand it to you, boy, that’s something I wouldn’t have been able to think of. But bringing her here?” He purses his lips, “You are sending out a beacon that’s going to attract every single motherfucking friend of the Mafia to you. You’ve painted a target on your head, and by association, mine.”

“I have this place guarded.”

“Which is no guarantee that it will protect you against the Cosa Nostra.”

I scowl at him, “You’re beginning to piss me off, Freddie.”

His lips kick up. “That was not my intention. You are the strongest member of my team; you know I don’t want to lose you.”

“Well, fuck that.” I swig back the rest of the whiskey. “I have kicked off the beginning of the end of the Sovranos. As for phase two, it will have to wait.”

“Ah,” he strokes his chin, “so definitely love, then.”

I glare at him.

“Enjoy the early days of your marriage, but remember, you owe me, and I always collect Axel.”Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

I rise to my feet and jerk my chin toward the door, “Fuck off.”

“Now, now. Hold on, you are not thinking straight.” He raises his snifter of whiskey and anger squeezes my gut. I reach out, knock the glass out of his hand. It crashes to the floor and shatters. He stiffens, then rises to his feet and dusts off the droplets that have fallen on his jacket.

“I understand you are not thinking straight,” he says in a soft voice, “but remember that you need me, Axel. You-”

I reach over, grab his collar and haul him over the counter, “I don’t need anyone, you motherfucker.”

He chuckles, “Words spoken in the heat of the moment, but you know better.”

I tighten my grasp on his collar. He gasps. His face turns red and the veins on his neck pop as he tries to take in a breath.

“Read my lips, you motherfucker. I don’t need you or anyone else, and if you dare to threaten me again, I will kill you.” I release him and he staggers back. He straightens his collar, then draws himself up to his full height. “You are going to regret threatening the Sovranos and kidnapping her, Axe, mark my words.” Turning, he walks out.

I glare after him, then snatch up my glass and throw it at the wall. It shatters.

“Fuck.” I dig my fingers into my hair and tug.

Asshole is right, though. I shouldn’t have brought her here; it’s too dangerous-for both of us.

But fuck, if I didn’t want her in my space, in my bed. I wanted her to myself just for a few days before I have to face the world. Is that too much to ask?

With a little luck, the Sovranos will be too busy facing the aftermath of the problems I left them with to come after us right away. As for Freddie-fuck. It had been wrong to provoke the man. He’s dangerous. I should have known better, but everything he’d said had been intended to goad me, and for once, I had let him get to me. It had not been wise to throw him out, but goddam it, I am tired of being on the defensive. I want to take my destiny in my own hands. To face it like the man I am.

Enough hiding; enough planning. It’s time to put the final part of my plan into action. To bring down the Sovranos, once and for all, and to have my revenge.

I straighten, reach for the bottle, and pour myself a fresh glass, when the scent of orange blossoms wafts over to me.

I raise my gaze to find her standing in the doorway. She takes a step forward, but I hold up a hand, “Stop right there.”

“What?”

“Don’t come in here.”

Her jaw firms, “Why not?”

“Because I said so, woman.” I smirk at the flash of anger in her eyes before nodding toward the shards on the floor. “There’s glass everywhere,”

“Oh.” She purses her lips, “I uh, heard the commotion and came to check.”

“You should have stayed in the room, away from me, where it’s safest for you.”

“Isn’t it safe for me here?”

“What do you think?” I raise the glass of whiskey to my lips.

“I think you’ve had enough to drink.”

I chuckle, “I am just getting started.” I grab the glass and the bottle, then walk out from behind the counter and toward her. “Go to bed.” I brush past her, then head out of the living room and toward the study. I step inside, all too aware of her following me. I walk over to the chair in front of the fire and lower myself into it.

I raise the glass of whiskey to my lips, take a sip. She walks over to stand in front of me.

“What?” I growl, not raising my gaze.

“Who was that man who left? Was he a friend?”

“An associate.”

“Why was he threatening you?”

I jerk my chin up, “Nothing you need to worry about.”

“You kidnap me-”

“I married you.”

“-and bring me here.” She scowls.

“To my home, which is now your home,” I add.

“Exactly, so if someone threatens you, then it means my life is also in danger.”

I set my jaw. “I’ll say this only once, Theresa,” I lock my gaze with hers, “you have nothing to fear. I will never let anyone harm you, you understand?”