Married to the Mafia Boss

Sofia

I’m still full from the chicken earlier. Unlike Dominic, who seemed ravenous, I ate my chicken as politely as possible before moving on to some chips and gravy. I’m not generally a fan of greasy food, but I guess beggars can’t be choosers, and it’s not like this place would have room service.

The clothes feel baggy on me, and I feel awkward, almost naked, in front of him. I didn’t like how he looked at me when I came out of the shower.

Dominic throws his box of chicken bones away and goes back to his guns. I know it’s stupid to try talking to him, but I’ve always been curious, and I want answers.

“Why did my father send you? Why didn’t he send someone from our family?”

“It’s complicated,” he says in his short, gruff way.

“Uncomplicate it then,” I say. “How do I know you’re not working for Jose, and this is all just a rouse?”

He snorts. “You think if I worked for Jose, you’d still be in America?” He looks at me. “I’m starting to question your intelligence, Princess.”

God, I fucking hate how he calls me princess. If he keeps it up, I don’t care how scary he is. I’m going to slap him. I shake my head and take a deep, calming breath. “So why didn’t my father send someone from our family?”

He huffs and puts his gun down, turning to me. “I’m going to explain only once, so keep up and don’t interrupt.”

I nod, and he immediately starts talking, “Firstly, your father wouldn’t move against Jose unless he had security, say from another family, that the rest of his family wouldn’t be taken out by the Catalans who basically rule South America. Secondly, I need your father’s allegiance to my family in our efforts to overthrow Jose Catalan because he wants my brother, and probably the rest of my family, dead. Got it? So, I have to keep you safe for a few days because they will be expecting us to go straight to your father like idiots. Once my brother says it’s safe, we will meet up with your father, and you can fly back to Argentina and be with your family and get married and live happily ever after. The end.”

I stare at him for a moment. That’s the most he’s said in one go, and it kind of floors me. I stroke my hair behind my ear. “All you had to say was that my father and your family are working together to overthrow another Don.”

He glares at me, and I smirk. “Just saying… But I don’t want to return to Argentina. My dream is to study digital art in New York.”

“Well, unfortunately, we can’t all have what we want. It’s not safe for you in New York, so you’ll have to make do with whatever you can study back home.” He goes back to his gun, but I’m persistent. He needs to learn that.

“They don’t offer as good a qualification back home. The prestigious schools are here. It’s not safe for you, but you live here, I assume?” I gesture around me. “I mean, how can you live here when you’re in danger and I can’t?”

“Because my job is dangerous, I accept that. To remain here, you would need full guards, twenty-four-seven, escorts, drivers, and all kinds of things.”

“And you don’t think my father can provide these things?” It’s my turn to huff. “You think you’re better than our family because you come from New York and we’re from Argentina. Argentina is rich in resources and culture, unlike any you will ever know. You get your drugs, your weapons, everything you smuggle you get from the South American countries. Without us, you are nothing.”

He doesn’t respond, and I partially turn my back on him, so I’m facing the television again.

“Does my father know you think your family is better than ours?” I ask angrily.

He sighs. “Every family thinks they are better than the other families. Some through virtue, some through morals, and others through power. Your father and my brother need this allegiance to overthrow a family that has abused their power and has no virtues or morals regarding the rest of the family.”

I hug my knees. “So, this is just a job.”

He nods, and I shake my head. “You’re just going to keep me safe?”

“You are safer with me than on your own,” he says.

“You’re a killer,” I retort. “You’re not exactly a safe person to be around.”

He looks up at me. “I only kill when I’m ordered to kill. I only kill who I’m ordered to kill to get what I need if necessary. You shouldn’t be complaining about me being a killer. I killed many people to save your life. What? Did you think they wouldn’t overpower you because you had a gun? You were shaking when you held that gun? Do you remember? Because it’s heavy and you’re not used to that weight, firing that would have hurt you a lot.”

I frown and rest my head on my knees.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

“You’re brave, probably stupid, Princess. But you are brave, and now I need you to trust me, do as I say, and we’ll both come out of this relatively sane.” He starts to pack away his guns. “If I were you, I’d get some shut-eye. We’re going to be moving around a lot to evade detection.”

“How much can we move around New York?”

“Oh, there are lots of places to hide,” he says. “We won’t be going into the city just yet, but we’ll get there. I have a general idea of which direction we should head.”

I pick up the food and deposit it on the side table beside the bed. I curl up in my bed, pulling the thin blanket over my body. I don’t like the way he watches me.

“I’m going to scout around before I settle in,” he says. “Stay here and don’t open for anybody, got it?”

I nod and watch him leave. I’m wondering how long he will be when he comes rushing back in. “Get up. They’re here.”

“How…” I start to say, but he roars, “Just get up and get moving. I’m going to shoot to the left as we step out, move to the stairs on the right and get down to the bike as fast as you can.”

I nod and wait at the door. He counts to three and steps out. I wait, and when I hear his gun go off, I run behind him and to the right. I try to hold my hands over my ears to block out the gunfire, but it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. Only two shots ring out, and then it goes quiet. I get to the bike, and as I turn around, he pushes me out the way, frightening me.

“Are they coming?”

“They’re dead, but I need to figure out how they found me. I’ve made a plan for the morning. We have a couple of hours before the rental place opens. We’re going for a bit of a drive now. Try not to fall asleep. I know you’re tired, but you can sleep in the car when I’m driving tomorrow.” He gets onto the bike, and I quickly climb on behind him. I look around as we zip away, worried more of Jose’s men will come out and follow us.