Married With Malice: An Arranged Marriage Romance

“Tell me the story again,” Sabrina begs as she rolls up another slice of salami. She slides the whole tube between her lips and waits to be accommodated.

“I’ve told you the story a hundred times. It doesn’t change.” I tilt the pitcher to top off her glass of iced tea.

She finishes chewing her salami slice. “Humor me. I’m alone on Valentine’s Day. I need to live vicariously through tales of your romantic blizzard experience.”

“Romantic? I crashed into a tree, got lost and nearly froze to death on a mountain.”

“That’s a very negative summary. Focus on the part where Luca bravely faced the deadly weather elements to rescue his damsel in distress and carried you to safety.”

I have to smile over my sister’s dramatic flair. “Yes, that’s exactly what happened.”

She lets out a swoony sigh. “And then what?”

“Then I had to be examined for frostbite and explain to everyone that I unintentionally drove into a blizzard because I wanted to go shopping.”

“I feel like you’re deliberately depriving me of all the good parts,” she sniffs.

“We have different ideas about what the good parts are.” I pick up her lunch dishes and carry them to the sink.

“What are you two doing for Valentine’s Day?”

“We’re spending the night in the city. Luca got tickets to Hamilton and then we’re staying at the Four Seasons.” I know I’m grinning like a clown. I can’t be stopped.

“I’ve never seen you like this,” she says.

“Rinsing off dishes? I’m trying to be domestic. Stick around and maybe I’ll take the trash out.”

“Ha! No, I mean you’re so happy. Like ecstatically happy. Ever since you and Luca returned from your trip last month, the two of you are so lovesick you’ve eclipsed Daisy and Big Man Bowie in the mushiness department.”

“Guilty and loving it.”

Sabrina is sitting closest to the window and her attention is caught by something outside. “Look at that. I must have accidentally activated Loverboy by speaking his name.”

“What?” I switch the kitchen faucet off and hear the lock on the side door click open.

Luca strolls in with a huge bouquet of roses tucked into the crook of his arm. His dashing smile sends my pulse fluttering. “Happy Valentine’s Day, baby.”

I run to him and he scoops me up with his free arm. I kiss him as frantically as if we’ve been separated for far longer than half a day but eventually I need to come up for air.

“What are you doing here?” I kiss him again. “I thought you weren’t going to be home until after your meeting later.”

“We were in the neighborhood. I couldn’t pass through without seeing my beautiful wife, especially not on Valentine’s Day.”

Monte Castelli has followed him in and now leans awkwardly against the stove.

“Hello, Monte,” I say.

He waves. “Anni.”

We didn’t start out on the best terms. Frankly, I thought Monte and his brother Nico were a pair of blithering jackasses destined to blend in with the rest of the mafia muscle.

But they’re Luca’s good friends and they are important to him. Since we returned from Colorado I’ve made more of an effort to get to know them. We’ve even gone to dinner a few times.

Monte, the eldest, is rough around the edges but also funny and irreverent. Nico is two years younger. More quiet and serious than his brother.

“I’m in the room too in case anyone decides to notice,” says Sabrina.

Monte snorts. “You’re tough to miss. What look are you going for, eccentric bag lady at Disneyland?”

Under her pink cardigan, Sabrina wears a tight black and white top that says GEEK and a flared skirt covered with Pac-Man graphics. A headband with grey cat ears sticking up holds her hair out of her face.

“You should talk,” Sabrina snaps. “Which borough did you go dumpster diving in to find that moldy leather jacket?”

“How are you doing, Sabrina?” Luca asks to break the tension.

“Fantastic. I love Valentine’s Day. I get to be terminally single in a world full of euphoric couples.”

She hops off her chair and manages to knock her purse to the floor, spilling the contents. Makeup, candy bars and feminine hygiene products scatter everywhere.

Monte rolls his eyes and hunkers down to help her pick it all up.

Luca hands me the roses. “These will need some water. Sorry I didn’t have time to make you paper ones.”

“They’re beautiful.” I sniff the flowers and smile. “You spoil me.”

He grins. “My new favorite hobby.”

I set the flowers down on the counter and hook my arms around his shoulders. No matter how often I’m close to him it never stops being a thrill. He locks his hands around my waist and rocks me back and forth.

“Did you pack?” he says. “I won’t be late. We’ll leave for the city as soon as I get home.”

“I didn’t pack yet. I had lessons at the rink scheduled all morning, then I picked up Sabrina. We could start our Valentine’s Day celebration right now if you blow off your meeting.”

His brows pinch. “I wish I could, honey.”

The ‘meeting’ is the semi-annual gathering of Amato associates at Richie’s favorite restaurant.

Luca’s been walking a tightrope ever since we returned. On the surface, he does everything right to ease his uncle’s suspicions. And then together we brainstorm ways to escape from this mafia web.

We can’t leave the country. That would put everyone else at risk. And they’d track us down anyway.

There’s no easy answer but we’ll find it.

“You do what you’ve got to do,” I tell him. “I’ll be here waiting and we’ll have an incredible night.”

“What’s this?” Monte asks from the floor, where he’s been collecting Sabrina’s purse debris. He holds up a mini pad in a pink wrapper.

Sabrina snatches the pad. “It’s an elaborately wrapped tissue, you caveman.”

“Sabrina,” I say, “can you do me a favor and find a vase for these flowers? There might be one in the hall closet.”

She stands and smooths out her skirt. “Sure, but if you want me to leave the room so your husband can touch your tits then just say so.”

“I want you to leave the room so my husband can touch my tits.”

“Then I guess I’m going vase hunting.”

“You should go with her,” Luca says to Monte. “She might break something if she’s left unsupervised.”

Monte exhales loudly. “You serious?”

“Give us five minutes,” Luca says.

“Make it ten.” I’m already pulling my husband by his tie.

Monte grumbles something profane but follows Sabrina on her scavenger hunt.

Even before their footsteps fade I’m dragging Luca into the pantry and shutting the door. Whoever invented walk-in pantries has my gratitude.

Luca runs his hands all over my body. I loosen his tie and roll his jacket from his shoulders. He backs me into the door and hikes up my skirt. I regret my decision to wear tights today.

“I can’t wait until tonight,” I say between feverish kisses as I unzip his pants. “I need you now.”

He’s equally frantic, unhooking my bra and pushing up my sweater. “You’re all I fucking think about. You have no idea.”

I’ve got his pants open. I reach into his boxers and he throws his head back with a hiss when I take him in my hand. He strokes me through my tights until I’m whimpering and then he shoves my tights and my panties halfway down my thighs.

“Holy shit,” I gasp when he pushes into the tight crevice between my legs.

He lets out a strangled sound and lifts me. “Fuck, Anni.” His hands are kneading my bare ass and he pushes deeper. “This feels insanely good.”

I can’t speak. The friction is intense, the sensation more powerful with my legs together. Not even a minute goes by before I’m vibrating, clutching him and jerking my hips harder to get off. I bury my face in his neck to muffle my scream as the eruption shakes me to pieces. Just as I begin to drift back to reality, Luca shudders and spills inside me.

“I love you,” he pants with one last fierce thrust.

I kiss his jaw. “I love you too.”

Unfortunately, we can’t linger in the afterglow with Monte and Sabrina lurking nearby. We put ourselves back together in haste and Luca flings open the door of the pantry only to find we weren’t quick enough.

Both Monte and Sabrina are standing in the kitchen. Sabrina gazes at me with equal parts shock and respect while Monte cackles like a hyena.

Sabrina, now blushing, clears her throat. “I couldn’t find a vase. I looked in all the closets.”

Refusing to be embarrassed, I start opening the cabinets. “Know what? I don’t think I actually have one. We’ll just use a water tumbler.”

“Just out of curiosity,” Sabrina says. “How many times a day do you guys do it?”

“I don’t know what you mean.” Luca shrugs back into his blazer.

Monte jerks a thumb at my sister. “I tried to tell Minnie Mouse over here that you were just moving water jugs around but she didn’t believe me.”

Sabrina adjusts her headband and pouts. “How can you possibly fail to recognize these are cat ears, not mouse ears?”

Monte stares at her. “The only ears you should be wearing at all are the ones actually attached to your head.”

“When I need fashion advice I’ll pick someone who doesn’t dress like he just escaped from prison yesterday.”

While Monte sputters and tries to come up with a crushing response, Sabrina turns to Luca with a charming smile.

“Can you guys drop me off? I don’t want to call home and ask one of Daddy’s crew. He’s in a bitchy mood this week, keeps screaming his head off in his office and everyone’s tiptoeing around there all terrified.”

“Drop you off where?” Luca says.

“I need to go to the library.”

“Which one?”

“The world famous landmark with the big stone lions and the words New York Public Library etched into the front.”

“That’s in midtown,” Monte complains.

“Check you out,” Sabrina says. “So smart. You know where the library is and everything.”

“We’re not going to Manhattan at all,” Monte says. “We’ve got to be in Queens.”

“All part of the same big, beautiful city,” Sabrina points out.

Monte ignores her and addresses Luca. “We’ll be criminally late for the meeting if we have to drive all the way to Manhattan and then double back to Queens. Your uncle will shit enough bricks to build a castle.”

“Nah. He’s got plenty of company. As long as I show up before it’s over we’re good.”

Monte runs a hand through his hair, unconvinced. “Whatever you say.”

“Shotgun,” Sabrina says with glee, grabbing her purse. “Monte gets the backseat.”

Monte snorts and rolls his eyes at the ceiling. “So many things I could say right now but it’s too early in the day to break your little PG-rated mind.”

Ignoring their petty bickering, I reach for my husband to claim one more kiss. “Come home to me soon.”

“I will.” He kisses me back and flashes a cocky grin. “Miss me while I’m gone.”

“I always do.”

“I’m ready!” Sabrina finishes zipping her winter jacket and gallops outside first, followed by Monte.

Luca is the last to leave and I watch him from the open doorway, rubbing my arms at the chill. Before he reaches the car, he turns and runs back to me at top speed.

I don’t have time to utter a word before he picks me up and swings me around. And around and around.

“You’re a psycho!” I laugh as the world spins.

He gets the joke and sets me down with the same grin he wore that night in our hotel room. “And now I’m YOUR psycho.”

“Forever.” I tip my head back for one last kiss. “You promised.”

“You get all my promises,” he says, then lifts my hand to press it to his heart. “This is yours.”

“Running late,” Monte calls with impatience. “And we still need to play chauffeur for gamer girl over here.”

Sabrina makes a face at him. “What are you afraid of, that you’ll finally get to Queens and it won’t be there anymore?”

“Expect me home before dark,” Luca says.

“I’ll be waiting.” I wave.

As I watch him drive away, I’m on cloud nine. Back in the kitchen, the roses are still lying on the counter and I place them in a large plastic movie theater cup filled with water.

This is the very first Valentine’s Day I’ve ever celebrated. I’ll be packing some brand new sinful lingerie. I’m looking forward to modeling it for my husband. But mostly I just can’t wait to laugh with him and get him away from his uncle’s clutches for a little while.

My panties remain saturated from our pantry exercise and I decide to change and take a quick shower. After pinning up my hair, I let the hot water cascade over my body and use a loofah to rub my favorite strawberry-scented soap on my skin.

Twenty minutes later, I’m toweling off and I’ve just stepped into a clean pair of panties when I think I hear noise coming from downstairs.

I freeze in front of the sink. The vanity mirror is still covered in shower steam. No other noise reaches my ears. I might have imagined the sound but I could have sworn it very closely resembled the shrill squeak of the side door to the kitchen.

Hurriedly, I throw on my robe, curse myself for failing to bring my phone into the bathroom and listen again.

Nothing.

I don’t routinely hear things that aren’t there, but I was distracted with daydreams of Luca and I can’t be sure I heard correctly.

After tying a knot on my comfy terrycloth robe with fumbling fingers, I hold my breath as I crack open the bathroom door. The bedroom is empty. Everything is in place. The only noise is the faint tick of the bedroom wall clock.

My bare feet are soundless on the floor as I creep across the room to the dresser where there’s a loaded gun in the top drawer. Luca was perplexed to learn my father had never allowed us to handle guns and I had no idea how to shoot one. He immediately bought me a Ruger pistol and signed me up for lessons at the local gun range.

I wouldn’t call myself a sharpshooter but at least I know how to load it and pull the trigger. I do feel sort of preposterous holding the gun while tiptoeing through the empty house in search of an explanation for a noise I may or may not have heard.

I’m in the hallway just outside the kitchen when I hear the distinctive scrape of a chair against the tile. A man clears his throat and it’s definitely not Luca.

My fear factor goes from lukewarm to scorching.

Why did I come down here at all?

Why didn’t I barricade myself in an upstairs room and call for help?

Why does my hand shake so much when I hold the gun up?

I should have double checked to make sure it really is loaded. It would sure suck to pull the trigger on an intruder and see nothing happen. And do I have the safety off? Where is the safety again?

While I’m having a panic attack over the mechanics of my gun, a man steps into view.

“BAHHHH!” he screams in shock when he sees me.

I’m so startled that I drop the gun on the floor but in the same instant I recognize he’s one of my father’s bodyguards.

“Easy.” He holds his hands up to show he means no harm. “It’s okay, Annalisa. The door was open. Didn’t mean to scare you.”

Of all my father’s men, Sonny is probably the least objectionable. I’ve seen him around all my life and he’s never given me a problem.

But he still shouldn’t be hanging out in my kitchen.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I demand.

His thin lips flatten and I could swear there’s a glint of sympathy in his puffy face. “I need to take you to your father’s house.”

A shadow at the window catches my eye and I see two other men in the front yard. Part of the more recent crop of mafia inductees, I don’t think I’ve ever spoken to them.

“Why? Did something happen to my father?”

Gee, did I sound a little too hopeful there?

Sonny shakes his head. “He’s fine. He just wants you home safe right now so he sent me to pick you up.”

This is cause for some alarm. My father isn’t overly cautious when it comes to my safety. If he has sent a member of his trusted old guard to retrieve me, then there must be considerable reason to worry.

“I need to call Luca.”

Sonny shakes his head and won’t meet my eye. “No time for that.”

“It will just take a minute. Let me just get my phone. And I need to get dressed anyway. I don’t even have shoes on.”

“Annalisa,” he says. “We’re leaving right now.”

He’s quick for a man of his size. While I’m still sorting through my confusion, he’s crossed the room and taken hold of my arm. His grip is firm but not painful. He’s not like Rocco. There’s a pleading look on his face that says the last thing he’d like to do is hurt me.

But I know if he has to, then he will. He has his orders. He’ll follow them no matter what.

The alarm bell in my head becomes a deafening roar.

Something is wrong. VERY wrong.

Sonny is very relieved when I nod and go willingly. If I thought he meant me any harm then I’d make a run for it. But he drapes his trench coat over my shoulders and leads me outside to the black sedan parked in the driveway.

The other men are grim and aloof. They say nothing. One opens the backseat door to let me in. I feel at a distinct disadvantage in my robe and bare feet but I suppose those are the least of my problems right now. Sonny’s a smoker and his coat comes with an acrid stench but I pull it closed anyway as I’m wedged in the middle of the backseat and surrounded by strange men.

I’ll call Luca when I get to my parents’ house. Maybe he’s already heard the news of this unnamed emergency.

“I’m sorry if you’re cold,” says Sonny from the front passenger seat. “Here, I’ve turned the heat on full blast and we’ll be at your father’s house in no time.”

As the car rolls out of the driveway I remember that the kitchen door is still unlocked. I watch the house I share with Luca disappear from view as we turn a corner.

“You’re safe, Annalisa,” says Sonny and his tone is paternal and reassuring.

Why would he lie? I’m defenseless and there are four of them. I don’t even have my possibly unloaded gun with me.

But if I’m safe…

THEN WHO ISN’T SAFE??

Now comes a rush of words with demands to know the whereabout of my husband and my sisters.

Sonny sighs as he stares straight ahead through the windshield.

And he ignores every question I ask.