Sold To Mr. Giordano novel Chapter 3

Arielle

I wake up to sound of my alarm beeping. I guess I was so exhausted that I passed out. I don't even remember falling asleep. I do remember what I was pondering over though. Her.

I head down the stairs but stop at the top when I see Luca sitting alone eating cereal, I'm surprised Mother isn't up. Usually she will keep herself busy by cooking. Since it's short notice our maid and cook won't be at the penthouse, so in situations like this Mother will cook. For breakfast she always makes pancakes, eggs, and bacon.

I turn around and head towards my parents room to see if maybe Mother is sick. I stop in front of the door and lift my hand to knock when I hear sobbing coming from inside.

"I don't want her to!" My mother weeps.

"Get a hold of yourself, Valentina! You know it is her duty!"

"He might say no! There's still a chance!"

"He will not say no to my offer. Not when the Outfit has been weakened like this."

"But-"

"Stop crying god damn it!" Father screams and Mother shrieks.

A sound of slapping came through the door.

"Argh! Please, don't!" Mother pleaded.

I rush away from the door and want to cry for being such a coward. I should've rushed in and stopped my father from hitting my mother. I should've stopped it so many times.

"Eavesdropping again?" Angelo taps on my shoulder from behind.

"You scared the crap out of me!" I hold my rapid beating heart.

"Leave it alone. It's none of our business."

"Isn't it? Isn't it at least my business?"

Angelo clenched his fists.

You should let her decide.

I am her.

"I know what you're thinking, that you can save Mother. Father is much stronger, he'd hurt you too if you got in the way of his business. Let it go."

"Doesn't it hurt you knowing what father did to mother!" I shout.

"Arielle. Go take a shower and start getting ready." Luca says from down the hall. He looks angry. "Angelo, a word."

"But-"

"That is enough out of you, Arielle! You need to stop acting like a nosey brat. Angelo is right, it's none of your business," Luca growls. He gives me a warning look as if to say he dares me to talk back to him. I press my lips into a thin line and push past them to go to my room.

Downstairs everyone seems to be waiting for me. All of them already dressed in black and wearing stoic faces.

I'm hungry by the time I finish readying myself. "Do you mind if I grab something to eat?" I walk toward the pantry.

"Yes, I do mind. We are leaving. Now." Father says heading out the door and the rest follow him.

Slumping my shoulders and fantasizing about food, I groan and my father gives me a dark look daring me to complain again.

"Could've ate something if you didn't spend your morning listening in on things that aren't your business to begin with," Luca says before ducking his head to get into the car. I wanted to scold him but there isn't a point when I know Father will take his side in any battle.

***

The church is huge, it is the church my grandparents got married in. My mother is originally from the Chicago Outfit, her father was consigliere and married her off to the New York Capo's son, Domenico Marco Ricci-my father.

The last time I saw the Giordano family was when I was sixteen. Lorenzo from what I remember has two sons, Antonio and Rocco. Both of them were older, Antonio is around Luca's age at twenty-five and Rocco only a few years younger. For what I remember I've never saw Antonio. They say he is way much tyrant and handsome than Rocco and for what I've heard, Antonio was in a mission for years. The Giordano brothers had just lost their mother three years ago, from what I heard she was sick-cancer. It must be hard to lose the last of their parents.

"I was just, uh, looking for the bathroom. I didn't hear anything." I hate how I cower.

"It's alright, Domenico. May I have a moment alone with her?" Antonio asks. For the first time I've heard Xander calling my father by his name and that sounds different.

My father looks a little less angry and obliges the new Capo.

Antonio puts his hand on the small of my back and leads me into one of the bedrooms. He closes the door and stares at me.

After a moment of awkward silence, I decide to speak up. "What do you want?" My voice trembles.

"Are you scared?"

He is the new Capo. Can't question him too much. "Yes."

"Good. You should be." He paces.

"May I go back out, I-I'm really hungry, Xander. I haven't eaten all day and I don't know why the hell you were acting to be my father's assistant for so long!" I finally said it all.

"That's not important, you've been hitting on me, but not now!" Antonio takes a step toward me. "Do you know what your father and I were discussing?"

I shake my head.

"We were talking about how as the new Capo, I should appear more mature to my men, and that since the Famiglia in New York is helping the Outfit, your father believes there is one way to pay him back for his generosity. He believes a union will ensure peace between the Outfit and New York."

"Union?" I can feel my legs go weak.

"We are to marry. We will announce our engagement at the end of the week and marry next month. In fact I wanted to bring the New York's Outfit but you father made me choose you. He sold you to me. For the world you will marry me but in reality I'm paying a huge amount over you."

"He sold you..."

My vision goes black and the last thing I see before hitting the ground is Antonio rushing toward me.