The Darkest Shade Of Black - An Arranged Marriage Dark Mafia Romance

CHAPTER VIII: Four Mistakes And A Confession

Confession is always weakness. The grave soul keeps its own secrets, and takes its own punishment in silence.

Dorothy Dix

A thing I've noticed in all the years I've lived is that when a predator is about to pounce, to make that killing blow, it goes silent, it sits still, trying to be invisible.
That's how Father has been for the last fifteen minutes, a silent but crushing presence. It's making me antsy, making my skin burn, and my mind run a thousand possibilities. None have a good outcome.
Not for me, at least.

The table is full, on one side sit the Angelos and on the other, us, Capones. We all have designated seats in the hierarchical order. Father is above everyone so of course he sits at the head of the table, to his right sits Dante, and because it would be incredibly suspicious if Mother was seated elsewhere, she's on his left, to her left is Antonio, Riccardo should be seated next to him but somewhere along the walk from the infirmary to the dining room he decided it was a great idea to sit next to me, leaving Francesca no choice but to sit on the empty chair. In front of them sit Agnesca and Valesca.

No matter my age or what I did to impress him, I have always, always, sat at the end of the Capones, furthest to Father.

To my left sits Arturo, directly in front of me sits Massim, who, unlike anyone else, has his elbows on the table and annoyingly chews open-mouthed, when we make eye contact he winks at me.

Italians love food and family.
So, it is only logic that family dinner is a common occurrence for them, right???

Well, I wouldn't know because never in my entire life has there been a family dinner.

Sure, there's been those dinners where all the Capones are gathered, but also several other people, the only reason we are there is to impress.

And that is what's happening right now.
The Angelos are those people we want to impress.
We are all in our best behavior, even me.

Riccardo has been suspiciously talkative. He, like me, is not a very sociable person, so it comes as a surprise when he doesn't stop talking. It's even disturbing.

The way he jokes around and shoots that one-sided smile, revealing a dimple -Aghhh, how I hate that dimple- By controlling the conversation, he controls the crowd. It's a side of him I've never seen, disturbing in a way I don't even want to describe.

It makes me realize how much he and Father are alike.

He softly nudges my foot under the table, as if to say: It's almost over, hang in there.

I toss my food around the plate, it's half eaten since I couldn't avoid all questions without food in my mouth.
And somewhere at the back of my mind, that cautious voice whispers: You gotta leave. NOW!!!

Exactly twenty-six seconds later -I know because I count with each breath, in, one, out, two- Father decides I've had enough peace for the day.

"Alexandra, tell us, what's your other tattoo?"

I am left in shock for several seconds, until my stupid mouth decides to take control. "The fuck are you talking about??" OK, still in shock. All eyes are on me. Mistake number four: Thinking I'm invincible.

Riccardo whispers under his breath. "Fucking shit"

"Let me refresh your memory" Father glares at me, as his voice rises ever so slightly "The one Riccardo, here, took you to get" I look at him, the questions clear in my wide eyes: How do You know?? Why did you just bring it up right now??

Riccardo on the other hand, only takes two seconds to compose himself, decides to clap his hands at the staff and ask for dessert, laughing as if it where just a joke. Father's murderous look is still on me.