A Mafia Romance

1

Adriana's POV

     I woke up to a knock on my bedroom door. It was Alessio, my older brother. He told me he wanted to go out for dinner so i needed to get up. It's only been a month since papa passed. Some days i cant even get out of bed and take care of basic hygiene let alone eat.

     I guess I was a bit grateful he asked since this is basically the first time he has talked to me since papa's passing. The more think about it the more I realize how weird he has been acting, probably just the grief.

      I cant believe it's already 4 pm, my days really are blending together. I scream into my pillow then peel myself out of bed. I look into the mirror for the first time in a month. I touch the bags under my eyes. My long black hair is in my face and so tangled, i don't want to deal with it so I throw it up into a very messy bun. I throw on a t-shirt and sweats because i really don't care how i look when i feel like shit.

     I met Alessio in the car, he seemed kind of fidgety but I ignored it. The car ride was silent. I miss my brother, when we lost papa it's like i lost him too. Nothing is the same.

  We went to the cute little diner where papa used to take us as kids. I ordered a water with my pancakes.

"I needed some good comfort food" i laughed.

Midway through my next bite Alessio stated we needed to discuss an important matter, with a blank face. This is not the Alessio I know. It's like his personality has been erased he is so cold now.

   He starts talking about papa's business and how it's having a lot of problems.

"What do you mean problems? How hard is it to build stuff ?"

"Adriana I don't think you are understanding, money problems"

"Understanding what Alessio? Fix it, you are not going to lose papa's business! I raised my voice as i felt my eyes start to water.

"Calm down we have to be smart about this, Papa owed very important people."

"Owed money? How is that even possible? What people?"

I am beyond confused in this conversation. We have lived in a big house our whole lives, i have never had to work. Anything i wanted papa provided me with. I was the first of my friends to get a car. I had my own debit card to shop whenever i pleased. I guess you could call me spoiled, I was his princess.He had his own construction company with a warehouse and he also owned some shipping docks so we never had money issues. He was a hard working man until he became sick and could no longer work.

Alessio's POV

I am about to turn Adriana's whole world upside down. It's bad enough she's still grieving. I am so angry that my father's debt is to be paid by me, with her. There's no hiding from it. Adriana has no idea who our father really was, he was a great man but all of his businesses were fronts. He was a part of the mafia. He kept it really well hidden but i started to notice around 15-16. He told me everything i wanted to know but Adriana couldn't know, he knew she couldn't handle it.

He didn't want either of us involved which i respect but i had to step in once he became ill. I wasn't aware of the debt owed until he passed, thats when the threats began and I'm not made for this shit Im only 22 I don't know what to do although I'm keeping up a good front.

I spoke to Romeo personally and i know thats rare he gives no one the time of day. I thought damn he must really want his money, no he wants my sister. My innocent baby sister. An arranged marriage. That bastard threatened our lives and my Father's business if we can't agree to his terms. She has to do it, he can kill me I just want her safe.