Deals, Diapers, and Deaths

Chapter 1: Secrets and Situations

"I was doing just fine before I met you." ~ Chainsmokers ft. Halsey, Closer
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Two Years Ago...

"That's her. She's the one," Alberto Ronchetti spoke with clear conviction in his voice to his eldest son as he pointed at the clearest security camera picture of her.

"Surely you must be joking Father. She's smiling and wearing pink for God's sake. In every single photo!" Alesso Ronchetti yelled while wildly gesturing at the assorted pictures of her and her colleagues that scattered the large table in his father's home office. 

"What truly gets me is that she genuinely likes all of the idiotic people that surround her on a daily basis. Plus, she has no criminal record and is a certified goody-two shoes. Are you absolutely positive that is the same woman on the video?" Alesso questioned, completely doubting the fact that this law-abiding girl was the same one he saw doing very illegal activities on the videotape Alesso and his father had received anonymously in the mail months prior. They had spent the past two months tracking her down and Alesso was sure his father had clearly been duped by false information.

"Alesso," Alberto began, looking into Alesso's dark brown eyes, "I am very sure. Victor was the one who relayed her identity to me." Alberto knew that at the mention of Victor, Alberto's right-hand man, his son would begin believe that this woman was the same woman in the video, however unlikely it may seem.

Alberto paused, knowing he would have to pick his next words carefully as his son never quite grew out of being temperamental. "Yes, she does wear pink and soon she will be wearing your grandmother's ring."

"Damn right, you insufferable child" Alya Ronchetti shouted from across the room. Aleberto's mother and Alesso's grandmother was sitting down regally with her sapphire-encrusted cane lying halfway across her lap. Her long, white hair was pinned back into a perfect bun, which made her look like the definition of elegant.

"Excuse me?" Alesso said in a confused tone. "Nonni, you agreed to this ridiculousness?"

"Shut up and listen if you know what is good for you" Alya threatened, her electric blue eyes sparkling in the light.

At his grandmother's demanding words, Alesso did as he was told.

"You need to marry someone who the Family will respect for their power. We are already facing backlash and the threat of rebellion by the future heir to the Empire not being married and unscrupulously being a relationship with a women who has no relation to the Family business."

Alberto continued. "Not only did this woman kill 30 heavily armed men, she killed men from the Burkanov Family. She killed their best men and now they want her head. She inadvertently helped the Family by killing off our rivals, so we need to help her. Alesso, you have to marry her. It is the only way we can protect her and quell the threat of mutiny."   

"You sure as hell know I can't do that Father!" Alesso yelled, insulted that his Father would propose, literally, such a terrible proposition. "Delilah has my heart, not this woman." Alesso paused to gather his coat and briskly walked to the door. 

As he opened it Alesso said, "How dare you try to undermine my relationship with Delilah. You should be ashamed of yourself. The Family will just have to learn to live with the decision I have made."

Alesso paused for a breath and then continued. "The woman works for Franco DiMaglo. He is a part of the Family. She will be safe." With one last glaring look at his father and grandmother, Alesso stormed out of the room slamming the door shut behind him, causing the pictures on the table to flutter and scatter around the room from the force.