Hidden Away [Mafioso Book #2] (SAMPLE)

Chapter IX: Late

Paolo had been over the moon with his joy.

Ricardo was getting better and everything seemed to pick up from there. Paolo's dad was finally home and his son couldn't have been any happier to have his father back as healthy as a horse. He had been spending a lot of time with Salvatore when he wasn't with Ricardo, and Serafina tried not to let it bother it knowing that there were certain things he was more comfortable with sharing to Salvatore.

She could never hold a grudge against her brother, no matter how bad. He was her twin, they shared the same womb for 9 months, they're 2 halves of the same coin.

Currently, Serafina was walking after her mother in the mall, shopping for clothes. However, whenever she tried to walk into a store her mother would drift off the men clothing.

"Mom!" She complained, watching her walk into Levis. "Come on! Why do you keep doing this?" Walking into her mother inspecting a pair of jeans and muttering to herself.

"What?"

"Do you think Arcangelo would like this?" She asked turning to look at her with the denim in hand. 

"Mom, if you're forgetting, dad's entire wardrobe consists solely of suits and sweat pants and shirts, and those he wears only temporarily because he just wears them for a few moments before bed and when he actually goes to sleep he takes them off and sleeps in his boxers. You're his wife, Mom, you should know this stuff."

"Your dad often likes to wear casual clothing, something different than his usual suits." She informed and put the jeans away. "But then again, he has enough clothes. And we are here to get you some things."

"Oh, really Mom?" Serafina spoke sarcastically. "I never realized that."

"I know you didn't, that's why I'm telling you."

Chuckling at her, they made their way to different shops and got some new clothes and shoes. By the number of things we were buying, Serafina couldn't help but ask if they were paying with cash or card. Her mother had turned to grin and holding a black platinum card in hand, waving it in the air.

"Not just any card, your dad's card."

She made a sound that was a mix of a laugh and cough, looking at Rosalie swipe the card into the machine.

"And dad doesn't mind you using it? He knows, doesn't he?"

"Of course he knows. The things I do for you, Serafina, honestly and this is the level of faith you have in me?"

"Okay, okay." She couldn't help but laugh at the over exaggeration. "What did you do for me this time? Because we have the driver available, and you have dad's card..."

"I had to seduce your dad to get the card." She shrugged and forced Serafina to plug my fingers into her ears.

"Okay, mom! You guys are still my parents! I am not interested in this!"

"You should get used to it now because you'll be expected to do the same with Paolo someday." Rosalie retaliated. "You don't want to end up a blushing awkward mess like I was on our honeymoon night."

"What? No!"

"Oh yeah. I was blushing so much and I felt so awkward because I had no idea what I was dealing with, and your dad spent the entire night laughing at me and my 'innocent ways'. It was a horrifying experience."

"Wow. Okay."

"How are you and Paolo doing?" Rosalie asked with a smile.

"Good." Serafina blushed and looked away. "We're good."

"That nice to hear, despite your brothers and father being against this relationship," She smiled. "Although, if you have any problems, then just know that I'm right here for you,"

"Yeah...I know..."

"So there is a problem?"

"No-kinda....maybe?"

"Come on, talk to mama."

"Is it rational to feel jealous about the fact that my boyfriend spends a lot of time with my brother than me?"

"It's irrational to feel this way." She informed as they settled down at a table. "I felt the same way with Arcangelo, and I learned my lesson the hard way."

"Okay?"

"You forget that Salvatore is not considered 'your brother' to Paolo. Paolo considers him his best friend and vice versa. A guy needs his space just as much as a girl does. Don't nag him about it, because it will only irritate him. You don't have a right - even if you are his girlfriend, fiancée, or wife - to pull Paolo away from his friends, it won't end well. You'd be the same if he tried to pull you away from your friends."

"I'd set him in his place." Serafina scoffed at the statement.

"Exactly." She confirmed. "He'd do the same."

"And you need to remember that we aren't dealing with ordinary guys. We are dealing with Mafia men, and those are the most dangerous kind. Because they have bloodlust embedded in their DNA. You were born into this, and are accustomed to it, but I wasn't, and believe me when I tell you that - on more than one occasion - I was terrified of your dad and wondered if I actually made the right choice by marrying him."

"You questioned your decision on marrying him?" Serafina choked out, leaning forward to stare at her in disbelief.
"So many times during the initial days," Rosalie sighed. "I was terrified of him, but it physically hurt me whenever I would see the look in his eyes when he saw me scared of him."

"Your dad loves me so much, that he checked what would set off my fear towards him, and once he figured that his Mafia side terrified me, he sat me down and very gently gave me the option of getting a divorce and finding a guy who didn't terrify me like he does."

"He what?"

"Yeah." She smiled softly, playing with the edge of her napkin. "I remember him telling me that, sometimes loving someone means to let them go, and if I wasn't happy, then he'd let me go. It could see how much it tore him apart, the prospect of letting me go, but he was willing to put it all aside for my happiness."

"Has a guy ever done that for you?"

"No! Of course not," Serafina gasped at her. "What happened after that? Don't leave me hanging."

"What happened after that? Well...I couldn't."

"Couldn't what?"

"I couldn't just let him go. It wasn't possible for me anymore. Yes, I was terrified. But only of a side of him, and I told him that I wasn't terrified of the man I fell in love with, just the darkness in him. After that, your dad and I started the flower garden project, and that brought us closer and our demons embraced each other. I don't think I've ever loved your dad more wholly than I did at that moment."

"Wow..."

"Yeah, wow." Rosalie laughed. "And every day, I thank the Lord that I didn't leave him because of all the love he has. God, the look on his face when I told him I was pregnant. The elated childlike joy when we found out it was twins. The tears we shared when you two were born. God, it was definitely worth it."