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Sadie Sorento and Brandon Avenetti were destined to be together. Their families were already planning the wedding of the Italian mafia prince and princess long before the pair had even star...
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8 Years Ago
"Sadie, why are you so set on this?" I run my fingers through my hair at a complete loss. She's worked herself into such a frenzy I'm not even sure what we're fighting about anymore. She can't possibly be this upset over a silly high school dance. Not even Sadie is that crazy.
Her eyes fill with fury. "It's important to me, Brandon. It's my senior prom and I'd like for my boyfriend to go with me."
"We've already been twice, though." I can't help but laugh, but judging by her reaction, that is the exact wrong thing to do. Am I really being all that unreasonable? "Look, babe, I know you're upset about this, but there's not much I can do. I have to be at the warehouse."
"You've known about this for months, and I know if you told your dad what is happening, he would be fine with you missing." She's partly right. I've known about this for months, and I've been dreading it. By some miracle, I graduated last year, and the thought of going back to our high school isn't all that appealing. I could hardly drag myself there when I had to go.
"I can't just neglect my responsibilities with the group, Sadie. It's my job, people are counting on me. Lives depend on it."
Sadie scoffs, rolling her eyes dramatically. I know she thinks I'm putting more emphasis on my role than really is needed, but she doesn't understand.
"I'm sorry if that upsets you, but I can't no show. This is my job. It's our life now. I'm not going to screw it up for some stupid high school dance. Why is that so hard for you to understand?" I know I fucked up the second the words come out of my mouth. It isn't about the dance to her and that's clear, but making her feelings seem frivolous is a low blow.
"You know, at the end of the day, maybe it is just a stupid high school dance, but I'm more upset about you making a commitment to me and blowing it off for some night shift at the warehouse counting boxes. Literally two days before we're supposed to go. You're already choosing the mafia over me, which you swore you never would." She glares, choking back tears. "I knew this was going to happen. This is exactly why I never wanted any of this."
"Sadie, you're being dramatic. It's one night. I'm not choosing anything over you. That's exactly the point, I don't have a choice." I spit back, harsher than I intend, too. We're having this fight in my basement and it will be a miracle if my entire family isn't listening to it.
"Yeah, keep telling yourself that." I honestly can't remember the last time I've seen her so upset. "If you're not going to go with me, I'll go with someone else."
"Don't be ridiculous, Sadie. You're not going with someone else." I say firmly, putting a stop to whatever game she is playing before she even gets started.
"I don't need your permission. I'll do whatever I want, Brandon. That's exactly what you do in this relationship."
I bite my tongue, holding back the spiteful words I want to say. As angry as I am, I know her anger is misplaced. She has so much pent-up animosity towards the Mafia, and I'm the safest target.
