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He blanches and she continues. “I was willing to give things a go at the start because I’ve been so fucking conditioned to do as I’m told by this psychotic family.” She sounds bitter and regretful. “But now? I wouldn’t piss on you if you were on fire.”

The corners of my mouth twitch and I want to smile. He’s getting his arse handed to him and he couldn’t deserve it more. Massimo and Matty are also smothering smiles and observing the scene with a mixture of shock and entertainment.

“When did I ever promise you monogamy? Huh? You are a mafia princess, for fucksake! You know how this works!”

“You could have exercised a little discretion, dickhead! And we never talked about it. You just assumed you could treat me like shit. But I grew up watching our dads too and I don’t want it! I don’t want that life!”

Elio turns away from her, his hands on his head, and paces. After an awkward silence, he stops and looks at her. “Well, you won’t be carrying my dick around in your purse, princess. You will do as you’re fucking told and not undermine me!” Then he stops suddenly looking at what Matty is doing. “How the fuck did you get glass in your feet?”

I expect her to look sheepish, but her stare is defiant and satisfied. “I needed to get the anger out of my system,” she shrugs.

We watch the blood drain from his face. He looks around the room maniacally searching for the damage she has inflicted. “What did you do?” he growls.

“I smashed up your car with a baseball bat,” she states calmly.

Elio chokes in shock and I get ready to restrain him. He is the least violent of the four of us, but fucking with his car is just about the worst thing you could do to him. “WHAT. THE. FUCK. YOU CRAZY FUCKING BITCH!”

Francesca’s mouth opens to scream back at him, but I think this has gone far enough. I interject calmly, “Enough.” When I see I have everyone’s attention, I continue, “Elio you will be in my office at 10 am tomorrow. Massimo and Matteo, I need you to be there too.”

The three of them nod obediently. “Massimo, please get Francesca what she needs out of Elio’s room. Elio you wait here and calm down. I don’t want to hear any more bullshit tonight.”

Elio is already running down the stairs to the garage and his roars of fury can be heard through the open door as he takes in the state of his car.

Francesca eyes me curiously before smiling sweetly unleashing butterflies in my stomach. ‘Thank you’ she mouths to me and I give her a quick nod in response, but remain stoic, hiding the anarchy she creates in my nervous system.

Chapter Twenty-One

Francesca

The house is modern, square with lots of glass. The lawn is precisely manicured and the hedges are so evenly pruned that it looks like a leveller has been used to make the tops perfectly flat.

The houses on either side are just as large and despite varying slightly in colour palette - greys, instead of beiges - are cut from the same design cloth as the Tetris block building in front of me.

I start up the path and note that there are no bikes or toys on the front lawn. It doesn’t look like a home for a young family. There is no indication that two boisterous boys create carnage as they play and grow here.

It is, however, exactly the type of house I would picture my big brother living in. It is austere, clinical, a show home.

Doubt forces its way into my thoughts and I question what I am doing for the thousandth time since I left the house.

I didn’t tell anyone where I was going. I told Massi that I was going to the gym and I’m not accustomed to lying to him. It doesn’t feel good. No one even knows that Stefan and I have been in contact.

I suspect they would not be pleased if they were aware given the unspoken hostility I have seen creating thick tension whenever Stefan is in the same room as the Marino siblings.

That’s their problem though. I’m entitled to have a relationship with my own brother and I want to get to know my nephews.

It would be nice to have family that isn’t using me for whatever agenda they’re pursuing. Something normal.

Sure, Stefan comes off as uptight, but since exchanging numbers at the engagement party, he has been the only person checking in and asking me how I am. He seems to care about me. He’s certainly the only one who questions whether this arranged marriage is the best thing for me.

Before I have even reached out to press the doorbell, the large, heavy door is flung open and two little boys launch themselves at me.

“Auntie Francesca!” the older one exclaims, wrapping his arms tight around my middle. “We’re so excited to meet you!”

Behind them, Stefan appears with a small smile on his face. He looks strange out of a suit. Barefoot and in jeans and a white t-shirt, he doesn’t look quite right. He is a man that doesn’t suit casual and never looks relaxed.

“Sorry about these two rascals. They’ve been beside themselves with excitement all morning,” he chuckles.

I brush the hair out of the little one’s eyes and smile down at them both. “Best greeting ever!” I exclaim. The joy in their little faces warms me and I blink back tears.