Sold to Mr. Giordano

Arielle

The gathering after the funeral was held at Antonio and Rocco’s aunts house. That is to ensure privacy and safety for the new Capo, just like in New York, only a select few of my father’s men know where we will. If there is a traitor amongst us-which there has been in the past-then we’d likely be dead or moved to a new undisclosed location. The Giordano brothers cousins are all crying and Rocco is comforting his aunt while Antonio is nowhere to be found. Neither is my father. They must be having a silent battle or something!

I roam the hallways in search for the two. I’m startled when they exit a room and run into me.

“Arielle Mia Ricci! What the hell have I told you about eavesdropping!” My father says with his hands clenched into fists.

“I was just, uh, looking for the bathroom. I didn’t hear anything.” I hate how I cower.

“It’s alright, Domenico. May I have a moment alone with her?” Antonio asks. For the first time I’ve heard Xander calling my father by his name and that sounds different.

My father looks a little less angry and obliges the new Capo. My father never lets me in a room alone with a man. What the hell is he thinking?Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Antonio puts his hand on the small of my back and leads me into one of the bedrooms. He closes the door and stares at me.

After a moment of awkward silence, I decide to speak up. “What do you want?” My voice trembles.

“Are you scared?”

I debate on lying, but I know better than to lie to a man in power. If Antonio told my father, I’d be disgraced and have a punishment to look forward to. Since he is the new Capo can’t question him too much “Yes.”

“Good. You should be.” He paces.

Why is he pacing? It only makes me more nervous. Is he going to kill me? Did Father finally get sick of me and now he’s getting rid of me? His only daughter?

“May I go back out, I-I’m really hungry, Xander. I haven’t eaten all day and I don’t know why the hell you were acting to be my father’s assistant for so long! ” I finally said it all.

“That’s not important, you’ve been hitting on me, but not now!” Antonio takes a step toward me. “Do you know what your father and I were discussing?” I shake my head. “We were talking about how as the new Capo I should appear more mature to my men, and that since the Famiglia in New York is helping the Outfit, your father believes there is one way to pay him back for his generosity. He believes a union will ensure peace between the Outfit and New York.”

“Union?” I can feel my legs go weak.

Don’t say it. Don’t say it. Don’t say it.

“We are to marry. We will announce our engagement at the end of the week and marry next month. In fact I wanted to brought the New York’s Outfit but you father made me choose you. He sold you to me. For the world you will marry me but in reality I’m paying a huge amount over you.”

“He sold you…”

My vision goes black and the last thing I see before hitting the ground is Antonio rushing toward me.

***

“She hasn’t eaten all day!” I can make out Angelo yelling.

“Every day she embarrasses me!” Father growls.

I open my eyes and am surprised to see Antonio at the side of the bed looming over me. “Are you okay?”

I nod my head. “Yeah. I’m hungry and thirsty is all.”

“Here, I brought you some snacks from downstairs,” Angelo replaces Antonio handing me a plate of crackers, cheese, and pepperoni. When I look up and scan the room, Antonio is gone.

“Am I…” I clear my throat when it goes hoarse. “Am I really marrying Antonio?”

Angelo sighs once again looking upset. Luca looks to Father who nods his head. “Yes. You will not be returning to New York. You’ll stay at the penthouse with Angelo, and one of Antonio’s bodyguards will not leave your side. When I return to New York I’ll have someone ship all your stuff.”

“But I don’t want to leave New York,” I cry, “I want to attend NYU and work at The Met! Please don’t make me do this! Did you sold me?”

Father slaps me hard across the face. “Enough! You will do as you are told!” He storms out of the room. He calls from the hallway, “Don’t let her back downstairs until you two are sure she isn’t going to embarrass me further!”

I weep into my hands and Angelo sits down on the bed next to me. He gives me a pitiful look and raises a glass of water for me to drink.

“Please, we don’t want you passing out again.”

“You can’t let Father do this to me,” I sob and push away the water.

“You should be honored you’re marrying the most powerful man in the Outfit,” Luca says through gritted teeth. “Drink the damn water, hydrate yourself so we can return. I’m tired of babysitting you.”

“How could you say that? She’s our sister!” Angelo argues.

“Father is right, it’s time you both learned your places. The only reason Made Men have daughters is to give them away, and the reason they have sons is to make soldiers out of them!” Luca shoves his finger into Angelo’s chest.

“She’s nineteen, she has dreams! Her dreams go to fucking hell when she marries Antonio. She’ll become nothing but a means to give him a heir, you think that’s an honor?!”

“One more word out of you and I’ll put a fucking bullet between your eyes,” Luca warns, lingers, then leaves when Angelo has shut up for good.

“Please stop arguing with him, thank for sticking up for me, but it’s no use.” I wipe a tear trailing down my cheek and finally take the glass of water for a long sip.

“I’ll see if there’s something more I can do-”

“No. I… I can marry him. It won’t be so bad, I mean at least he’s not old, fat, and ugly,” I hiccup a laugh and end up sobbing even harder.

Angelo wraps his arms around me and holds me tight. “I’ll see if I can stay in the Outfit for good, so I can be with you. You’ll need someone to look out for you.”

“Father will never agree to that… but it would be nice having you here. It won’t feel so lonely,” I sniffle.