Tempted By The Mafia Boss

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

Mimi

I stir against soft silky sheets and twist on to my side.

Opening my eyes I see the best thing ever.

Against the view of the Chicago skyline in the basking colors of sunrise, the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen in my life sits on the wooden chair by the window.

He’s wearing boxers, showing off his tattoos and the work of art he is.

He’s reading the newspaper and I’m looking at him, savoring the moment and the time that we have.

I haven’t left since he brought me back here days ago.

That was after the funeral.

When we’re here we live in our own reality for the few hours we have. We live in a fantasy where we make love every chance we get and talk about that future we were given the chance to have.

When we’re not here we face the worries that are still at hand.

I shuffle to sit up and he looks over at me.

“Morning sleepy head,” he smiles.

“Morning.”Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

He holds up the paper and shows me the front page.

My eyes widen when I see the headline:

Government Corruption in Illinois

Congressmen Patterson faces years of Imprisonment for links to international sex and drug trafficking.

It’s all happening way bigger than I imagined.

Nearly a month on and the saga continues.

The same evening of the showdown on the boat, Julian took the files to his people who could make things happen fast.

On the ten o’clock news that night every news channel got word out about Congressman Patterson’s activities and his links to the Fontaines. The minute the Fontaine name was dropped the newspapers ran with the story like wildfire, talking about The Italian Mob and their influence in the city. Government corruption at its finest.

I didn’t care too much for all of that.

What happened after that was a warning from the Giordanos to anyone who belonged to the Fontaines or the Portaleu family to stay the fuck away, or it would mean instant death. No questions asked.

I wrap the sheet around me and make my way over to Salvatore.

When I sit in his lap he hands me the newspaper and I read over the main paragraphs.

Sergio Fontaine is behind bars and six others in the family linked to his business activities. All were found guilty of drugs and illegal sex trafficking. All assets seized. The investigation continues…

The Fontaines are a big family and from what’s happened over the last few weeks it looks like they lost everything and are over.

No longer a threat.

I look back to him and he takes the paper away from me.

“We’ve always had to be on the alert with the Fontaines. Always. It’s absolutely over, but it doesn’t feel real. Not yet,” Salvatore states.

“It won’t for a while.”

“I guess it’s the same for you too. Have you thought about speaking with your father’s lawyers yet?”

I sigh and shake my head. Dad left me everything. The total of it all is probably close to two billion in value. That’s what his lawyers want to speak to me about and I don’t want to talk about it because I know Fontaine money is wrapped up in a substantial amount of it.

“Salvatore… it doesn’t feel right to take it.” It doesn’t and it crossed my mind to give it to my money-grabbing relatives in Calabria who’ve also been trying to contact me.

Aunt Francesca couldn’t make it to the funeral because she’s broke yet I heard from Uncle Franco that she was having a boob job and her lips done. So when she called me to express her sorrow for my father’s passing and in the same breath asked me if I could be considerate of her when the will was finalized I stopped talking to everybody.

“Baby… All money is dirty…” He raises a finger and I smile as he pauses for effect. “Except mine. Mine wasn’t dirty. That three mill came from me working my ass off legit straight up from my Rainy Day saving account.”

I can’t believe I’m laughing. He smiles at me when he sees my reaction.

“Babygirl.” He holds my gaze. “Take the money and the empire. It’s the least he could do for you, maybe that’s why he left you everything.”

I look down at his hand holding me to him and climb my gaze back to meet his eyes.

“Okay… I guess we have other things to worry about.” I’ll call them tomorrow. It’s our turn to see Gabe in the morning at the hospital.

I keep thinking-what if he doesn’t wake up? My mind shifts from remembering him lying on the ground in a pool of blood to how lifeless he looks in the hospital bed.

“Hey…” Salvatore taps the side of my cheek. “We don’t worry when we’re in here remember? That was the agreement.”

I nod. “Yeah I remember.”

“Good because you need to be in a good mood for what I’m about to do next.”

I perk up and smile at him. “Are you making pancakes with that chocolate sauce? I would love that if you are.”

He gets up with me but sets me back down on the chair.

“I can do that, but I have something else I want to do first.”

I watch him, curiously as he goes over to the walk in closet and returns with a little pink jewelry box.

It’s salmon pink like the color he painted my office at the restaurant. My favorite color.

“You brought me a present?” I ask.

“Yeah, basically,” he replies and snaps open the little box.

At first I look at the little ring inside and I gasp because I think it’s beautiful, but then it clicks and I realize that it’s an engagement ring.

A princess cut diamond that sparkles so bright it has that after twinkle is set in the center of a delicate gold band.

I look from Salvatore to the ring as he doesn’t just get on one knee, he gets down on both knees and takes my hand.

“Salvatore…” I breathe. It’s the first time in weeks that the tears that threaten to fall aren’t caused by grief.

“So back on the boat, I kind of asked you to marry me. It was probably the worst proposal ever with the bomb about to go off and all.” A lopsided grin fills his face.

“It was beautiful.”

“Well I’m glad you think so since I didn’t have this then. I didn’t want you thinking I was just talking out of my ass. I wanted you to know I meant every word I said, all of it. So I’m doing this part properly.” He nods. “Maria Cipriani, you are my everything. I know I have no right to be selfish and want to keep you with me when so much danger has happened around us, but I feel like as long as I live I can keep you safe. As long as there’s life in me I can keep you safe. That’s what I’m going with. Please be mine. Please be my wife.”

I’m nodding before he can finish. “Yes. Yes always, Salvatore.”

I throw myself into his arms and we fall back onto the floor. He turns me around and takes my hand so he can place the ring on my finger.

It looks good there.

“Maria Giordano,” he says.

“I like it. I love it, ” I tell him as he kisses me. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”