The Mafia’s Forbidden Desire

ROSALINDA.

“You know I’m still mad at you for not telling me earlier on that Ruby was abducted, right?” I told Giovanni as we walked to his car. He was finally leaving after a very long stay with us.

“If you had told me what Piero made you do, I would have pulled his teeth out of his gum.” He grinned, changing the subject.

I rolled my eyes, sighing. “Oh, please.”

“What?” He asked, arching his brows. “Did I just see those eyes roll?”

“So, would you come back soon or will you be gone for a long time?” I asked curiously. Even though he was the most annoying cousin ever, I’d still miss him.

“Ah! Rosalinda would miss me!” He boasted, a face-splitting grin tugging his lips apart.

“In your dreams, Gio. In your dreams!” I rolled my eyes and quickly averted my gaze to hide the smile that formed on my lips.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

He suddenly wrapped his arm around my shoulders, and I hoisted my head up to look at him as he spoke. “I’ll miss you too. And-” He paused.

“What?” I quickly asked.

“Be careful around Antonio. I know you like him, but don’t do anything stupid.” He continued, sighing.

“I won’t. I promise.” I assured, hoping I would keep my own promise.

“I hope so,” he muttered as we came to a stop in front of his car.

Pressing my lips together, I wrapped my arms around him, embracing him. “Drive safely, Gio.”

“I will.” He assured, nodding, as we pulled away from the hug.

Leaning in, he planted a soft kiss on my cheek before pulling the car door open and slipping inside.

“La mia bellissima cugina. Bye.” He muttered before shutting the door without even giving me the chance to say goodbye.

As he drove away, I turned around to make my way back into the mansion, but I quickly stopped in my tracks and gasped in surprise when someone I never expected to see again came to view.

“Surprised?” He smiled charmingly, his arms folded across his chest. To say I was surprised is an understatement. I was perplexed, bewildered, and bemused.

“What are you doing there?” I asked when I finally recovered from the shock.

“To cut it short, business.” He stated, taking long strides towards me. 

I knew it when I saw him at the store. He didn’t look like an ordinary man with a gun. I could sense some darkness beneath his calmness, and I wasn’t wrong. He was part of the Mafia.

“Nice meeting you again, Rosalinda.” He said, extending his hand for a handshake. “The name is Liam, in case you forgot.”

“I didn’t forget.” I said, a smile touching my lips as I took his hand.

“Before I proceed, is Mr. Possessive lurking somewhere?” He joked, glancing around, and I couldn’t control the laughter that emanated from my throat. 

”I won’t want him to jerk my collar just for speaking with you.” He continued, chuckling softly.

“He was just trying to protect me. And by the way, he is my brother-in-law.” I clarified, and he raised an accusing brow at me.

“What?” I huffed when he didn’t reply immediately.

“Nothing.” He said, shaking his head. “I know Antonio Russo is engaged to your sister, Sofia. But you both didn’t seem like just in-laws.”

I knew what he was talking about, and I didn’t want to have that conversation with him. So, blowing out a sharp breath, I opted to change the subject.

“So, what business are you here for?” I asked curiously.

“Who knows? Maybe I find you beautiful, and I’m here to ask for your hand in marriage. Do you think this lad is worthy of you?” He chirped and immediately laughed at his own joke.

“You’re not so bad for a groom.” I replied, deciding to play along.

“You again.” Liam suddenly remarked, his gaze fixed in a particular direction, and I quickly trailed his line of sight.

Antonio was standing there, a deep frown saturating his features.

“Are you going to grab my collar and threaten me again for chatting with your’sister-in-law’?” He continued, putting sister-in-law’ in quotes.

“Antonio.” I whispered, my heart pattering to an uneven beat as I stared at him. He was my brother-in-law, and I owed him nothing. But I didn’t know why I had a feeling in me that felt like I was cheating on him by speaking with Liam. I didn’t know why I had the urge to explain to him that there was nothing going on between me and Liam, and we were just talking. What was wrong with me? I hated this unwanted feeling of guilt.

Pressing his lips into a thin line and shaking his head, he turned around and made his way into the building in long, angry strides without uttering a word to any of us.

…

ANTONIO.

If I had stayed there for a second longer, I would’ve lost my sh*t and run a bullet through the skull of that bastard. I despised him with everything in me, and I couldn’t bear seeing him with Rosalinda.

“What is Liam Romano doing here?” I questioned Roberto immediately I stepped inside his office. “The Romano’s wants an alliance, right? Through marriage with Rosalinda.”

He sighed, setting the papers in his hands aside as he leaned in his seat.

“Yes.” He replied, nodding.

I pulled the visitor’s seat out and settled on it. “Well, I’ll tell you something for free. Diego met me with the bullshit offer first, but I rejected it. He’s having a conflict with a Russian family and needs an ally to fight his war with. The Petrov family, to be specific. I don’t need to tell you how deadly they are. You know.”

Not even a hint of surprise flashed on his face after hearing what I said, indicating that he was very much aware of what he was getting into.

“You know?” I asked, raising my brow.

“I am not stupid. I won’t just give out my daughter without necessary investigations.” He admitted.

My eyes squinted as I stared at him in disbelief. He knew very well how dangerous and ruthless the Petrov family were. They wouldn’t hesitate to wipe out an entire family just to punish their enemy. How could he sign up for something that would put his daughter’s life in danger?

“What would be in it for you?” I asked, surprisingly calmly, despite the rage boiling within me.

“Is it worth risking your daughter’s life?” I added when he didn’t give me an immediate response.

“About what happened yesterday, I’ll let the fact that you almost killed my daughter go. But in exchange, can you please keep what you heard yesterday a secret? About Gino.” He said in an attempt to change the subject.

“You have my word. No word about it will come from me.” I said, meaning my words. I would never do anything that would put Rosalinda’s life in danger, as she was too precious to me. If Gino’s family ever hears that their son died for a crime he did not commit, they’ll stop at nothing to make sure both Rosalinda and Piero are erased from the face of the earth.

Now, going back to what we were discussing, I couldn’t just let it go.

“What’s in it for you? Is it worth it? Why risk her life?” I pressed on.

“We shouldn’t be discussing Rosalinda. She is not your business.” He blurted out, causing me to impulsively jump to my feet and bang his desk hard.

“Of course she is!” I snapped.

His forehead creased, forming multiple lines as he stared at me suspiciously.

Darn it! I lost control, and Roberto became suspicious. I needed to manage the situation carefully, as I couldn’t let him catch on to how much I cared so much about Rosalinda-which I really did!

“I mean-” I blew out a sharp breath in an attempt to free the heat burning within me. “Rosalinda is not the only issue here. I’ll be marrying Sofia, and that means I’ll be connected to you. If you go on to form that alliance with Diego and fight his war with him, I’ll be directly or indirectly affected, and that is what I’m worried about.”

Whatever reckless game Roberto was playing, I had to stop him. It was Rosalinda’s life that was at stake, and I’d do anything to protect her. That aside, I couldn’t even bear to see her with another man!