chapter 3 (Summer's POV)

     I know this was an arranged marriage, but what  would prompt a parent into choosing me, over that heaven sent, angel defeating, beauty.

     Truly, what did I even have that was really so special? Or was choosing me like a punishment for Marcelo? Was that why he would always find the slightest excuse to leave whenever I was around, or even worse, not show up at all?

     " They must have made a mistake." I think aloud, as my sister leads me back into the limo that had brought us earlier.

     She had showed up immediately after the girls had dropped that earth shattering bomb, and as the problem solving sister, she successfully rescued me before the twin demons could progress into beating the living daylight out of me for stealing Rosa's man.

     " You're beautiful too, you know that, right?"

     " I know, I know, but in this case it doesn't count. I mean did you not seen her? That girl could turn a straight lady gay, she's that beautiful, far too beautiful to be replaced by me." I reply as I settle into the car.

     " You know, Instead of wasting your energy on comparing yourself to her, you could channel it into doing something better, like staying away from your ex."  Winter berates.

      I sigh as I lean back into the car seat. I would never cheat on my just turned husband, and most especially not with my ex. It's not that I respect my husband or anything like that, but I fear what he would do if he found out.

     Earlier in the cathedral, he had mentioned Emilio, which could only mean that he was aware of my little escapades before the wedding, and if I continued, someone could get hurt.

     I hated the idea of arranged marriages, and I hated it now even more because, my husband was a part of the Mafia, but the wise thing to do right now, was to remain loyal, and avoid Emilio at all cost.

      " He mentioned Emilio during the wedding." I say solemnly, as I look at my sister.

     " Why am I not surprised? I knew he would find out, if not today, then eventually. You can't hide anything from that guy, or his cousin, they have eyes everywhere, which is the more reason why you have to be very careful, avoid Emilio and respect Marcelo."

     " I know, I know, I want to live so I will and also, what cousin?" I ask wondering why my sister thought it necessary to include him.

     " His cousin Enzo, Nicholas De Luca's only son."

     " Nicholas De Luca? Isn't that your husband?" I ask, trying to piece the puzzle together.

     " Yes, Enzo is my husband's son, and underboss."

     " Underboss.... What's that?"

     " An underboss is the second in command to the mafia boss, he's  like a vice president in an organization."

    " Makes sense, I'm guessing he's in charge now."

    " Yes, since my husband is in coma, he's  currently in charge. Whatever you do Summer, please try to avoid him. Your husband maybe the calm, and calculated demon, but his cousin is very impulsive, and volatile. He could slit your throat open if his guts tells him to, and worst of all, he would be smiling while doing it."

      "That's psychopathic, is he aware?" I ask with a tinge of worry.

     " In this world, psychopathic is kind of normal." She says with a bitter smile.

     The remainder of the ride, Winter is unnaturally quiet, but I don't disturb her as I too, was thinking about a lot of things.

    When the driver pull's over at a lion crested gate, I sit up. A brief inspection is done by the guards at the gate  before it opens, ushering us into a whole new world entirely.

     It looked like we were in an estate, with several houses lining the streets in an arranged order. After driving for a while, we got to the heart of the estate, that's when Winter resumes speaking.

     " This is the De Luca compound, your new home. It's divided into two main sections, the Nicholas De Luca's section, and the Salvatore De Luca's section. The latter is where you'll be staying." She explains while pointing out the different sections

  There's a massive mansion standing at the center of the division, it had a similar gate as the one we had just passed, and guards were patrolling the vicinity.

     " Who stays here?" I ask in wonder

     " The Mafia Boss, my husband but since he's in coma, Enzo stays here, as the acting Don."

     " And where do you stay now that Enzo stays here?" I inquire, and she laughs.

     " Summer, the building is large enough for both of us to cohabit without inconveniencing the other."

     " Oh, that explains a lot." I reply with an amused laugh.

     When we finally arrive my husband's home, I'm in awe. The house is a luxurious villa located at the end of the road.

   There's a lovely pond immediately after the villa and it's filled with water lilies, and water hyacinths. Several other flowers are arranged neatly along the edge of the pond, and butterflies are seen hovering happily around them.

     When we get down from the car, my senses are immediately assaulted by a sudden nostalgic feeling of home, the air is clean, the sound of rushing water feels therapeutic, and I have the sudden urge to just lie on the grass,and count the clouds.

     I had to hand it to him, for such a stuck up person, he had very great taste, and even though I hadn't seen the rest of the property, I could already conclude this was the best.

      Winter had started making her way towards the front door, so I hoist my wedding gown, and follow immediately after her. When I get there, she has already opened the door, and instead of going in, she hands me the key card.

     " Your husband told me to show you in, but he didn't say where in particular you would be sleeping. I'm sure he'll sort that out whenever he gets back, so for now just pick any of the rooms, and freshen up. I have to go get ready for dinner, see you later." She says before hugging me, and  excusing herself, leaving me all alone in the huge villa.

     Just as Winter had advised, I arranged my things in one of the rooms downstairs, take my bath and, have a nap. When I wake up, its past seven in the evening, and Marcelo is still not back.

     A rumbling sound comes from my stomach, reminding me that asides from the hangover soup I had drank that morning, I hadn't eaten anything thing.

     I couldn't cook so I dial my sister's line, but she's not responding, I try the second time but there's still no response, I'm about to try the third time when his call comes in, Emilio Caruso, my ex.

     " Hello?" I answer on the first ring.

     " Are you available to hang?" He asks without even bothering about pleasantries.

     " Yes, I mean no, I can't, I'm married now, we can't hang." I say, remembering Winter's warning.

     " Come on summer, it's just a little friendly outing, nothing more, we won't be doing anything you don't like." He persuades over the phone.

     " I said no Emilio, please, just understand."

     " Fine, don't come over, I'll come over to you, give me your address so I can come, and see you, I can get your favorite meal too."He says, surprisingly. I'm hesitant for a bit, so he adds.

     " Please, just treat this like our last meeting, like the closure we both need okay?"

     " Okay." I say, my resolve shattering.

      It was going to be the first time Emilio was making an attempt to meet up with me, usually I was always the one doing the pursuing, which was why I immediately agreed.

       I could just sneak out, and meet him at the gate, we wouldn't get caught, and I would put an end to all this madness between us before my husband killed me, or even worse him.

     " I'm at the De Luca compound, but I'll come outside the gate to meet you."

     " I can come in instead, I heard the compound is large, will you be able to walk down?" He asks in a worried tone, another new improvement.

     " There's no need for that, I'll be out in a jiffy." I say as I hang up.

     I throw on a black hoodie, and joggers. The least I needed was to get caught, so saying that I was going out for a run would be the perfect excuse. With that I make my way out of the villa.