HIS INNOCENT ADDICTION

"This is insane" "Check out six o'clock" I follow Elena's hand and immediately shake my head "No, thank you. Next" "Why not? He's hot" "I'm afraid that if he twists his hand one more time, his wrist will fall off. Like we get it asshole. You're wearing an expensive watch" "Fine. How about three o'clock" I nudge her in the ribs. She gives in and laughs "I wouldn't want his hands anywhere near me either" "He should be taking care of his grandkids. Why the fuck is he here?" "Do you think he can get it up?" "Elena!" I admonish but we dissolve into a fit of laughter. I don't even want to know if he can get it up or not. As women from the mafioso, we are required to maintain our virginity until we get married. If my father catches wind of me being here, in a strip club, he'll skin me alive. But since he's on a trip, Elena, my cousin, convinced me to do something daring. She's crazy but I'm crazier. Her idea was to come to the strip club and get a lap dance.

I take one last look at myself in the mirror. My hair is straightened, part in the middle, and held at the nape of my neck loosely. My makeup is minimal. Only lipgloss and the dress I chose is conservative. A long-sleeved cream gown embellished with crystals along the waist. The skirt flows down to my feet where I exchanged my heels for flat shoes. Elena is always teasing me about how innocent I look at first glance then when someone spends a few minutes in my presence, they realize how nuts I am. Gotta thank my parents for giving me these looks because my future husband has no idea what he's getting himself into. I've never taken a soul. My father and brother are overprotective to the point where they'll cover my eyes so I don't see a corpse. Danillo is the only person who doesn't shield me. He tells me I have to be strong for the future. Right now, I regret not letting him train me. He'd offered to do it but my brother forbade him. Telling him it wasn't necess

"I don't want to go" "Get out of the car, Emiliana" "If you do this I will never forgive you. It's not too late papa" "People are waiting. Get out" he says impatiently. Tears swim at the edge of my eyes and I blink hard to stop them from falling. Not because I care about my makeup being smudged but because I can't show any weakness. Not even in front of my father. It's my wedding day and we've arrived at church. Funny how they insisted on a church wedding when everyone here is a sinner. That's the thing with sinners. They're the most pretenders. Exhibit A: my father. He goes to church every Sunday then turns around and sells drugs and weapons every other day. As if it's nothing. As if his business isn't responsible for millions of death across the world. As if he's never taken a life. I'm not saying I'm a saint. I mean, in just a few hours, I will be a murderer. Just like him and every man in that church. On this side of the world, I don't think there are any saints left except

I set her down in the middle of my bedroom and the second her feet touch the floor, she scrambles away from me. Judging from the look in her eyes, it's clear what she's thinking. For the first time, she's not faking the innocent look she's giving me. And fuck do I find it adorable. With my eyes still on her, I rub myself. Watching as she swallows and takes a step back. Soon, she'll be begging for my cock but that day is not today. "See something you like?" "I... Uh... Can we talk at least?" "About what?" How I'm obsessed with you? How marriage wasn't even in my plans but the second I saw you in that dress I knew you were going to be my wife. How I lost it and fucked up my plans all because of you? Fuck! "About this... You expecting..." "What? Sex? My right as your husband?" "I know" she stops to take a deep breath then juts her chin out. Trying to look strong "I've never had sex with anyone before. I can fight you on it or you can give me time to get ready before we do it"

I might have overreacted yesterday when Dante told me his mother was coming to live with us. But in my experience, living with a mother-in-law is not easy. Before nonna died, she used to live with us. The screaming match she used to have with mama could be heard all the way down the street. They'd disagree on everything and nothing. At one point, papa stopped trying to intervene. He'd hide the weapons and then leave. As if either of them had the guts to shoot anyone. Then again, maybe they could do it in the heat of the moment. Who knows? My point is, it's not advisable to live with my mother-in-law. Especially when this is not your conventional marriage. I'm sure she will be okay with Dante having a mistress but if she sees me with a man, names will start circulating. Mothers are always like that. Their children can do no wrong. I might be overreacting. Or I might be right. Either way, I called Elena over to discuss this. She's my only friend and it's always good to have a second