Chapter 6 — Taking That Leap

Allegra

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I flinched as another loud bang came from downstairs. Mama had been yelling for the last hour since I told her that I won't marry Aldo. She was hell-bent on forcing me into this marriage but I won't give up too, not until I find someone who'd let me be my own person too instead of just a wife and a mother.

The door creaked open and Grandpa peeked through the gap. I managed to give him a feeble smile.

"I won't marry him, Grandpa..."

He entered my bedroom and came to sit beside me on the bed, he wrapped an arm around my back, "Do you have anyone else in mind?"

I shook my head.

"Benedetto Gambino?"

I scoffed, "He is just like Aldo but younger. Benedetto is controlling and he is with a different girl every single day. You know how much I hate men like this."

Grandpa sighed, shaking his head, "The Cerones are very powerful, I don't think he will let this go easily. This will bruise their egos."

I turned to him, "You can talk to Capo about this, can't you?"

"He won't interfere with our family's business. He never does, not in the marital situations of his soldiers anyway."

My eyes burned with unshed tears as I recalled what Aldo had said to me. I was ready to be the perfect wife and in return, I only asked for my right to education and he couldn't even give me that. I could imagine how the rest of our marriage life will go. It will be oppressive and miserable.

"I don't want to marry him!" I snapped, getting off the bed and pacing back and forth in my room.

The door snapped open making me jump as I knew who was there, "Do not put stupid ideas in her head telling her that she has a choice in this because she doesn't!" mama shouted at Grandpa the second she entered.

Grandpa frowned, "Luna, let the girl breathe..."

Suddenly, mama's eyes turned harsh, venomous, "Oh, let her breathe, you say? That's all she does, isn't it? Breathing as if she was the only one entitled to it.

Breathing while sucking the life out of everyone around her. Breathing, simply because she robbed the air out of his lungs! It's like she stole my oxygen along with his. Her breaths have robbed me of everything. Bet she's enjoying every breath she takes, knowing she took everything away from me. She's conceited, only cares for herself, and has mastered the art of pretending to give a damn about others."

Tears rolled down my cheeks, my heart breaking at every sentence that left her lips, "Mama..."

She glared at me with such ferocity that I could feel the heat emanating from her eyes. "Listen to me, you are going to marry Aldo Cerone, and there's no room for negotiation," she growled, punctuating every word. "I don't care if I have to drag you kicking and screaming to the altar, but you are getting married, and that's final. You have taken me for granted for too long, and I'm sick and tired of slaving away for you," her tone left no room for argument.

I glanced at Grandpa, one last time hoping he'd speak up for me but he just hung his head. He never talked back to Mama, he was just too kind-hearted to even get into an argument with his daughter-in-law.

"Grandpa..." I whispered through a sob.

"I always knew you were selfish, Allegra, but I never realized how low you could stoop for yourself. Your pathetic attempts to manipulate him with fake tears won't work! After everything, all I asked for was this godforsaken marriage and you can't even do that?"

The tears wouldn't stop, and I struggled to keep my composure; this has been my life since my papa passed away. Watching her suffer hurts me to the core, and it pains me more to see her venting her frustration on the kitchenware or me. I know that I am the root cause of her agony, and I understand that she has every right to take it out on me. I have accepted it, I deserved it.

"You took him from me..." she whispered.

I blinked and more tears rolled down my face, "I know I did."

"All because hearing a simple 'no' was too much for you to handle. You had to throw a tantrum to make sure everything goes our way."

"I..." I had nothing to say.

"And now a simple 'no' is not enough for me too. For once, try thinking of someone other than yourself!" saying that she turned on her heels and stepped out of my room.

"Allegra..." Grandpa's voice fell on my ears but I was too numb to process anything, "I will personally ask Aldo to allow you to—"

I wiped my tears, "No, no, it's okay... It's fine, Grandpa, you don't have to do anything for me," I said to him as Mama's words kept echoing in my mind, I couldn't help but feel a searing pain in my heart. Though I usually brush off her criticisms, tonight's accusations of selfishness stung me deeply, causing me to question my very character. Am I truly as self-centered and conceited as she made me out to be?

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A week elapsed, a time I didn't care to recollect when I slipped into a sky-colored gown with an unremarkable cut. It had full sleeves and hung loose on my frame. I was left to wait in a private room until the moment arrived for my presentation as Aldo's fiancé in front of La Famiglia.

A helpless lamb that is about to be slaughtered.

Our engagement ceremony took place in the grand hall of the Cerone household, with only a select few in attendance. Capo and a handful of significant men from the Cosa Nostra, who were in close proximity to Aldo, were present at the small and intimate event.

I grabbed the blue heels and made my way to the vanity without any particular emotion. I gazed at my reflection with an indifferent look. Adding a little more makeup than my usual routine, I knew Mama and Aldo had higher expectations but still refrained from overdoing it.

Mama entered the room and her eyes scanned me from head to toe before giving a brief nod. I mustered a faint smile, but there was no response from her as if it didn't matter. She commanded me to follow her outside without any indication of emotion.

With an unwavering demeanor, I made my way downstairs for the official introductions. Though my eyes still felt heavy with emotion, I had managed to suppress any outward display of it, leaving my smile unbroken as I descended the stairs towards Grandpa, Aldo, and our Capo, Nikolai Costello.

Grandpa held my hand feebly, pressing it gently as he directed me toward my future husband. I approached Aldo and could feel his piercing stare. His eyes were like a void that could suck you in, leaving you with an insurmountable dread. His expression was devoid of any emotion, and I could sense the hurt that was coming my way.

“It’s a pleasure to finally be with you, Allegra,” he said as he took my hand and gave it a light kiss. I tried to steady my shaking hand as he held it.

"The pleasure is mine," I replied, trying to keep my tone neutral. I masked my nerves. His dark eyes met mine and I couldn't help but straighten my posture.

As I stood with Aldo, my grandpa took a moment to assess us both, his expression inscrutable. It seemed as though he was finally grasping the reality of this marriage. Grandpa attempted to put up a menacing front and eyed Aldo with a stern gaze, but I knew that no amount of outward appearances could change what was inside. Grandpa had always been a gentle soul, undeserving of the cut-throat nature of our circles.

With utmost reverence, I shifted my gaze towards our Capo and humbly lowered my head, "It is indeed an honor to meet you, Capo," I said, trying to convey utmost respect.

In response, Capo gave me a brief nod and in his deep voice said, "If you face any issues with Aldo, don't hesitate to come to me."

Aldo chuckled but I could sense the gravity of the conversation, "I assure you that I will take good care of her, Don Niko," he said.

Capo's piercing gaze fell on Aldo, "It's not just about taking care of her. You understand the responsibility that comes with this. Don't take it lightly," he said, putting emphasis on every word.

Following that, Aldo extended his arm toward me, expecting me to take it. I swiftly looked towards my grandpa, only to find him intentionally avoiding any eye contact with me. It was evident that starting from that moment, I was Aldo's property.

Without any expression, I rested my hand on my fiancé's muscular arm as he led us away.

The ring ceremony started, and I was supposed to place the ring on his finger first. As I stood there nervously, my eyes briefly met with my grandfather, but behind him, my mother's impassive cold gaze quickly caught my attention. She gave me a stern look, and I could feel my hesitation growing. With trembling hands, I finally placed the ring on his finger, hoping that everything would go smoothly.

Aldo held my hand with an aggressive grip, his rough hands leaving an imprint on my skin. With an impassive expression, he slid the ring onto my finger deliberately slow, as if he was making a statement rather than celebrating our union.

Amidst the charade of fake smiles, we were showered with congratulations. To maintain the decorum of a family affair, we didn't invite our friends. However, Benedetto; a close friend of Aldo was present. His face was devoid of any expression the entire evening. With his scowl, he appeared as a statue in the midst of all the festivities.

As Aldo and I made our way to the dining room after the ring ceremony, I couldn't help but notice the fake smiles plastered on everyone's faces. Mama and the Cerone women were still chattering away about details for our wedding, while Aldo pretended to be interested in the conversation. I, on the other hand, was the only one who couldn't hide my lack of excitement.

We reached the dining table, and Aldo pulled out a chair for me. I sat down with a forced smile, wondering how I would survive a whole meal with these people.

I sat there with a plate full of food in front of me, barely able to take a bite. The questions that were thrown my way seemed to echo in my mind, as if each one held a weight of dread. Despite my hunger, my body refused to cooperate, and I could feel my appetite slipping away with each passing moment.

I asked for permission to leave and rushed out of the hall which felt like it was crushing me. However, instead of heading to the washroom, I sprinted towards the balcony and inhaled deeply, feeling a sense of immense release as the fresh air surrounded me beneath the starlit sky.

My heart was thumping as a deep, husky voice startled me, "You must be Allegra..." I quickly turned my head towards the source and saw the underboss leaning against the balcony, puffing on a cigarette. "The one who glares..." he said in a mocking tone followed by a sight laugh.

I scrutinized him from head to toe. He was really good looking I wasn't blind or a nun, and I understood why Chiara and all those women were so smitten with him. He had jet-black hair, a pale complexion, and green eyes. Green eyes were so rare in the Cosa Nostra, from what Chiara told me his mother was Caucasian and his father was Italian, maybe, he had his mother's eyes. He was undeniably handsome, but it didn't mean anything to me.

Then I processed what he had just said to me. I wrapped my arms around myself, rubbing my hands up and down my arms, "What?"

He glanced at me, "Allegra... Father Linus' granddaughter," he stated as a matter of factly.

I nodded, not wanting to indulge in a conversation with him. I knew all about him thanks to Chiara and I couldn't say I was impressed by any of it. Men who casually hop from one partner to another do not appeal to me.

"What a perfect couple" he said, taking a long drag of his cigarette, "I'm sure you'll be very happy together."

I rolled my eyes, "What's that supposed to mean?"

He gestured towards the room where my engagement party was being held, "Your fiancé, I must say, he's quite the catch. I mean, if you're into mediocrity."

I pursed my lips, annoyed by his words, "Yes because that's exactly what I was looking for in a partner. Someone who brings nothing to the table."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips before it got wiped off, "I could've found a better one for you."

My frown deepened, "And why would you find a partner for me?"

He laughed, "Don't flatter yourself, little girl, your grandfather asked me to find a match for you."

It might be true, grandpa was really close to Capo and his inner circle.

I raised an eyebrow, "Little girl? I'm twenty-one!"

"And Aldo is forty-seven," he said, eyeing me up and down, his intense gaze burned into my skin and I involuntarily took a step away from him, "You are still a child compared to him, a tall child."

I crossed my arms over my chest and his eyes briefly went to my breasts, even though they were little and almost unnoticeable in this loose-fitting dress, I still felt uncomfortable, "How old are you?"

"Twenty-nine..." he answered lazily.

I didn't know what to say next so I just glanced at the night sky above me before looking at him once more, "He was my mama's choice," I have no idea why I told him that. I owed him no explanation.

He laughed, "Then your mama should have married him."

My gaze was fixed on the ground, and I stood there with no words to utter, nor any reaction to display. I realized that it was better if I left since if someone stumbled upon me with the underboss, it could potentially damage our reputation. However, the mere thought of returning to Aldo and his family made me nauseous enough to want to vomit the meal I'd just eaten.

He took a deep drag from his cigarette, the smoke curling around his lips, he turned to face me. "Care to join me for a puff?" he asked, a teasing lilt to his voice. Our eyes locked, the air charged with an electric intensity that left me feeling a little weird.

My heart skipped a beat when I realized how near he was. The heat emanating from his body blended with mine, sending shivers down my spine. I've always thought of myself as a tall and confident woman, but in his presence, I felt so vulnerable and small. With his body leaning in close, he towered over me by almost six inches. The scent of his cologne was so strong that it overwhelmed all my senses.

"I don't think it's very honorable," I said, biting my lip and looking at the cigarette.

"I find it very sexy when a La Famiglia woman goes against tradition," he whispered, "Fuck honor," he declared, a mischievous glint in his eye.

Trembling, I reached for the cigarette in his hand, our skin brushing lightly against each other's. As he watched me intently, I placed the slender stick between my parted lips and inhaled deeply. The smoke hit my throat immediately, causing me to cough harshly and tears welled up in my eyes. I immediately handed the cigarette back to him.

"I don't like it," I said, my voice rough.

I noticed him muttering something under his breath as he laughed to himself but unfortunately, I failed to understand it. This left me with a frown on my face, trying to figure out what he was saying.

"Why are you out here?" I asked in a monotone voice, secretly wondering why I was wasting my time talking to him.

He carelessly tossed his cigarette butt on the ground and used his shoe to put it out before lighting another one. The golden light from the lighter illuminated half of his face, making him look like a character from a Hollywood movie. "I can't stand weddings, engagements, and all those tedious, long-term obligations."

"I can relate," I said reflexively.

He smirked and said, "Wow, you really despise these things, don't you? I mean, it's not like you just got engaged or anything."

I paused for a moment, unsure of what to say next, before finally responding. "To be honest, the idea of marriage has never really appealed to me. I've always imagined myself leading a single and free life, free of any romantic entanglements."

He raised an eyebrow in response. "If that's how you feel, why force yourself into a marriage?"

I shook my head, the weight of responsibility heavy on my shoulders. "It's not that simple. There are certain expectations placed upon me that I cannot ignore."

"Fuck it, fuck it all," he said, rolling his cigarette between his fingers.

I cringed at his words, "What?"

"Fuck all this. What's the point of it all? This engagement, pleasing Aldo Cerone, and fulfilling your duties. Nobody's gonna give a damn about your happiness. It's your life, and you need to make tough decisions. You should do what makes you happy, nobody else will care."

I disagreed, shaking my head in response, "I wish I could, but as I said it's not that easy..."

He chuckled, extinguishing the cigarette halfway, and tossed it on the ground. Casually, he put his hands in his pockets and approached the door leading to the hallway. As he was about to leave, he jibed, "Well, perhaps you're a little scared of taking that leap, Allegra."