THE ENGAGEMENT 2

The room fell silent as the sound of the gunshot reverberated through the air. Everyone froze, their eyes fixated on the aftermath of the horrifying event. They all turned their eyes to the hole shot through the wall.

Carl took his seat and resume eating dinner like nothing happened.

“Father, you don’t have to threaten anyone with death. Don’t you dare hurt my brothers and my mother or else….”, Arya threatened but Carls cut her off.

“Or else what?”, he asked looking up at her. The thought of a woman challenging him made his misogynist ego hurt.

“Or else I will end my life”, Arya finished.

Carls laughed. “That will do me much good in case if you don’t know. If anyone tries to play games with me, I won’t miss the next shot”, he said menacingly.

“You can’t even shot straight”, Antonio said to him bitterly.

“That’s what you think. Try speaking to me in that manner again and the next shot will go through your dumb and weak head”, Carls said to him and exit the room.

“As usual, you didn’t say a word, Dante”, Antonio said looking at his brother.

“Because it never solved anything. It only makes things much more worse”, Dante said as he turned to Antonio.

“Brothers please, don’t interfere or try to stop him. He doesn’t mind killing his children and you know that”, Arya pleaded with her brothers.

“Your sister is right. If we want to find a way around this we shouldn’t challenge him. He’ll end anyone that disrupts his plans”, Camille said with a sad sigh.

Antonio hit the table and walked out of the room. He might be a nineteen year old but he’s a fearless fighter.

Arya came out of her bathroom already wearing her bathrobe. She walked to the window and looked out. She had never gone out without her family or her guards. She didn’t even go to school, instead, she was home schooled. She wondered if she should run away or kill herself but she knew that if she tries any game, Carls would kill her loved ones. She shuddered at the remembrance of Carls shooting at Antonio.

She took her place on her bed and cried herself to sleep.

***************************************************

The next day came faster than Arya would have hoped. Her maids entered her room and began to prepare her for the day.

“Ouch!”, she exclaimed as one of the maids, Ana, pricked her with a pin while doing her hair.

“I’m so sorry, mistress”, Ana said with fear in her eyes.

“It’s fine Ana. But what’s wrong with you? Your hands are shaking”, Arya asked her and motioned for the other maids to leave them alone.

“I overheard what boss announced over dinner yesterday”, Ana said crying.

“Oh, don’t worry. It can’t be as bad as it sounds. He might be a good man trapped in this predicament with me”, Arya said but not convincing Ana.

“Can I at least come with you?”, Ana asked.

“I don’t know. But I’ll try my best to bring you along”, Arya said with tears in her eyes as she hugged Ana.

Camille entered the room and looked at her daughter. She looked stunning but not happy.

“Il mio bambino, you look beautiful”, Camille said as she touched Arya’s face.

“Thank you mama”, Arya replied. She stood up and smiled sadly holding into her mother’s hands. She looked gorgeous in her dress. She was wearing a long peach dress that had a high slit and bared back design. The dress color complimented her porcelain bare back well. She had minimal make up on and her hair was pinned up. Her amber eyes which she got from her mother shone bright.

“Let’s go to the limo. Your father and brothers are waiting”, Camille said and together they walked downstairs.

As soon as they got into the limo Carls turned to their direction.

“Why did you take so long?”, he asked Arya.

“I was adjusting my dress”, she replied looking at the window and not sparing Carls a glance.

“You can give as much attitude as you like, it will only make it more enjoyable for me”, Carls said to her with a chuckle.

“You look gorgeous, dear sister”, Antonio said to her and Dante gave her a smile much to Carls’ disdain.

Carls signaled the driver to move and they drove out of the mansion to her betrothed’s home.

They got to the villa and alighted the limo. The villa was huge and cars were parked at a distance from the main entrance. The sound of laughter and music echoed from inside, blending with the cool night breeze. It was like a typical mafia party, filled with extravagance and an air of danger. Arya took a deep breath, steeling herself for the evening ahead. Dangerous looking men and women moving around. Everyone and anyone could literally snap and it would turn to a killing spree.

As the Miguel’s walked in, they were welcomed by the grooms’ family.

“Welcome, Carls”, Alfredo, the groom’s father greeted him and nodded in Camille’s direction.

“Thank you for your hospitality”, Carls replied.

“I suppose she’s the one”, Amelia, the groom’s mother, said looking in Arya’s direction. Arya stood tall and met Amelia's gaze with a calm demeanor.

“Yes, she’s Arya”, Camille said to her.

“Come here child”, Amelia said to Arya. Arya walked up to her and they hugged.

“Let’s get you to your seat”, she said and took Arya with her as they made their way to the couple’s lovely seat. It looked beautiful. It was a soft black seat with gold embroidery , shimmering in the dimly lit room. The room was filled with anticipation and the low murmur of hushed conversations as guests took their seats around their grand banquet tables adorned with exquisite floral arrangements.

The Miguel family took a table and sat together , surrounding themselves with friends and associates.

Arya sat at the couple’s table and looked around, wondering where her husband to be was. Not like she was looking forward to meeting him but she wanted to see what he looked like.

“He better not be ugly”, she thought out loud.

“I’ve been called a lot of things but never ugly, amorina”, she heard a voice say from behind her.

She turned around and froze in her seat.