Between Two Devils
Marco
“Out of all the women, you had to choose her?” Giovanni, my brother and best friend, complained while swiping through the pictures on my phone.
“Yeah, she is the only reasonable one here. She fit into the criteria of what I want in a wife.”
“I don’t think so.” He shook his head.
“You have some reasons?”
“Hell yeah.” He took the remainder of his drink in one go.
“Okay, I’m listening.”
“Well, first of all, from the investigation she’s a freaking feminist. Do you need all that chaos in your life? Are you ready for all that?”
“Giovanni, I don’t need a fucking doormat for a wife.” I spat with disgust.
My relationship with my late wife was a different issue, she had been too docile for my personality. She wanted to be loved, and I didn't have that in me to give at that time. But I respected her and took care of her.
Our marriage had been mundane from the beginning, but later on, we grew to resent each other in the end days.
“She's from a good family, I'm not going to lie, but at the same time, they have a huge debt to settle.”
That was no secret in our circle, even though the Bianchis thought they were handling it well.
“Money is not an issue. Are those your only reasons?”
“For now, yes. What about yours?”
He was asking why I had taken an interest in Sofia Bianchi.
“She’s older than the others.” Some of the ladies who had been selected by their families
“She’s not the oldest. Dorcas is there.” Giovanni arched his brows, then wrangled it in amusement.
“Don't even go there.” I scoffed.
I had no issue with Dorcas Fineli, but she was a widow whose husband had been killed in an ambush.
“If you ask me, she's obviously the best choice. She's a mother, and she's well-versed in this marriage stuff. She probably will be the least problematic choice.” His emphasis on ‘least problematic’ didn't go unnoticed.
“Well, I'm not asking you.”
Sofia Bianchi’s face flashed in my mind. For some reason, I couldn't get her off my mind. I was riveted when I first saw her picture.
She was a gorgeous lady with very graceful features that definitely caught the attention of men and women alike. She was not petite, but compared to me, she was smaller in structure.
“The Bianchi girl is the one who's most suited to my interests.” I know she would definitely despise me, and that was what I needed.
Not an extremely young wife who would
“You know you have Alyssa to consider?”
“Yes.”
Alyssa was my only child from my first marriage. My beloved daughter, who was currently experiencing the cute but annoying childhood phase.
“Yeah, she will fare well with Sofia.” If I were being honest with myself, I admired Sofia Bianchi. Alyssa will grow into a strong young woman if Sofia is her mother figure.
That is, if our marriage lasts and Sofia doesn't have the same fate as my late wife.
“Alyssa will only become stubborn,” Giovanni stated, arguing his point.
It was obvious he didn't like my choice, but it was none of my business.
At the end of the day, I was the one getting married and not him.
Sofia
“Sofia, do you want more?” Leo asked me, holding the bowl of salad. We were having breakfast as a family.
“No.” I shook my head and continued lazily feeding myself.
“Okay.” He passed it to Mama who served some for herself.
Luca wasn't here with us. He was out on business. After the day that the news was broken to me, our interactions had been strained.
Leo and Ric were the only people I was on good terms with in the house.
We ate in silence with my head down all through dinner.
“Sofia.” Mama called, making me lift my head up.
“Yes?” I noticed that Leo and Rio were done eating and had exited the sitting room.
“Are you okay? Are you feeling dizzy or tired?” She asked with concern plastered on her beautiful face.
After the day that I had fainted out of shock, Mama has been delicate with me and hardly raised the marriages issue.
“Yes I'm fine.” I nodded.
She must have noticed my glumness and absentmindedness.
“Alright, baby. Finish up, I want to discuss something with you.”
“Alright Mama.” My heart thumped with fear and anxiety.
“I will be waiting for you in the garden.”
“Okay Mama.” I smiled weakly, a smile which she returned in turn.
Whatever she wanted to discuss with me, I had a feeling that it was related to Marco De Santis.
The garden was one of the places that could relax me in the compound aside from the library. But I was nervous and my palms were sweating.
“Have a seat.” Mama pointed.
I obliged, sitting across from her on my favorite wicker chair.
“You know I love you right?” Mama asked, placing her hand on top of mine.
“Mama please.” I wasn't ready to be emotionally blackmailed so early in the day.
Her hold on my hand was strong, that was the only reason my ass was still pinned on this chair.
“Sofia darling. I love each and every one of my children and I would prefer to be dead before I see this family lose one more member again.” I could hear how determined she was.
“But Mama, I will be losing myself if I marry that monster. I could die!” Tears welled in my eyes. Rumors had it that Marco De Santis murdered his first wife in cold blood.
Just remembering how I had fainted the first time when I heard who I would be getting married to if I agreed made me more upset.
“You won't. He's the lesser devil than the other men on the list. It's either him or you get married to The Devil Of The East.”
My mind went blank as my heart stopped beating for a second. Then it started beating fast, so fast that I feared it might imprint itself on my chest.
“The Devil Of The East?”
“Yes.” Mama nodded.
“Oh my gosh. I don't understand.” I felt faint.
“My darling, you know how much I loved your father, how we loved each other. As much as it pains me to say this, your father made a lot of bad decisions when he was alive.”
I connected the dots.
“Dad was indebted to him?”
“Yes and automatically we have inherited the debt. If we don't pay up beneath the deadline, the family is going to surrender us to him.”
I believed her. The Italian Syndicate was filled with blood thirsty power seeking individuals that would do anything to climb to the top.
Our family was thirteenth in line for the succession. They would waste no time in eliminating my brothers out of the race and serving them on a golden platter to Romanov Kristoff.
And the Devil Of The East’s reputation preceded him beyond the coasts. He was a very brutal man who had a lot of kills under his belt.
He was feared by many and was a popular name among the women.
“But I don't want to marry any of them.” I sobbed freely. I knew I was behaving like a spoilt brat but I couldn't care less. My future was on the line.
I wasn't ready to marry anyone, least of all Marco De Santis or The Devil Of The East.
“I know my darling. But it's what you must do.”
I hated Marco De Santis the most, and Romanov Kristoff was a close second.
I went into her open arms willingly hugging her and breathing in her scent. That homely scent associated with my mother helped to calm down my nerves a little.
“I don't have a choice, do I?” I was already resigned to my fate.
“No. If I could, I would take your place. But what young man would want a woman in her late fifties with four children?” She smiled wryly.
“Mama.” I sighed.
“We will be going shopping this evening.”
“This evening?” I arched my brows,
“Yes, you will need new clothes.”
“For?”
“Marco De Santis and his entourage will be coming tomorrow.”
That was enough to burst my little bubble of peace.
“I’m going to my room.” I stood up.
“Sofia.” Mama called after me.
“Later Mama.” I didn't bother looking backwards.
With every step I took, I vowed to make Marco De Santis dislike me or better still hate me enough to call off the wedding.