Sold to Mr. Giordano

Arielle

“Mom hasn’t called you?” I furrow my eyebrows at my brother.

“She’s on vacation, remember? Father said she barely has her phone on her or doesn’t have service in some places.”

“Something isn’t right, Angelo. Do you think she left him and Dad is covering it up?”

“Wouldn’t Mom call us and tell us her plan though? I can see why she wouldn’t tell Luca, but if anyone would understand it would be you. Why wouldn’t she tell you?”

“Maybe in fear that the phones are tapped. Afterall I’m the wife of the Capo. She might be scared to get in contact for fear that Dad will find her.”

“It’s a possibility.”Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

“I don’t understand though why she wouldn’t contact you or try to see you. You’re hurt,” I frown.

Angelo mimics my frown and shakes his head slowly. “She may not even know. If she escaped, she probably doesn’t have any news on what is going on in the Famiglia.”

I nod my head. All of it is possibility—not truth. I hope to God that my mother escaped and she’s far away and happy. My mother has never been happy. When we were younger, she would put on a show and wear a fake smile at all times, but as years past and Dad hit her more, the more she lost her light.

I’m afraid that Arabella will turn into my mother.

“So, you’re leaving for New York, huh?”

“Yeah. I’m worried about Arabella. I hate feeling so helpless, she could admit she’s miserable and there’s not a thing I could do about it. I wish you were the brother she married instead of Luca.”

“Me too,” Angelo answers with blunt honesty.

My eyebrows raise and eyes widen. “Really?”

“I mean she’s not hard on the eyes. I wouldn’t mind having someone as beautiful as her as my wife,” he shrugs nonchalantly. “Are you nervous going back? I bet Father will want to see you.”

“I’m not nervous as long as I’m by Antonio’s side.”

“Antonio told me about what Dad did. Lying about the birth control. Does your husband have a plan?”

“If he does, I know nothing about it. I have to wear baggy clothes when I go, so if I do see Dad he won’t know.”

Angelo sighs and looks as though he’s thinking. “I don’t know what he’s plan could be. Why lie about birth control? What’s the point in getting you pregnant?”

“I don’t know, but Antonio is just being cautious. He doesn’t want anyone to know. He told me he never really wanted children.”

“Being a Capo with kids is dangerous. Don’t you remember the various attempts and successful attempts at kidnapping us Dad’s enemies did?”

“Of course I remember,” I tried to block it all out as much as I could. “I don’t want that to happen to this one,” my hands instinctively go to my stomach.

“It’ll happen and that’s precisely why Antonio is scared and exactly why he never wanted kids. It’s a weakness and once Antonio’s enemies learn of his new weakness he becomes vulnerable—especially if the kidnapping of his child is successful.” 

My stomach twists and nausea hits me so hard that I start dry heaving at his bedside. I didn’t eat anything all day, so nothing was coming out.

“Everything will be fine, Ary. I won’t let anyone get to you and neither will Antonio. We’d go to the ends of the earth to get you or your child back.”

I know it is true. Every word uttered is a hundred-percent fact. Angelo has always been the protective older brother every wants. Even when we were kids elementary school bullies were scared away by Angelo, Luca would always tell me to suck it up and stand up for myself. While self-defense is important, I needed someone in my corner first and fourth most. Especially when Father got too violent with me. Luca turned his head while Angelo gladly took my punishment for me.

Antonio is now that protective role and I’ve seen that ever since that man bumped me in the streets. I see it even more now since I announced my pregnancy to him. He’s been cautious, overbearing, and constantly asking me how I’m feeling. I’ve even caught him a few times looking up question about babies on his phone or laptop.

I know in my bones Antonio won’t be like his father or my father, he’ll be a good dad and our child will love him. Just like I’m starting to.