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Chapter 2
Carla
Tomorrow everything in my life will change. For the better or worse I’m unsure of at this point. I’m hopeful it’ll improve, but who the hell knows. My mother insisted we have a family dinner tonight, after only finding out about my upcoming nuptials last month when my father finally told her. To say she lost her head was an understatement. I think she cursed every possible way in Italian and then prayed to God for forgiveness.
She hasn’t been talking to me too much over the last month. She was angry with Dad for a while but then shifted her resentment to me. I close my eyes as I sit in the formal living room of my childhood home. It’s like she thinks I had a choice in the matter. In all honesty, she should be proud of me. She should be proud because I didn’t allow my father to best me. Instead I negotiated like a powerful woman would and created the bed I could accept laying in.
When I think about it, my family only sees a fraction of the woman I am. Lorenzo is really the closest person to me and we barely speak. At least I don’t have to hide my promiscuity from him. If I wanted to go to the bar, dancing at the club or out to a movie he wouldn’t give a fuck. He’d tell me to go and have a good time. My other brothers though, they’d tell me to behave myself. For fucks sake. I’m in my early thirties. I’m perfectly capable of behaving myself. Problem is I don’t want to.
“Carlotta, get in here and help me!” She calls me by my birth name. It doesn’t suit me. Carla does, though.
I stand from my seat and look over to my younger brother, Gianni. He has his brow raised as he speaks. “You’d better get in there, girl. She’s gonna cut your head off.”
“Yeah, well maybe if she did I’d have a better life.”
“Shoot! Someone’s a bit salty.”
I ignore my brother and head into the living room. For the first time in ages my mother is actually doing everything herself. She didn’t have the staff do it.
Like she can sense my presence in the room even though her back is turned to me, she starts speaking. “I know you’re about to say something smart to me about not having the staff here tonight. I figured it was better to keep prying ears away from our dinner tonight.”
“Oh? It’s nice to know the family is going to battle tonight.” I say clearly so she can hear me from across the room. She whips around and glares with all her might, starting to open her mouth but the doorbell interrupts her.
“I’ll grab it.” I say, turning and walking from the dining room to the front door. Upon opening it I see not only Salvatore, but Enzo too.
“Hey, brat.” Enzo chuckles, wrapping his arms around me, he swirls me around like a child.
“You havenoidea just how much I’ve missed you. I’m losing my mind here.” I say lowly, but both Enzo and Sal can hear me.
“You didn’t have to agree to this,” Sal tries to say but I put a finger up, signaling him to stop.
“Stop it. You know I didn’t have a choice in the matter. At least I was smart enough to make demands that were met before I accepted.”
Enzo nods his head, “You’ve always been smart. It’s one of the things I love about you. You’ll never take less than you deserve.”
I smile, thankful someone has seen what I’ve done here. I glance around, “Where are your wives and the kids?”
“Ksenia is back home with the baby. She didn’t feel up to travelling and it’s been a bit crazy back home.” Enzo tells me.
Sal remains quiet, so I ask again. “Where are Aria and Sorina?”
“I told them to stay home. You can’t blame me. Tonight will be World War III.”
I shrug my shoulders, not taking any offense. “If it is, you’d better make sure you’re on the winning team.” I say playfully.
“My boys!” Our mother’s voice comes shrieking from behind me and she shoves me out of the way to get to my brothers. I roll my eyes in frustration and see Gianni come from the living room, looking almost as irritated as I am.
“Guess I must be chopped liver,” He mutters.
“At least you’re liver,” I comment back, getting yet another glare from our mother.
“Is everyone here and ready for dinner? I’m starving.” My father says as he comes down the stairwell. I didn’t even hear his footsteps from the ruckus in front of me.
“Yes, come, let’s eat!” Mother says to everyone, throwing her hands up in the air, urging everyone to come into the dining room. She lets my father and brothers pass with no problems, but puts her hand out in front of me, causing me to stop dead in my tracks.
“Now, you know how I feel about this wedding. I hate how you lied to me about your engagement, and I hate how this is a political wedding and not one stemming from love. It is a sin, truly. However, as your mother I need to make sure you’re prepared for your wedding night. You do know what will be expected of you, yes?”
I blink a couple times before it sinks in. She thinks I don’t know how to fuck. Lord help her. I’m betting she thinks I’m still a virgin. Not that it’s any of her business, but I’ve done my fair share ofsinning, if you know what I mean.
