AllFreeNovel
Share Us
EMILY
Ontheentiredriveback, I just had a sentence of thoughts running through my mind.
“One should never fall in love with a woman from a warring family.”
I stare out the window, letting the words repeat themselves. I know that’s what happened with Enzo, but it’s not necessarily true with everyone.
My thoughts drift to Felix. Unbeknownst to him, this makes me his enemy.
My father, Fronzo Battaglia, and Felix’s family go back a long time - and none of it is good.
The rivalry between their families is legendary, especially among their children - who often take it upon themselves to continue their fathers’ feud.
But I don’t want to do that. I don’t have to do that.
Despite our families’ hatred, I find myself drawn to Felix.
Something between us I can’t deny.
He’s strong and powerful, but beyond that, I’ve seen a vulnerability in him that few others have witnessed.
He’s the kind of man I dreamt of while growing up, the kind of man I thirsted for and cherished in all those romance novels I read.
The polar opposite of the men who surrounded me.
Maybe one is not so foolish when it comes to love. Maybe one learns how to pick them.
I need to know what he truly meant.
“Felix,” I broached the topic. “You didn’t mean what you said in there, did you?”
He glances at me, his expression inscrutable. “Which part?”
“About not understanding how someone could fall in love with someone from a warring family.”
He takes a deep breath and turns to face me.
“Yes, I did mean it. It’s the way it has been for generations. We can’t forget our loyalty - to our family and our code.”
“But, it’s not impossible,” I press.
“We all come from different backgrounds, and people can’t help who they fall for. “
He studies me momentarily before reaching for my hand, his fingers intertwining with mine.
“Yes, it’s not impossible...” he finally concedes.
I smile, thinking I’ve got an opening until he continues.
“...For ordinary people. But it’s different for us in the mafia, Emily. Even if we were to fall in love with someone our families have been at war with, how soon before they turn on you?”
I laugh sadly. “I guess that’s cynical. It’s painting everyone with one brush, isn’t it?”
He looks at me, his dark eyes full of emotion.
“I just want you to understand,” he says finally.
“It’s difficult for us, especially when two people come from conflicting backgrounds. You may have never really been in the mafia, so you won’t understand the dangers and risks of loving someone from the wrong side of the
