He Claimed My Sister So I Married A Mafia Don Chapter 03
Another Man’s Ring
Matteo arrives twenty minutes later.
From the upstairs window, I watch the guard approach his car.
He recognizes Matteo before the window comes down.
A brief conversation.
Then the gate opens.
When I come downstairs, Matteo is waiting beside the front door.
He looks at my bags.
“Both?”
“Yes.”
He takes the heavier one.
Dante appears at the end of the hall.
“What is this?”
Matteo looks at me.
I answer.
“He’s giving me a ride.”
“I have drivers.”
“I didn’t ask for one.”
Dante’s eyes move to the suitcase in Matteo’s hand.
“We need to talk.”
“I’ve sent you an email.”
“Adriana.”
I put my key on the table beside the door.
Matteo waits until I step outside before following.
In the car, he asks where I want to go.
“I booked a hotel.”
“Which one?”
I give him the address.
He tells the driver.
Only when the gate closes behind us do I realize I’ve been holding my breath.
Matteo notices.
He doesn’t ask me to explain.
My father calls that afternoon.
“You’ve made your position clear.”
“Have you accepted it?”
A pause.
“Yes.”
I grip the phone more tightly.
“The De Lucas want to keep the celebration,” he says. “Bianca has agreed to take your place.”
For a moment, I can hear only the traffic outside.
“You’ve already discussed this with her?”
“She’s willing.”
“And Dante?”
“His father is speaking to him.”
“Make sure my name is removed.”
“Adriana, there’s no need to make this uglier.”
“I’m asking you to make it accurate.”
The planner’s confirmation arrives an hour later.
I read it twice.
Then I start looking for an apartment.
Matteo helps me move the following week.
At the door, he asks whether I want company.
“Not tonight.”
“All right.”
No wounded silence.
No reminder that he carried the boxes.
Before he leaves, he turns.
“Dinner another night?”
I look at him.
“Because you feel sorry for me?”
“Because I’d like to have dinner with you.”
“I don’t know when I’ll be ready.”
“Then tell me when you are.”
A week later, I do.
We talk about work first.
Then his terrible first apartment.
Then the restaurant my grandmother used to take me to when she wanted to complain about my father.
He makes me laugh while I’m taking a sip of water.
On our fourth date, I disagree with him about a contract.
He asks me to explain.
He listens to the answer.
I notice things like that now.
Six weeks after leaving Dante’s house, I have dinner with Matteo and our families.
It’s small.
Private.
When my father starts talking about what the arrangement means for the Morettis, Matteo sets down his glass.
“Adriana and I have already discussed what we want.”
My father looks at me.
I nod.
For once, he leaves it there.
Dante sends Adriana a message before bed.
I’ll pick you up tomorrow. We can talk before everyone arrives.
She doesn’t answer.
His father warned him three weeks ago.
“If you authorize this, we proceed with Bianca.”
Dante remembers looking through the glass wall of his office, watching another meeting wait for him.
“Keep preparing.”
“This isn’t a way to bring Adriana back.”
“She’ll come around.”
“And if she doesn’t?”
Dante had ended the conversation.
Now he looks at the messages he’s sent her. None has an answer.
She has never stayed away this long.
But tomorrow is the celebration.
She knows what it means if she doesn’t come.
The next morning, at the Morettis’ house, a stylist passes Dante on the stairs.
“She’ll be ready in a minute.”
He stops outside Adriana’s old room.
Across the hall, a door opens.
Bianca steps out in the ivory dress Adriana chose.
Dante looks past her.
“Where’s your sister?”
Bianca’s smile fades.
“You know today is ours.”
“I need to speak to Adriana.”
“She isn’t here.”
“Then call her.”
Bianca studies his face.
“You really don’t know.”
Something in her voice makes him stop.
“Know what?”
“She got engaged last night.”
He stares at her.
“To whom?”
“Matteo Rinaldi.”