Contract Marriage: Taming My Mafia Heir Husband

By Luigi Salvatore

"It was written... Lines of past and present, one day would cross. Just as in the past they silenced my blood, I will personally volunteer to not let a single Salvatore live to tell the tale, but first we will play."

I looked at the paper that, on the day of my parents' funeral, had been sent in a black envelope accompanied by a wreath of red flowers. The note was too embarrassing for my mind to comprehend its meaning.

“Are you ready?” My uncle asked for the thousandth time before we got out of the car.

“I said I am.” I answer coolly.

“Luigi, you are not exactly the easiest person to deal with. Our fear is that at any moment you will pull out your gun and point it at the forehead of one of these wretches.” Guido could not hide his concern for my impulsiveness. “There will be three of us against about ten of them.”

“Now, don't be lazy and let's get on with it. I've been in front of them before, and if you must know, they didn't impress me. They are nothing but old men playing at running the Wild West, when in fact they send their sons to do all the heavy lifting. Besides, what can they do against me?”

Hours later

“This family has been causing us problems for years.” One of the old men spoke with authority. “It is clear that this boy is not ready to continue the family business. For him to take the position of northern capo is an insult to our organization.”

“He is the heir.” rebutted Giuseppe.

“But he's not ready. He is in a personal conflict that could lead to death.” rebutted the other, leaving me bored.

I knew that the anger that man felt for me was burning in his soul, but I didn't care about that, for me he was just a father with a bruised ego for having seen his daughter dismissed by me years ago. Yes, I remembered well the day I said no to his proposal when he offered me the hand of one of his daughters in marriage.

Among those present, only the Santinelle and Fredo, Nina's father, were in fact known to me. The others I knew were bankers, businessmen and politicians who hid from society who they really were and what they did in the dead of night.

“The Salvatore problems haven't reached us yet. We have rules, and he is a legitimate heir to take his father's place among us. I see no reason why we can't stick to our rules.” It was the youngest Santinelle's turn to give his opinion.

“If it's about rules, then we have a problem.” The remark of one of the counselors caught my attention, making me curious to hear it. “He is past the age of marriage, and one of our rules says that the capo must guarantee the organization an heir to take his place. How can a man assume such a position without at least being committed to a family?”

For the first time in front of them I shuddered. Mentioning marriage was the least I expected them to do, but I knew that it was a legitimate rule, after all that was the reason my father had accepted the arranged marriage to my mother. It was part of an agreement with the Russian mafia, and of course, by marrying he could take over the business without meeting any resistance since by then my grandfather was dying of an incurable disease.

Trying to gain time to think and escape the problem, I let out a debauched laugh, which drew all eyes in my direction. Everyone seemed indignant at my posture.

“What's so funny, young man?” questioned the same woman who had mentioned the wedding.

“Do you think the Salvatores need you for anything?” I don't know if you remember, but those who owe us something are many of the ladies and gentlemen here present. I know every favor my father did for you. Favors that until today have not been repaid.

I saw some of them exchanging apprehensive glances.

“Are you threatening us?” A man I recognized as the head of the city's public security spoke as if he had any autonomy to point at me. “You see, gentlemen? This boy thinks he is superior to the famiglia. It's not enough that he's causing us problems, he clearly doesn't respect our rules.”

“What amazes me the most, Mr. Alessandro? That you talk about respect. With the position you hold in this organization I suppose you shouldn't be pointed out as a scoundrel who mistreats his own wife.” I challenged the man without blinking.

“You are an insolent brat.” The man flattened the table.

“AND YOU'RE AN OLD MAN WHO THINKS HE CAN MAKE ME AFRAID.” I imitated his gesture and also spread the table so that I was completely facing him. “I AM A SALVATORE, I AM NOT AFRAID OF YOU, OR RATHER, OF ANY OF YOU.”

“Well, you should be, my dear boy. Your father was as insolent as you are, and look what happened to him. He became barbecue for ants.”

Feeling the blood boiling in my veins, I drew my gun pointing directly at the man's forehead, who by the way did the same as me with the same agility. Irony of fate or not, exactly what my uncle and Guido had predicted happened, the three of us were under the crosshairs of at least eight heavily armed men.

However, in the middle of all that tension it was the initiative of one person that caught my attention...

“Put down your gun Alessandro, you wouldn't be crazy to hit one of mine.” Dante, who was now beside me, pointed his gun at the same man as me. With the attitude of the younger Santinelle, some of the other members didn't hesitate to lower their weapons, but Alessandro remained facing us. “I WON'T SEND YOU AGAIN, YOU BASTARD.” I heard the sound of Dante's gun going off. “Put the gun down or I'll blow your brains all over this room.”

I didn't understand what the crazy man was doing, but being a Santinelle, I knew it would get me into trouble in the future. Giuseppe had also risen from his chair at the head of the table, but unlike his son he didn't draw his gun, he was just studying everyone attentively.

“Don't be a fool, boy. Do you really want to buy this fight?” Alessandro asked Dante, but his eyes were locked on mine. “Why would I do that?”

“As I said... Luigi is one of mine.”

“What do you mean, Dante boy?” Fredo wanted to know what I was also curious about.

“Luigi will soon marry my sister Antonella. We were just letting this mourning period pass to expose the event to everyone.”

What the hell was that brat doing?

For a moment I looked away from Alessandro, not even caring if I would be shot. Fuck me! Now I wanted to kill Dante. What was that boy doing?

A buzz had settled in the room, and I saw when Giuseppe sat back in his chair looking puzzled by what his son had said.

“You have to be lying.” Alessandro's cold voice was again present, drawing all attention to himself. “We have never seen or heard of any such approach. Commendable of you, Dante, in fact, I don't know why you are doing this, but I must remind you that lying to members of the organization is considered an act of treason. And we all know what happens to traitors, don't we?”

I saw Dante practically silently begging me to confirm his story, which I certainly did not wish to do.

“He's not lying, you worm. Soon I'll be engaged to Antonella.”

I said with conviction without leaving myself time to think about the shit I was doing, but I couldn't let anything happen to that idiot because somehow he tried to defend me. This time it was my uncle and Guido who were surprised.

“And why didn't we know about this?” One of the counselors present couldn't hide her curiosity on the subject.

“Don't be insensitive, gentlemen. With everything that's been happening in the family, do you really think we'd have a head for celebration right now? Sit down and put away your weapons, there's no reason to get worked up here.”

“Since when, Capo Giuseppe?” The woman asked again. “The rivalry between you is...”

“It's no secret to anyone here that years ago, Enzo and I had established a truce between our families, after all, whether you like it or not, we are the most powerful in this place. Our parents' rivalry is in the past, we have no reason to live at war.”

“But you didn't tell me anything about it when I went to tell you about your daughter's hand to my boy.” Alessandro seemed to control his anger, but the truth is that he was truly offended.

“My sister didn't like your son, period. She is in love with Luigi and he is the one she is going to marry.”

So that was it. Dante used me to get his sister out of a marriage with that wretch's son. Damn him! Although I was enjoying the idea of seeing Alessandro humiliated in front of everyone. Thinking about it made me smile broadly as I stared into the eyes of the wretch.