An Arrangement for the Mafia Princess

Chapter 2- Enzo

-Enzo-

He was shot. He’s been shot before, but three rounds to the chest seems like it will be what does him in.

“You’re not married, Cattivello,” my mother says to me as we sit in the private room, waiting for the surgeon. “This is a problem.”

I nod. I know it is, but I thought I’d have more time. I can’t take over as the boss without being married. I thought he’d live forever, though.

“The McCarthy girl…” Mamma begins, but I hold my hand up to silence her.

“He’d never allow it,” I tell her firmly. “We are rivals. He blames Papi for his wife’s death. He’d never give his daughter to me.”

Mamma shakes her head. “We were not responsible, and he is desperate. I hear he is sick and is worried she will be in danger if she is not married before he dies.”

I sigh. It isn’t the worst plan, but it’d be a damn miracle if his security doesn’t shoot me on sight. She’s a pretty girl. I haven’t seen her since she was in high school, and she was far too young for me to look at then. McCarthy sent her to a rival catholic school, and I saw her at a few of my brother’s hockey games in that short plaid skirt. It wouldn’t be the worst set of legs to tie myself to for all of eternity.

“Divorce is a sin, Mamma,” I remind her.

“You think I don’t know that, Enzo? Who do you think taught you? We’ve always kept tabs on the McCarthys. He’s kept her away from everything, and from what I hear, she’s a sweet girl.”

I want to argue with her, but the door opens, and a surgeon approaches us. “He’s alive,” he tells us, and I feel relieved. He shakes his head, though. “He’s alive, but it’s not good. I don’t expect him to last much longer. Maybe a few more hours. Get your affairs in order, and I’ll buy you as much time as possible.”

I collapse in a chair before remembering that my mother needs me. She’s been married to him forever, so I know this can’t be easy, but when I look up, I find her on the phone. “Sean? This is Gabriella Esposito. Don’t hang up. We need each other right now.”

My eyes bulge as I realize she’s called the man, ready to trap me into a marriage I’m not sure I want. If I want to continue my father’s legacy, though, I don’t think I have a choice. Not a decent choice anyway.

“My husband has been shot. It is not good. My son must marry before he dies, and I hear you need to find a husband for your daughter.”

She told him he’s been shot? They could attack us while we’re down! I try to take the phone from her, but she pushes me away.

“I know you’re sick, Sean. You don’t have much time. Enzo is a good man, probably the best you can find.” There’s a long pause. “Listen, I know you blame us for your wife, but you have to believe me, we had nothing to do with it. We would not go after someone’s innocent wife. Enzo is the best option for protecting your daughter. Just talk to him.”

She smiles sadly before hanging up. “He’ll see you. Go, as quickly as you can. Your marriage certificate must be signed before his body gives out.”

“Mamma, I can’t leave you,” I protest.

“Your brothers are in the waiting room,” she says calmly, straightening the lapels of my suit jacket. “I have always known your father would be murdered. It is the way we live, Cattivello. Right now, I will be strong for you. I can fall apart tomorrow.”

I kiss her head before turning out of the private room and rushing to my car. I should probably take security with me, but I want all our best with her. After what happened to Madeline McCarthy, Mamma got her own security. To this day, no one knows who ordered the hit, although we’ve long been blamed for it.

I speed through the city, going over in my head what to even say. Sean knows he has the upper hand because Mamma told him we only have a few hours. He’s going to want something big for this, but I think I have to give up anything to make it happen, or I’ll lose it all.

I pull up to the large house and climb out of my car. Immediately, men draw guns on me, but that is to be expected. I hold my hands up and tell them where my weapons are located. Once taking them and patting me down twice, they lead me inside the house and down a hall.

The house is large, much like ours, but it is far quieter. They don’t have family running around like we do, and I worry that if this works, Reilly will be afraid of the noise of my home. I can’t worry about that, though. I need to convince Sean to have her marry me immediately. I can work out the rest later.

The office door is open, and the man is already at his desk waiting for me. He doesn’t stand as I enter, instead waving his hand at a chair across from him. I haven’t seen him in quite some time, but he looks rough. His hair is short and faded to grey, but his face is what gives him away. The bags under his eyes are the most noticeable, making it look like he hasn’t slept in a month.

“I hear you need a wife,” he says, sipping dark liquid out of an expensive glass.

“I hear you have a daughter in need of a husband for protection,” I retort.

He sighs, and he looks exhausted. “Alessandro was shot?”

I nod. “Four times in the chest. It’s not good. I can’t take over if I’m not married.”

“How long do you have?”

“Maybe a few hours,” I admit. “It’s not good. The doctors are doing what they can to give me time.”

He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. “Your mother was right. I don’t know how she knew, but I’m sick. I only have Reilly, and I can’t leave this to her. I’ve tried to protect her from it all.”

“I can keep her safe,” I tell him. I don’t think he cares about the businesses or his illegal dealings. He only wants to keep his daughter safe, and that’s a price I’m willing to pay. “I know you blame our family, but I swear, it was not us. We’d never go for an innocent, and because of what happened to your wife, we protect our women at all costs. She’ll be safe.”

Sean nods, but sits forward and places his glass on the desk as he begins to cough. He reaches into his jacket and pulls out a handkerchief to cough into. It doesn’t take long for me to see the blood splattered on it.

“She doesn’t know I’m sick,” he tells me. “I didn’t want to worry her.”

My jaw tenses. She’s not going to agree to this, but I’m not sure she needs to.

“You’ll take my dealings when I pass,” he says, shocking me entirely.

I shake my head. “That’s not what this is. I need a wife, and you need your daughter safe.”

“What I need is an heir, but my wife died, and I only have a daughter,” he says sternly. “You are the best option that’s presented itself. You get the business, and the jewelry front.”

“It’s a front?” I ask, an eyebrow arched.

“It was,” he smirks. “It’s a legitimate business now.”

The door flies open, and I almost don’t recognize the absolute goddess standing in it. I can’t help it when my eyes roam over every delicious curve of her body, but some guy pushes her back and draws a gun. I hold my hands up, realizing he must have been the one with her. There’s something between them from the way he keeps his arm behind him, touching her. Sean hasn’t noticed, but I certainly don’t miss it.

“Put it down, Fionn,” Sean tells him. “Mr. Esposito is a guest. There is no danger.”

“There’s always danger around the Espositos,” Fionn says, lowering the gun, but not putting it away. His hand is still back, trying to block Reilly from my view.

“Not to Reilly,” I tell him. “I’d never endanger my future wife.”

She shoots her head out the side to see me as her eyes widen in panic. “What?”

“You’ll be marrying Enzo,” Sean says, surprising me. I thought I’d have to beg. I thought I’d have to pay him or send some of our business dealings to him. No, he’s just giving me his daughter AND his life’s work for the promise of protecting her. s**t. He either loves her more than I realized, or there’s some threat. Either way, I can handle it.

“No,” she says firmly. “I will not.”

“You will, tonight,” he says. That giant still has not moved and is blocking my view of my future wife.

“They killed Mom,” she says, her voice shaking. She’s scared. No. That won’t do.

Sean shakes his head. “They did not. Gabriella told me as much tonight.”

“Fionn, leave us,” Sean says. The guard nods and leaves, but not without brushing his fingers against hers. “Take a seat.”

Reilly is reluctant, but she does. She walks around the other side of the chair, though, careful not to get near me. Her fingers grip the arms of the chair, and her entire body shakes with each breath, though I’m unsure if it’s from rage or fear.

“Reilly, I’m sick,” he tells her. My eyes are glued to her as an entire range of emotions travels across her beautiful face. “I will not be here much longer. I have tried to help you find a man capable of protecting you. Even in my death, you will be in danger because of the things I’ve done. Enzo can keep you safe.”

“Enzo doesn’t love me,” she says softly, reaching up to swipe at a tear. I reach into my jacket and produce a handkerchief that I offer to her, but she refuses. “You can’t be serious.”

Sean sighs and nods slowly. “I need to know you will be safe.”

Reilly sniffles. “Fionn can keep me safe. I can move away and go into hiding.”

His face forms a grim line as he looks at his daughter. “I’ve tried to protect you from everything I’ve done, but I may have done too much. You’ll never be truly safe. You’ll never be able to hide.”

“Daddy,” she says softly, choking on a sob. I offer her the handkerchief again, and this time, she takes it. She delicately wipes a tear from her cheek as her chin quivers. “When?”

“Tonight,” he tells her. “It’s the only way.”

“Daddy,” she says again. I can empathise, because right now, we’re both losing our fathers. She just gets more time with hers.

“It’s the only way,” he tells her before picking up the phone and placing a call to what I assume is a priest to come and marry us. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll go make sure everything is in order while you two get to know each other.”

He leaves us, but Reilly doesn’t move. She’s holding my handkerchief in her hands, staring at it like it’s a lifeline. “Is this a business play?”

“No,” I tell her before explaining about my predicament. “He’s offered to leave all his businesses to me. I don’t want them. I’ll take the illegal things so that your name is never on them to keep you safe, but the jewelry business should be yours.”

She looks up at me finally, her light blue eyes shining with tears. “I can’t run it. I can’t do anything.”

“Sure you can,” I shrug. I don’t care one bit about the jewelry. “You think your father does everything on his own? He has people who work for him and handle things. You can do that. You’ll learn. I’m not interested in locking you away. I just need a wife.”