A Wrong Divorce

Chapter 2

Liliana

I still remember the first time I met Elijah. It was a gloomy day, not just clouds and rain but also the darkest day of my life. The day I lost my whole family. My parents, Marco and Sansa Genovese, my brother, Leonel, and my sister, Lyra were all butchered at our family home by my father's enemies. I was the only one who lived since I was at my maternal aunt Miraya's place to spend my vacation with my cousins. Some said I was lucky to have survived such a brutal m******e. If I hadn't been away for the vacation, I certainly would have joined the rest of my family, something which I regret to this day. I might not have died that night with my family but I had died a thousand death since that time from what my therapist called the survivor's guilt. I should have died with them, that way it could have been easier and less haunting.

I had my uncle Ricardo's family take me in as one of theirs but I still felt lonely sometimes. After my father died, New York needed a new Capo; my uncle was chosen. At first many suspected it was Ricardo who killed his elder brother to claim his position but that was nearly impossible. He never wished to become the capo and was happy being my father's right hand. Moreover, he adored my father even though he didn't display those feelings in the open.

That said unwelcoming, shadowy day was a long five years ago but I remember it clearly as a crystal to this day. Like all the mafia families from all over the world, the Maranzanos had come to pay their homage to the dead.

Elijah had come too with his grandfather and father. I wasn't in a mindset to pay much detail to anyone but his strikingly dangerous features had my eyes do a double take at him. He was tall, probably the tallest man I have ever seen in my life, and believe me none of my bodyguards were less than six feet and some more. He wasn't bulky though rather lean and agile packed with muscles like a fierce leopard. His face was angled and sharp as if chiseled, sporting a five o'clock shadow. His dark strands were not exactly black but a mix of brown and a shade darker. It was his nose which I suppose was once perfect but now a little crooked that added more ruggedness to his menacing features. Like everyone before him, he took my hand and placed a simple kiss on my knuckles as he spoke words of condolence.

However, unlike others, his lip's touch on my skin left me shivering. If I hadn't lost my family, I would have craved more of his attention. After a curt nod from me, he quickly cleared the spot for the crowd behind him dying to shower their sympathies for me.

I never saw him after that day until I turned twenty-one. After all the blood that was shed in my family home, my uncle didn't dare to let me live there. He and Aunt Alegra had brought me with them and since then I have been living with them and their children. They kept me well-provided and never gave a reason to complain. Aunt Alegra showered extra affection and her attention on me not to let me feel isolated and I was grateful to them for everything they had done for me.

Others in his place would have jumped at the opportunity when he was approached by Kent Maranzano with a marriage proposal for me with his grandson, but Uncle Ricardo didn't. He took his time to analyze the dangers that may bind me to this marriage. It was after much pondering and when he felt that the Senior Maranzano meant no harm to me or him, did he open up the topic to me.

"The final decision is yours, Liliana. If you don't want to, then we would simply refuse Maranazono's offer.." Alegra said over dinner however neither my uncle nor aunt mentioned how this marriage would strengthen our ties with the Maranzanos. If they did, they knew I would put my family before my own preferences.

"Alegra, I believe if you have brought this alliance to my notice, then you must trust the Maranzonos. If it would benefit us, then I have no objection to marrying Elijah.." I had assured her with a smile.

"Don't you want to meet him first?" My uncle asked curiously.

"I have seen him once before.." And I think I liked him. I kept the latter part of the sentence to myself.

"That was years ago.." He argued. "All you know, he could have lost an eye or an arm during a feud with the MCs.

I grinned at my uncle, "He could've but then you wouldn't be having this conversation with me.."

The corner of his lips lifted into an upward curve, proudly, and then nodded. "Then I will send a word to Maranzano?"

"Sure.."

Elijah Maranzano was nothing like I remembered from my parents' funeral. He was a full-grown man now. For some reason, he seemed so much bigger. Maybe it was not just the stature of his tall, toned body but the heaviness of knowing what he would be to be in the near future. He wore a black suit dress that had to be custom-made for his body. His facial hair was thicker and now I noticed ink peeking out on the skin of his neck, something I was sure wasn't there when I met him the first time.

"The last time I saw you, you were a mess.." I was allowed to have a few words with Elijah in private, something I had requested from Alegra which after much persuading from her my uncle agreed.

"Of course, I had lost my whole family.." It still hurt to think about them and the gruesome sight of blood scattered all over the marble floor of our mansion. Perhaps that image would never stop haunting me.

"But you had held yourself together well.." Was he complimenting me? If so, it felt good.

"I am a mafia princess and couldn't show my weakness openly.."

"I now see why my grandfather chose you.." His words sounded appreciative but his tone didn't.

Why do I feel like he wasn't much happy with his grandfather's choice? Or was I simply overthinking about it?

"So what do you think of this union?" As he tucked his hands into the pockets of the pants, the fabric tightened around his thick biceps.

"I think it would benefit our families.." I admitted and couldn't help but throw his question back to him. "What about you? Why do you choose to marry me?"

His lips twisted slyly as he leaned his shoulder on the wall beside us. "Because the intense need to make my grandfather proud of me runs deep in me. I want him to trust me enough to choose me as his heir. And for that, I need to marry you.."

I had expected so many other things to be his answer but not that. However, I was amazed by his honesty and realized how foolish I was to expect anything else from such a man. He was a made man who I have heard had his first kill at the age of fourteen. Of course, he was power-hungry like every other man in our world and he had no other reason to marry me or any other woman.

I woke up from the afternoon nap to the rummaging sounds that came from the walk-in closet. My hand automatically went under the pillow to pull out the pistol. Call me hysterical but I can't be calm after someone attempted to murder my husband. I carefully took my steps towards the closet only to find Elijah. I let out a sigh to find him there.

He turned his head at me and then rolled his eyes when he found me loosely holding a gun. "This house is surrounded by guards twenty-four by seven.."

I ignored him and walked behind him. "What are you doing?"

He chose to ignore me as well, continuing whatever he was at.

"Elijah.."

"What?" He barked, making me flinch back in my place.

He'd never spoken to me this way, not even when he thought he didn't want to marry me. It hurt but I pushed it back. He wasn't himself and I should be understanding.

Placing a hand on his shoulder, I asked again. "What are you doing, Elijah?"

He gritted his teeth which worried he would hurt them but to my luck, he responded this time, "I am moving to the guestroom.."

"Why? We should stay together. We are married.."

"That won't be for long.." He shot me a look I didn't think I could handle.

I was stunned into silence. What was he talking about?

"I don't understand.."

"I talked to my lawyers and I was supposed to divorce you the moment I was made my grandfather's heir which he did a good six months ago. So now there is no need for us to be married anymore.."

"Elijah.." I wanted to get hold of his collar and shout at him but I was also aware of how unstable he was at the moment. "That was a very long time back. A few weeks back you said you love me.."

"Psst.." He made a mocking face but with no humor. His eyes blaze anger and resentment. "If you weren't a woman, I wouldn't have hesitated to kill you right now for playing this trick on me. I might have lost my memories but not my mind. You will sign the divorce papers and quietly leave.."

He didn't wait to hear another word and left me panting with frustration.