A Bond by Marriage

Chapter 2

Gia’s POV-

“This one?” the young maid asked me again and I nodded, again. “You are saying yes to everything,” she murmured as I played with my fingers nervously. She had been here for just fifteen minutes but it was still the most I had been with any workers in this house. And her purpose of being in my room didn’t ease my nerves either.

Early morning, I was already waiting for my uncle to come downstairs. My answer had been ready since the very second he told me about the proposal. I realized last night that I was just nervous to utter it. I told him I agreed with as much courage I could muster up, which was only possible because Riccardo wasn’t present there. My uncle didn’t wait a second before delivering my answer. The message from the other side came just as quickly. Dino was coming today to confirm what I hadn't yet been able to come to terms with.

“If you believe me, you should put on this,” the lady said, and I nodded, taking the simple white dress with balloon sleeves and a square neckline with a length just enough to lightly caress the floor as I’d walk. Quickly changing, I came out to see the woman set with a curler in her hands. I didn't need her to do that for me.

“I would like to do the rest,” I said and once she left, I did my hair and makeup. I hadn't ever had much to do. With a lot of time and nothing to work on, I was good enough to style my hair and beauty up my face.

Once my eyes were satisfied with how I looked, I waited on the bed, checking myself in the mirror again and again until the long-awaited knock came at my door.

.

In my thoughts about Dino, I had almost forgotten about Riccardo, who was a first. But now he climbed down the stairs beside me to where I knew his boss, everyone’s boss— Capo dei capi was waiting for us, for me.

For some strange reason, but fortunately, Riccardo was keeping his distance and, yet again, I couldn’t help but think if it was Aldo’s advice to him, whether my elder cousin knew because Riccardo was incapable of caring about anything when he was obsessed with something. But every thought about him drifted away when I saw my uncle entertaining three men, along with Aldo who was sitting there probably just because he was expected to.

“There comes, Gia.” My breath hitched betraying all the preparation I had done to stay calm. My uncle brought everybody’s attention to me too quickly than I liked. Now was too late to turn my back on anything. I swallowed and we continued descending the stairs.

“Smile, sister,” he whispered through the smile of his own.

This felt harder than I had thought. I was not used to having people waiting for me, especially having them stand to greet me and influence my uncle to do so as well. My eyes wandered around the room and I felt surprised to take it all in. It felt so strangely new and different despite the fact that I had been living here for the past six years. Perhaps it was because I always had my head down, eager to lock myself in my room.

I felt it when we descended the last step. I meant to take one look but my eyes fixed on the man I last saw six years ago when I had attended the Christmas Party that was thrown by his father with all the Capos invited. That was also my last party. And now I was seeing him again. Under a different situation and for a different purpose. Unlike the last time, when I just saw him from one corner, I was standing before him. He was indisputably bigger. Body, and his authority. But those brown eyes were still as cold as my life. And that face... I was sure it got a lot of praise, but after the past years of my life, I felt like I was incapable of recognizing beauty anymore. Because in the end, it wasn’t beauty that described anyone. It was one’s beliefs and views, and no one could tell if they were beautiful because they couldn’t be seen.

Dino walked to me, stretching his hand and for a split second, the reality of the moment dawned upon me once again. No amount of preparation could’ve prepared me for this. I had hidden away from people too much to stay calm in front of him, but a tight squeeze from Riccardo made me snap out of my madness. Riccardo let go of my hand which I took as my cue to place it in Dino’s hand. He placed a soft kiss in a greeting, his lips kissing away the pain from Riccardo’s tight hold.

“Gia,” he said, his voice gave away nothing just like his face. I nodded but the silence stretched as if everyone expected me to say more, but Vittorio— Dino’s brother— saved any more awkward seconds by lifting both my hands and pressing a kiss which made my nerves freeze. I nodded to him as well. He was looking at me with the same brown eyes, only his filled with amusement that made me uneasy. Next, I met Corrado Accomazzi’s eyes. I had always feared him as a kid until I came across something far worse. He didn’t come forward to greet me but nodded from where he was standing. The only person missing was Dino's youngest brother. Marco was his name, I believe. I knew that now that the former Boss was dead, Dino had brought him home with him. Marco was his brother from another woman who worked at one of their brothels. Many people couldn't understand his decision.

At last, my uncle signalled me to come beside him.

“I would like to talk to Gia alone,” Dino said, just as I turned my back to him. I didn't dare move my eyes from the table ahead, waiting for my uncle's instructions.

“Sure. Gia, why don’t you take him somewhere where you can both talk?” Despite the smile on my uncle’s face, I could see the doubt in his eyes. He feared I'd mess it all up in some way. But if he couldn’t refuse Dino, how could I? I took one glance at Dino before stepping ahead of him and moving out of everyone's sight. His footsteps fell behind me soon and I didn’t even know where to direct him. I just knew I had to keep moving, to continue maintaining that two footsteps distance between us. Ten different places emerged in my head while I walked and before I could decide, we had already arrived at one of them. I opened the library door slowly and walked straight ahead. Did he think I was weird to bring him here? Was the place too quiet?

I kept moving until I reached my dark corner. Turning around, I found Dino still standing at the entrance of the library room, as if observing how far in I would go before stopping. My cheeks warmed with the sudden embarrassment. Watching the hem of my dress dance around, I didn’t look up even as he came closer.

“I hope you are not uncomfortable here alone with me. I assure you it's for a few minutes."

"It's alright. I'm sure my uncle would seem concerned otherwise." I answered the only way I was taught. The loving niece of Umberto Fabbri.

"Your family seems pleased with this occurrence."

"It is very pleasing indeed," I gulped.

"Would you look at me, Gia?" I lifted my throbbing neck and I swear it ached as I did. "I wanted to speak to you alone because asking this otherwise would be an insult to your family. So, answer me truthfully. Did you agree to the marriage on your own free will?” That wasn’t the question I was expecting from the man who looked as cold as him. I didn't expect him to even care for my uncle's feelings but he did.

“Yes,” I uttered without thinking. Thinking would grow his suspicions and my troubles.

“I would’ve believed you if you were a little more confident in your answer, Gia. And would you look at me when you talk to me?” Apparently, I had looked away again.

“I really said, ‘yes’ to the marriage proposal.”

“Why?” I frowned at his question.

“Why did you wish to marry me? Even when there are a lot of other potential girls,” I asked instead.

“I wish to marry a woman closest to my age. So, you are far more potential bride to me than any other girl.” His response took me aback yet again. Me and the potential bride even after what people thought of me. And the way he said 'girl' didn’t go unnoticed by me too. He wanted a woman, not a young teenager. “It’s another thing that you and I still have seven years between us but it’s better than ten.” I got where he was going. Almost every girl in Famiglia Prescelta was married by the age of nineteen.

“Okay.”

“Now you answer me, Gia.”

“I… is there a reason why any woman says ‘yes’ to any marriage proposal in our world?” I quietly asked with newfound courage, since he had answered my first question.

“They don’t, but you are different.”

“How?” Of course, I knew how. But I was an outcast, not different. Different was unique in a good way. Different was a compliment. On the other hand, I was an example of utter shamelessness. I was what mothers in our world did not want their daughters to become.

“Because you are my potential bride. And I want you to be my wife willingly,” he said everything with such calm as if he married every Sunday. But it was also proof that where Dino might already see me as his wife, I was not used to even thinking about it yet.

“I’m willing. I don’t exactly have a reason but I just want… to marry you.” My heart thudded at my braveness, and I felt like swallowing my tongue. Who in the world just wanted to marry someone they didn't know?

Dino gave me a terse nod and pulled a box out of his suit pocket. Opening it, I didn’t even have the time to register that it was a ring before he was already pulling my hand between us. One second, the sparkling diamond was between his fingers and in another, it was already sitting on my finger. A soundless gasp left my lips from the quickness of the act.

It was done.

It was confirmed.

“I… I don’t have a ring for you.”

“Your uncle does. We should go now,” he stretched his palm out and I took it with my firm hand, without hesitating. It was a miracle because my heart was thundering and my mind was buzzing thinking about what he must be thinking about me. I had no way to know and no courage to ask, so I let it be.

Returning to everyone, they all noticed the big, fat diamond sitting on my finger. My uncle had a broad grin. Not wanting to but out of habit, my eyes found Riccardo and contrary to what I expected he had his face void of any expression. Did I really expect him to show his true colours in front of all? Vittorio was smirking at Dino while Aldo and Corrado shared an ‘uninterested but pleased’ look.

“I see the part of the ceremony is already done,” my uncle said, pulling out another square box and handing it to me. And just like that, I was again under the spotlight I was not used to. So, I decided to get over it quickly. Pulling out the ring, I hurriedly turned around and I only took a second to ready myself to hold Dino’s hand, to touch him before literally grabbing his hand roughly and pushing the ring on his finger.

“Someone’s eager,” Vittorio said humorously with a light chuckle, and I knew I had once again managed to embarrass myself. On instinct, I looked at Dino helplessly, who sent a look to his brother that made him stop. That small act for my comfort surprised me too. Grateful, I took a step back as everyone else shook hands together. I only knew that because I had my eyes latched on Dino.

“So—” I jumped at the sudden proximity of Vittorio. “Alright scaredy cat, no need to jump.” I looked at him in astonishment. “You are my soon-to-be sister, I am not gonna kill you,” he said, making it no better. I wanted to leave now, and go back to my room to hide, but I knew it’d look bad, especially when Vittorio was talking to me. “So, excited to marry my brother?” I said nothing. “Okay, not excited per se, but at least you are pleased, right?” I nodded. “You know I’d be pleased if you actually talk to me?”

“Oh, yeah.”

“I think that’s good progress for now, but we definitely need to work more on that,” he winked before moving back beside Dino, who was already looking at me through those cold brown eyes. The eyes that kept my weary self awake for the rest of the night as I laid on my bed in utter silence.