LUCREZIA
The ceremony did not last long, only enough to bore me. By the time we were done, my stomach is already growling in hunger.After the ceremony, we still stayed behind the church to talk to the priest of the ceremony instead of proceeding to the reception. I had no choice but to pretend that I’m okay, smiling at everyone despite the protest in my stomach.“How is our church donation doing, padre?” My father asked the priest who smiled at him.“Thank you for your kind donation, we are able to build two churches and reach more people. The churches are not fully constructed yet, but with your money it will be constructed soon.”My stomach turned at what I’m seeing and suddenly I wasn’t hungry anymore. It’s awful how my father gain those money and how he’s donating that dirty money to the church.I stared at the countless lifeless eyes staring at us from the wall. Handmade figures of saints that were regarded as gods even though they are not.“Padre, please pray for me and pray for my sins,” It was Pietro who spoke, holding a signed bank check on his hand.The priest nodded his head so eagerly that it reminded me of the animal figurines in the taxi with a bobbing head.“Of course, of course, I never stopped praying for you.” Before Pietro could give the check to him, his hand is already reaching towards it.“The church is thankful for the donation.”I gritted my teeth, even the priests had turned corrupted because of the mafias.I wonder if he knows where that money came from. Of course he knows, everyone knows about the crime families and they just don’t talk about it in fear of ending up by the roadside.If they can’t even rebuke the sexual immoral, how can they rebuke powerful people such as them.My eyes landed on Letizia, I could see on her face that she did not like it too.How different are we from them? That I wanted to ask her. We also laundered money, we also turned a blind eye at our family business. We have no right to act like we are clean and better than them.We are just like them and someday we would be them.When we arrived at the reception, everyone was having the time of themselves. Alcohols and other drinks are served everywhere and there is a huge buffet for you to choose from.The venue is large, we are at a hotel with rock fountains, swimming pools with cute bridges above them. We also get a view of the city landscape where you can take your own picture.Most of the people here were men, men I’ve not seen before. They must be the made men and some associates they might have brought with them.From the very front sat the people treated with VIP treatment are the mayor and governor of the city. I’m not just sure if they are associates or part of the business, corrupt politicians.At the corner of my eye, I saw the Dons making eye contact with each other as a messenger boy ran to each of them to deliver some news. I drank my wine in one go and placed my glass on the tray of the passing by waiter.My eyes followed each of them and followed to them to the door where they all disappeared to.They are finally having their face to face meeting. Unlike the 1960s and early 2000s, nowadays the Dons of the mafias rarely met personally for a meeting.Everything is done online, they go on online meetings where it is less risky and they are more protected in their territory.I followed behind them, having the least idea of what their meeting will all be about. I just know that they might discuss marriage especially now that I have graduated.I can’t have them talking about my marriage without my presence. Smoke has already filled the room when I entered and all the smoke came from Tiburzio Leuzzi’s tobacco. Everyone is already inside the room, all complete with the Dons and their consigliere present in the meeting.I can tell that the meeting is very private because their underbosses are not invited in the meeting. The meeting is being treated with utmost secrecy.My eyes landed on my father, waiting for him to tell me to get out, that I don’t belong here, but he didn’t.He stared at me, waiting for me to come near him… so I did.“I have two daughters,” he started when I finally stood behind him. “But only one can marry.”“That’s not a problem. I can only marry one, Raimondo,” Eros put out aggressively, even addressing my father by his name.This is not the first time I’ve attended a meeting like this. I had once when I was little, and it has been scary as this one.It still smelled like Tiburzio’s tobacco, and there’s still the heavy atmosphere hanging above us. My heart still pounded in my chest, the way it pounded when I was little.I don’t know which one of us Eros wanted to marry, but I hope that he’s asking for Letizia’s hand instead.“You have two daughters but you only want one to marry? What of the other daughter Raimondo?” Tiburzio finally spoke.Everyone inside the room looked so serious, no ghosts of smile on their faces, no traces of the men they were outside.Now I don’t know which man is pretending, the man they were outside or the man they are in here.“Only one must marry because the other must inherit the business and continue the legacy for me.”“If that daughter wouldn’t marry, then who would inherit the business after her?” No one asked that question for they knew the answer.Of course, the one who would inherit it will be her nephew.That means my eldest son would become the Don of Carusso family and the second will be the Don of Rocchi family.In a way, it would be like owning the two businesses at once, but it still couldn’t be counted as owning two businesses when you have two different owners.“Then who would marry and who would inherit the business?” Eros asked, but my father couldn’t answer his question.“I will marry,” I spoke up in behalf of my father who looked up at me with no surprise on his eyes.He knows I’m in love. I’m in love with the person that is in this meeting. Still, he had let me speak instead of speaking for me. He gave me one last chance to decide and change my mind.I’d never change my mind. The heart wants what it wants.I stared at Pietro who is sitting across the room, his eyes were on his hands folded together.I’m going for it. I’m gonna go for it. I wished I drank more wine before coming here.“What a heroic act for your sister. Have you asked your sister if she’d rather marry instead?” Pietro spoke up without looking at anyone.My mind turn blank when he spoke.“I will marry because I want to get married,” I replied curtly.He laughed at my answer. I’ve never felt so humiliated in my life. No one has laughed at my answer before.“You’d rather marry than to inherit your family business and lead it on your own? You’re a disgrace to women.” My heart twisted at his words, but I did not back down.I couldn’t believe that he could be this cruel, that he would dare mock and insult me in front of my father and the other Dons.I smirked, masking my embarrassment with an unfazed look. “Al cuore non si comanda.” (the heart wants what it wants)The humor on his face was swept away at my words. He finally looked up and stared right into my eye. “And what does it want, Lucrezia?”My name rolled off gracefully on his tongue like he had said my name a thousand times before.“It wants you,” I replied matching his tone.I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe that I just said those words in front all the other Dons.Everyone turned silent. Even the smoke inside the room had dissipated away. I couldn’t breathe, I felt like I had humiliated myself even further and there’s no smoke to even hide the faintest embarrassment on my face. “Madonna Santa!” I screamed inside my head as I wait for Pietro’s reply.“Well, I’m afraid I can’t marry you. I don’t have the same feelings as you.”My heart dropped and my face paled at his answer. W-what? Did I just got rejected in front of everyone after confessing my feelings to him in front of them?“Pietro!” My father spoke up feeling second hand embarrassment upon my rejection to stop him.LUCREZIA “You don’t want to marry me because you don’t have feelings for me?” I asked him before he could step out of the door and before father could say anything else and defend me on my behalf. “Al cuore non si comanda.” (the heart wants what it wants) He replied, using my words against me. “Then you’re a fool, Don Carusso,” I didn’t mind the people listening to our conversation anymore. All I could feel is anger and all I want is to give him a taste of his own medicine. “I graduated law with Latin honors. I’ve been trained in the business, exposed to the business since I was little. I would be more than just a wife to you, I will be your asset.” I sounded so desperate, but nonetheless I was saying the truth. Only a fool would turn down a marriage proposal from me. Pietro turned around, fully facing me. “Are you looking down on my power and my influence? I don’t need you to become more powerful. I don’t need more assets. Don’t let your feet float off the ground. I don’t need yo
PIETRO My ears felt like it’s going to bleed. The music is too loud, everyone is having a conversation with one another which only adds to the noise, and there were also people who have turned drunk enough that they shout at their every word. This is why I hate parties. We are celebrating a seven year old’s holy communion, and yet this party doesn’t feel holy at all. I guess this is what the mafias are good at, to make holy things unholy. Everyone clapped as Leuzzi’s granddaughter and Serrano’s daughter released a dove to the air. It is an important Italian custom when celebrating the holy communion. Next would be the opening of the gifts and finally after that I can leave the party. If only it wouldn’t offend anyone, I would have left after what had transpired between me and Lucrezia at the secluded part of the venue. I don’t think I can last more in the same place with her. “I had given the gifts,” Pericle Laurenti whispered to my ear as the clapping of the crowd died down. I
LUCREZIA“Where are you going that you don’t want father to know about it?” Letizia asked me, her brows are winkled together and her fingers has been constantly rubbing the tendrils of her hair. It is a habit that she and I share when we are worried.“I’m going out to find myself a husband.” Her eyes widened and she shot up to her feet. “Sorella!” She exclaimed which made me laugh.“I’m just playing with you. You look so worried as if I’m a teenager that cannot protect myself. Don’t worry, no one would dare to try harm a Rocchi,” I assured her as I look at her through the mirror.“You are not going to a nightclub, are you?” She asked me, my words still did not ease her worries. “I’m going somewhere with someone who will protect me.”“Why don’t you just tell me where you’re going?”I sighed at his incessant words. “Letizia, I only called you here to help me with my dress because I trust that you won’t tell anyone that I’m leaving. Now don’t ask me questions that you know I won’t answ
PIETROI couldn’t hide my amusement when Lucrezia glared at me. I did not even bother to open the car door for her earlier, yet she still expected that I’ll pull out a chair for her? She’s only adding disappointments to herself.Lucrezia sat on her seat angrily. I thought she’s going to call me Stronzo again or call me other words. She looked pissed and I’m just waiting for her to lash out on me but she didn’t.Instead, she placed her attention around her other than me to fully take in the place that I reserved only for the both of us.Her eyes traveled from the empty chairs, the decorated walls and the chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling. I noticed the way her mouth twitched slightly as if something had unnerved her.I quietly observed her as she wrapped a hand around her neck and pulled the skirt of her dress underneath the table.The dress she’s wearing makes her look out of place, like a stranger who just bumped into this place. I knew she would wear such dress so I specifi
LUCREZIAI smiled as I watched how his jaw twitched lightly and shuddered under my touch as if electricity is coursing through my fingers. I looked into his eyes that has swirls of desire within them.“Oh Pietro, I am not the only one who is attracted to you. You are attracted to me too?” I thought to myself, relieved to find out that this wasn’t one-sided after all.My eyes dropped to his tender lips. They look plump and soft, tempting me. Before my thoughts could grow dark, Pietro held me by the wrist and pulled my hand away from his touch.My eyes landed back to his eyes again as I look at him in surprise. The swirls of desire in his eyes are gone now. He gave me an icy stare, a look void of any emotion. He looked terrifying and angry.What happened? Why is he like this all of a sudden? Just seconds ago he liked what I was doing, he was even reacting to my touch.Pietro harshly pushed my hand away making my arms swing back to my side. I winced and held my shoulder because of how st
PIETRO“How dare you?! Are you not a part of the mafia as well? Are you not the Don of the Carusso family? If you think I’m disgusting then what that makes you, Carusso?”I stopped on my tracks. My heart twisted at her words, not because of her provocation, but because of how she uttered those words with a sob threatening to leave her lips.I raised my head, but did not look back. I’m afraid that my mask would fail me if I saw her teary face, knowing very well that it was I who caused them. I nearly failed to hold my facade earlier, which is why I turned to leave before my efforts of making her hate me would only result to nothing.With eyes blank of emotion, I swallowed back the answer I have for her question. “I’m different Lucrezia. I may be a part of the mafia, I may be the Don of the Carusso, but I’m more than that. I will be the bigger monster than them. I’m going to swallow them whole. I will break down the five families. I will be the biggest asshole any mankind has ever seen
LUCREZIA~~~When the stars make you drool just like a pasta e fasul That’s AmoreWhen you dance down the street with a cloud at your feetYou’re in loveWhen you walk in a dream but you know you’re not dreaming signoreScusami, but you see, back in old NapoliThat’s Amore~~~My father’s favorite song played loudly inside the mansion that I could even hear it’s slightly muffled sound inside my room.As if the music player knows about my aching heart, it played a song about love on queue.I feel like there is a heavy brick placed upon me as I lie on my bed, my body tangled in bedsheets, my arms opened wide, flatly placed on the bed as I stared at the empty ceiling above me as if it is the most interesting thing I’ve ever seen. I laid there on emptiness as the void in my heart continues to sip the happiness in me. I feel empty. I no longer dance down the street with a cloud at my feet as the song sings because I’ve lost my Amore. I’m no longer dreaming because I’ve lost my love.And t
LUCREZIA“Father won’t give our hand to that man. I’m sure of it. He will never do that over our mother’s grave,” I spoke firmly, but I sounded more like I was convincing myself, not stating something I really believe by heart.I paced around the kitchen, my arms crossing and uncrossing for I don’t know how and where to place them for I am filled with unease. I chewed my lip with a frown plastered on my face as the long wait tears away my sanity.What’s even taking them so long?I watched Letizia who looked sick as she sat by the kitchen counter. She’s staring at the floor, avoiding eye contact.Feeling my gaze on her, Letizia reached out to the glass of water that I have given her a few minutes earlier. Her hands trembled as she held the glass with both hands.I stopped moving and sat on the kitchen stool in front of her to give her comfort. When she’s done drinking her glass of water, I held both her hands in mine and looked at her in the eye.“There’s nothing you should be afraid o