Signed To The Mafia King - Chapter 15: Chapter 15

ALINA
I turned the wine in my glass towards the light, barely listening to my sister, Valentina, as she talked.
My mind was stuck on thoughts of Luca; of the way he kissed me, the way he touched me, the way he pulled back like I was something strange.
“So,” Valentina said, sounding uninterested, but her eyes were searching mine. “Are you and Luca planning to have children soon?”
I choked, coughing into my hand. Heat rushed to my face, burning so hot I felt like I might catch fire.
Valentina smirked. “I’ll take that as a no?”
I set my glass down and folded my hands in my lap, trying to look composed. “We… we haven’t talked about it.”
Which was true. We hadn’t talked about anything because Luca refused to touch me. How could we make kids if we couldn't have sex?
The thought twisted painfully in my stomach.
How was I supposed to explain that to my sister? That my husband, a Mafia boss, the kind of man who should be obsessed with the idea of claiming his wife, didn’t want me because I was a virgin?
It didn’t make any sense. Weren’t men like him supposed to love the idea of their woman being untouched, pure?
Valentina raised a brow. “Not even once?”
My face burned hotter. “Maybe after the ceremony,” I said quickly. “Once all this is over.”
The ceremony. A ridiculous two-day event that would end with Luca and me being tied together by a locked chain.
The oldest man in attendance would take the key and hide it, and if I ever wanted to leave Luca, or if he ever wanted to leave me, he’d have to find it first.
I thought it was absurd. But it was tradition.
Valentina hummed, taking another sip of wine. “Well, that’ll be interesting.”
I sighed, suddenly exhausted. I missed my family. My mother. Adriano. The way things used to be before everything changed.
I looked at my sister, hesitating for a moment before speaking. “Uncle Roberto came to the house,” I said quietly. “He wants control of the Mafia.”
Valentina’s face darkened instantly. “He what?”
I leaned back, crossing my arms. “Luca spoke the fear into him,” I said, shaking my head. “I don’t think he’ll be coming back anytime soon.”
Valentina smirked. “Good. I always hated that snake.”
I nodded in agreement, but my mind was already elsewhere. I was impatient.
I wanted to talk to my father’s men, to hear about the territories, the businesses, everything that had been his. They were mine now.
I would run them better than any man could. Especially with Luca at my side.
I let my head fall back against the chair, closing my eyes.
Luca.
The way he kissed me.
The way he touched me.
The heat in his eyes when he looked at me, like he wanted to eat me whole.
My cheeks burned, and I bit my lip, pressing my thighs together at the memory of him above me in bed, his hands, his mouth, the way he had held me like I was precious.
“Better snap out of your daydream,” Valentina said, sounding amused.
My eyes flew open. “I wasn’t…”
Valentina gave me a knowing look. “Sure you weren’t.”
I huffed, sitting up straighter. I hesitated for a moment, then glanced at her. “Can I ask you something?”
She raised a brow. “Of course.”
I looked down at my hands, suddenly unsure how to put it. I told her about the afternoon with Luca, embarrassed even as I forced myself to say the words. “Why do you think Luca doesn’t want to bed me?” I paused before adding, “Just because I’m a virgin?”
Valentina blinked. Then she laughed. “You’re serious?”
I scowled. “Why is that funny?”
She shook her head, leaning forward. “Alina, most men would kill for a virgin wife. Especially men like Luca. But…” She tilted her head. “He doesn’t seem like the kind of man who wants to deal with… the emotions that come with it.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I mean,” Valentina sighed, “Virgins get attached. The first man they’re with? They think he’s their whole world. Their first love.” She gave me a pointed look. “And Luca doesn’t strike me as the ‘happily-ever-after’ type.”
Something unsettled curled in my stomach.
“But we’re already married,” I said quietly.
Valentina shrugged. “That doesn’t mean he wants you falling in love with him.”
I stared at her, my pulse beating a little too fast.
Was that what Luca was afraid of? That I would love him?
Valentina shook her head. “Don't worry about it. I'm more shocked you never found someone to do the deed in school.”
“I didn't want to do the deed in school. Help me with the planning.” I muttered.
Valentina laughed.
After the ring exchange, the couple was expected to throw a party for the made-men, the highest-ranking members of the Mafia.
Until that happened, the marriage wasn’t officially recognized.
Luca had given me full control. He told me I could choose whatever I wanted.
I wasn’t sure if I liked that freedom.
He still hadn’t come to bed last night. I hadn’t seen him much this morning apart from a brief visit to say I could make whatever choices I wanted.
His sister, Sofia, was flying into town in two days. She was about my age, from what he’d said.
I sat across from Valentina, chewing on the tip of my pen. She was enjoying the entire process. I was starting to feel drained.
Valentina slapped her pen gently on the table. “Wipe that tired look off your face. We haven’t decided on the canapés and the meal for the made-men.”
I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face. “Could I just wake up tomorrow and find all of this done?”
Valentina shook her head happily. “No.”
Thomas came into the room before I could reply. He had a small bag with him. Lately, I was starting to think Luca had made Thomas my personal bodyguard.
“This just arrived for you, Madam.”
I frowned, exchanging a look with Valentina before reaching for the package. It was small, wrapped in smooth black silk with a thin silver ribbon.
My fingers trembled slightly as I untied it. I knew it was Luca. Maybe something to say he was sorry? It was most probably jewelry.
When I untied the silk, I found a small velvet box.
I opened it.
A single bullet was inside.
I stared at it, fear rushing in my ears. The metal was shiny under the light, my name carefully written along its side.
A note had been folded under it. With stiff fingers, I opened the paper. Four words were written on it.
An early wedding gift.
I couldn't breathe. The words were simple, but the meaning was clear.
Someone wanted me dead.