Married to the Mafia Boss

Amelia

I cannot believe Frankie! I am not some teenage kid sneaking into a bar and having perverted old men flirt with me. I’m in my twenties. I’m a freaking adult! Oh my God, there is nothing that pisses me off more than being treated like a child. I’m his wife, not his daughter, and he acts like he owns me. I scream in the car as I race down the road, anger boiling over.

The very reason I never got along with my father was that it didn’t matter how old I was, he treated me like a little kid who had to be bossed around and told what to do. He and Frankie treat me as though I have no common sense or can’t think further than my nose. I’m not a complete idiot. I know how to handle my drinks and my men.

Frankie seriously needs to have a reality check, or, I don’t know, I’m going to make a run for it on my own. I don’t know how I’d get anywhere without cash, maybe I could use one of Frankie’s burner cells to call Papa for help.

I’m tired of Frankie accusing me of being the problem, the one who lets everything slip, the one whose fault this is. He got us into this mess by putting Dave into the hospital, it’s his fault, and I’m done taking his accusations lying down.

As soon as I get home, I storm to my room and slam the door shut, locking it. I change, wash in the en-suite bathroom, and get into bed, furious.

I hear the front door open and close, and I hear Frankie set down his briefcase. I wait, wondering if he’s going to continue the fight here or if he’s going to leave it. Either way, I’m ready to take him on. He doesn’t scare me.

After ten minutes, when he doesn’t try my door, I turn over with my back to it and curl up. I’m angry and want to cry angry tears, but I’m not letting him have the satisfaction. I take a few deep, steady breaths, keep my eyes closed and drift off to a fitful sleep.

I wait until Frankie leaves in the morning, give him a ten-minute head start, and then go to meet Andres for breakfast. He wants to tell me his full plan today, and he hasn’t hurt me yet. I don’t know why but I trust him.

Even when I was with Dave, Andres was always kind to me, unlike his brother. He was involved in the family business, but his own, and he has promised me he’s not here at Jose’s request.

I pull up to the diner, climb out of the car, and head inside. I find Andres sitting in a booth at the back. Breakfast is already waiting for me, along with a large cup of coffee with cream.

“Thanks,” I say, starting to tuck into the food straight away. He also begins to eat.

As I eat, I say between bites, “Tell me your plan.”

He pauses and sips his coffee. “There are those in the family that are tired of Jose’s tyrannical rule. He doesn’t care for the family. He only cares about enriching himself. There are those who would help me destabilize the family in Columbia, and he would have to shift his focus from his war here to the war I start there.”

“Why do you need me then? Go start a war. I approve,” I say.

He shakes his head. “It isn’t that easy. Jose has banned my immediate family and me from ever returning to Columbia. We step foot in that country through normal routes, and he will find out and have me killed. I’m hoping to avoid that.”

“I don’t understand how I can help you, Andres. I have no way to get you into Columbia,” I say sadly.

“But your husband does.” He says the word husband as though Frankie and I are close. I almost want to correct him, but there’s a hope shining in his eyes as he continues, “If the Sorvinos are willing to form an alliance with me and get me into Columbia, I can talk to the allies we need and get them to assist in taking Jose down. The family needs a strong leader, and I believe I can be that leader.”

“You want to lead the family,” I say quietly. “So, you want our help.”

“I care about my family deeply, and I want to see them treated better. Jose sometimes shoots family members just for beating him at a card game.” He sighs. “It’s how I lost my Uncle Hector.”

I reach across for his hand. “How can I help?”

“Set up a meeting with Frankie,” he says earnestly, and I falter. Frankie already has issues with the fact that one of my ‘old friends’ is around and speaking to me. I can’t imagine what he’ll say when I tell him the old friend is Jose’s nephew who wants to overthrow him.

Still, it’s a good solution for everyone involved.

“It won’t happen overnight,” he says. “I will have to take my time. Rushing may cost me my life. But I believe that we can take my uncle down within a year and install law and order again. I know the traditions the families have, and I respect them.” He smiles. “And I will call off the manhunt for you and your husband.”

I nod. “I’ll speak to Frankie,” I say, sounding braver than I feel. “I’ll ask him to meet with you.”

Andres smiles, and we finish our meal. He pays while I leave to go to the club. I walk in, despite the fact it’s closed at this time, and a few of the bouncers eye me suspiciously.

I knock on Frankie’s door, and when he calls to come in, I open it and walk in.

“Frankie,” I say, “can we talk?”

He looks up from the papers he’s reading through and sits back. “What about? Is there trouble?”

“There’s a solution,” I say, trying to inject the bravery back into my voice.

Frankie raises an eyebrow. “From who?”

“Andres,” I say. “The friend we argued over last night.”

“You told him why we’re here?” Frankie hissed. “You put our lives in danger again.” He stands up quickly, but I hold up a hand.

“He knew already. He’s here to help us, not to hurt us. I just need you to hear him out.”NôvelDrama.Org: text © owner.

“Hear him out? Is he one of Jose’s men? Did you really believe he’s here to help you instead of kill you?”

“I know him, Frankie,” I say.

“You knew Dave, Amelia,” he spits at me.

“Exactly, and Andres is nothing like his brother,” I almost regret the words as I say them.

“Ah, his brother, so he is affiliated with the family.” Frankie shakes his head. “We’ll have to leave. We’re compromised.”

I slam my hand on the table. “You’re not listening. He hates Jose, and he wants to overthrow him. He has a solution and wants to meet with you to broker an alliance to take down Jose. It’s a golden opportunity to solve our problem.”

Frankie stares at me. “Oh, I’m sure he wants that. He can’t just be lying to you to get to me? He can’t be making this up?”

“All I’m asking is that you hear him out,” I say, and then I decide to take a chance. “If you still feel he’s lying, you can kill him. Shoot him if you want. Piss Jose off even more. I don’t care, but while we have this one chance, at least listen because you will regret it if you don’t.”