Chapter -1

The Giovanni family was having their usual chitchat during dinner. Elio was talking about his friend's vacation.

"You know Dave told me how nice it was to go solo tripping. "

Elio side-eye his dad looking for any reaction. Alessandro had a small smile on his face.

"Whatever you are trying to do, no. I'm not going to let you go outside alone."

He sips his wine and looks at his wife. She was shaking her head to their banter.

"What!?! I'm 23 for God's sake. Let me travel alone. By the looks of you trying to hide me from the outer world it's like I'm in a mafia or something."

At the mention of Mafia the faces of everyone at the table changed. Elena cleared her throat and turned to look at him.

"Oh, don't be such a baby. You go out every week."

"Yeah. But with number of bodyguards that i can't even count."

"The Luciano family visited us."     Alessandro told changing the topic. At the mention of that Elio turned his attention towards his father.

"Oh did they come with a new deal or contract?"

Elio asked wiping his mouth with the tissue.

"Well more like they came with a marriage proposal."

At that Elio looked at his sister with a smile. Well Elena had a crush on Marco Luciano's son, Nicolas, for a long time. He knows  it's more than a crush. Elena genuinely like Nicolas. And from the subtle glances and smiles exchanged between them he knows Nicolas also like Elena. They had been dancing around each other for so long. It's time they settle with each other.

"They asked me for your hand in marriage."

"What!!!"

Elio shouted  hearing that. Nicolas wanted to marry him? And not Elena?

"No. There must have been a mistake. He should  marry Elena, not me."

Elio turned to look at Elena, hoping she would say something. But she was silent looking down.

"I said yes. It'll be good for our company too."

He can't do that to Elena.

"No."

He said sternly.

"What?"

They all looked at him surprised.

"I said no. I won't marry him."

With that he stormed off to his room and locked it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elio was woken up from his sleep by the knocks on his door. He didn't know when he fell asleep.

"Eli. It's me."

It was Elena. He walked to the door and opened it. Elena walked inside and sat on his bed. She patted the side beside her. He sluggishly walked and sat down. She moved closer and and put her hand on his shoulder pulling him closer.

"Just say yes to the proposal Eli."

Elio turned with wide eyes and pulled himself away from Elena's hold.

"Are you crazy? Why would i say yes knowing you like him?"

Elena sighed and cupped his face.

"I don't like him now. I'm serious. Do this for our dad and mom."

"Are you sure?"

Elio asked looking straight into her eyes trying to detect any type of lie.

"Yes. I'm sure he would be good to you."

"But i never saw him like that."

Elio pouted. That's true. He never thought about Nicolas in a romantic way.

"It's okay. You guys have a week before the marriage."

"A week!!!!"

Elio shouted making Elena cover her ears. Oh boy this was going too fast.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elena walked to her dad's office and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Alessandro's deep voice answered.

"He'll say yes."

She said once she was seated on the couch near her mom. This whole thing, the marriage is a plan to protect Elio. Few days before they received a parcel with some of Elio's photos in it. That meant someone was following him. They were all panicked and trying to find ways to protect him. That's when an idea popped in Alessandro's brain. Marry Elio into the second powerful mafia family. The Lucianos. Marco Luciano was his old friend and they still keep in contact. Everyone was on board with the idea. But they have to make everything fast. Every single second wasted will be used against them. Nicolas is a good man. He's ruthless, cunning and would go to any lengths to protect what's his.

"The marriage will be set on next week as said. We need to start the preparations now."

Elena nodded to what her father was saying. On the outside Elena was fine, but in reality her heart was breaking into shards. But she had to do it. For the sake of her brother's safety. Nothing comes before his safety. Not even her love  for Nicolas.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elio went downstairs for breakfast. The whole time during breakfast was awkward. No one was speaking. And he hated that. So he took a deep breath and looked at his dad.

"I'll marry him."

Alessandro snapped his head at him.

"What??"

Elio huffed and folded his arms.

"I said I'll marry Nicolas."

His mother squealed.

"Oh honey thank you."

His dad said and he just nodded. When it was time for Elena and their dad to leave for office Elio got up from his seat and walked to his dad. He stood in front of him and hugged him.

"I'm not mad at you."

Elio mumbled into his dad's shirt. Alessandro nuzzled his face into Elio's hair and kissed his head. He said goodbye to Elio and kissed his wife. Suddenly he stopped walking and turned to look at Elio.

"Oh. Nicolas might text you. You guys have a date today."

"What???"

Elio's screams echoed through his mansion making Elena and Alessandro to rush outside.

Hi. It's my first time writing a mafia book and i don't know much about mafia world and such things. So sorry if the plot is confusing or going fast. I promise I'll improve. Hope you like this book😁