I help Angela into the passenger seat and close the door and step into the drivers side, turning on the car engine.

I look into the rear view mirror and see Jordan pull Stefano into his embrace.

"Ok great, now I'm double, third wheeling," Gio says sarcastically, hugging himself.

"Deal with it," Stefano says sitting back down .

Stefano had always been the quiet one in our group, always hidden in the shadows. Never would join Mark, Gio, and I to flirt with girls. Never seen him bring a girl to the house. He always buried himself in work, Mafia and business related.

Although I am old-fashioned for many thing, I accept Stefano. No not just accept, I am proud of him. Who am I to say whom he may love?

I snap out of it when Stefano speaks up.

"So when will the wedding take place?"

Angela turns her head towards me and replies to his question. "In like a few months. Mateo wants the wedding to be soon."

Flashback

"Why wait to marry you? My parents met and got married the same day," I say.

"Thank god that didn't happen to us." Angela replies, pointing at with with a fork, chicken at its end.

"Next week?"

"No." She stabs another piece of chicken.

"No longer then five months," I say, tilting my head back, filling my mouth with a dark liquor.

End of flashback

"Can I be the officiant?" Giovanni ask.

"I- um," Angela stutters, " We already choose someone."

"Un-choose them," Giovanni says causing Jordan and Stefano to snicker.

"Giovanni if you don't stop bothering my future wife, I, myself will beat your ass." I say staring at him through the mirror.

Angela places a hand over mine that is placed in the gear shift. "He isn't bothering me. Gio, you can be the flower girl."

I stop the car a few blocks away from Jordan's home and after a few goodbyes, Jordan leaves and walks to his house. I make a U-turn and processed towards our house.

The guards at the front gate open them and let us through.

As Stefano opens his door, he ask, "Could he come to the wedding?"

"Of course," Angela smiles, taking my hand. I also nod my head in agreement.

Quickly opening the door, we enter the home.

Mateo grabs me by the waist and leads me towards the living room. I look up at the large clock, hung in the wall, it reads 1:43 am.

"I had a lot of fun tonight," I say as all our friends walk up the stairs and towards their bedrooms to sleep.

"The night is still young, mi amore."

He throws me over his shoulder and walks us to the kitchen. He sets me down on the cold, black countertop.

"Close your eyes."

I roll my eyes at his demand but do not disagree.

"Open your mouth."

I push my eyebrows together. "That's weird."

"Trust me."

I open my mouth and he steps in between my legs and places his rough and scarred hand under my chin, tilting it up. He places a peice of moist, soft cake into my mouth.

The perfect blend of cherry and milk chocolate cover my tongue. I swallow the cake and open my eyes. In his hands sits a simple but messy cake. I dip my finger into the uneven frosting and place it on his lips.

"You like it?" He asks pulling me into him, so we are close enough so I can count every eyelash of his. Close enough that I can see the different shades of brown in his eyes.

I give him a small nod. His strong cologne overwhelming my senses.

I kiss him, causing the frosting to rub into the kiss, sweeting it, making crave more.

Mateo picks me up and I wrap my legs around my waist as he leads us to the elevator.

I turn, my eyes full of sleep. Mateo sleeps, in peace. His gorgeous, perfectly cut hair, messy. His lips slightly bruised as well as his neck.

"You should see yourself." He scares me, a grin plastered on his face.

"Jesus Christ," I say slapping his shoulder.

He pulls me closer and nods towards the clock. "Go back to sleep."

"No. Let's do something." I say.

Mateo groans but agrees. I walk into the bathroom and freshen myself as Mateo changes clothes.

"I must do some training. So you can either come with me or watch a movie alone." Mateo says walking up behind me as I wash my teeth.

"I'll train with you," I reply, my mouth full of minty foam.

"Wear layers." He says as I exit the bathroom.

I walk into the closet, put on leggings, a long sleeve black shirt and 2 jackets. I also place a sword holder onto my back and a dagger holster against my thigh.

Although I was just a regular girl two years ago, I place these weapons against my body as I've been doing this for years and years on end.

For the past 10 months, I've been secretly training with Stefano. Mateo being the underboss of the Italian Mafia has to watch over the businesses and establishments that they own. He usually trains around 5 in the morning and is out of the house after 7 so me and Stefano start our training at 9 till noon.

~

"Have you been training?" Mateo asks me, his sword against mine.

"Am I that good?" I ask turning the sword.

"So you have been." He smiles.

"I might become better then you," I laugh.

He turns and swiftly pins me against the wall with a hidden dagger against my neck. My sword on the ground and a seductive smile on his face.

"Never," Mateo says.

————————————————————————

-Do y'all even like my Authors Notes?

- I WANT TO LEARN HOW TO WEILD A SWORD SO BAD! No, I have a better plan. My husband will know how to use a sword and he can teach me! YES THATS PERFECT.

-Lowkey wanna throw up. I don't like lovey-dovey scenes 🤮

————————————————————————