It's Not a Fairytale, It's an Arranged Marriage to the Mob (27)

He said it, Rocco had said those secret words I’m gay in front of everyone.

Whispers and murmurs immediately broke out among our hundreds of guests. My eyes grew wide and I felt my cheeks burn red with embarrassment. Immediately I snatched Rocco’s hand, “What do you think you’re doing?!”

He shook his head, “This isn’t fair to either of us, I’m putting a stop to it. I’m just sorry that I waited this long to do it”

Rocco removed my hand and turned to the guests once again, “I have to put a stop to this wedding because I don’t love her, I’m in love with my boyfriend Duke”

The murmurs among guests were even louder now as they turned around to stare Duke in the back. I felt for him, people weren’t bothering to whisper as they gossiped among themselves, “I knew he was gay” and “How did no one know” were a few things I could hear people saying

To my horror, Rocco kept on talking, “I’m sure most of you have figured out that this was an arranged marriage to bind my father and Fabia’s father’s business. I do love Fabia as a friend so I want her to have all the happiness in the world, and a marriage with someone she loves”

I saw the expression on Romeo’s face change, as if he knew what his best friend was going to say before he said it. I just wish that I had also known what he was going to say also, so I could have stopped him before he turned and looked at the two of us, “Fabia, Romeo, I know you two have been secretly dating this summer” he announced

More gasps in the audience and this time Rocco’s parents stood up from the front row, “I know it’s too soon but I can see the way you two look at each other and I want you guys to be the ones to get married today. Romeo you’ve basically been a member of my family since you were born. I think you two getting married would do the same thing if I married Fabia. And you could marry for love”

I gulped and looked at Romeo. Could I marry him? Now? I’d known him for only 3 months. The majority of that time was spent arguing or when I was kidnapped. Things were happening too soon and my head was spinning.

Rocco’s parents had approached the alter now and his father was talking to the priest, his mother took my hand, “Come one sweetheart, let’s go to the back room” she said quickly protecting me and ushering us away.

“We will be taking a short 10 minute break if everyone could please remain in their seats” the priest said as I was stuffed in a room with the entire wedding party, Rocco’s parents, and his father’s most trusted business associates”

I stood in the corner near the window squeezed next to Romeo. He reached down and grabbed my hand giving me a smile, “Everything is going to be okay”

I looked into his eyes and even if it was only for a second, I believed him, “Promise?”

“Just stick with me and you’ll be fine”

Marco was the last one to enter the room and he shut the door behind him, it was awkwardly silent before Albert Cappazo spoke, “Rocco, we’re going to deal with you later. Obviously I am very upset that my youngest son no longer feels like he can go through with the wedding but someone’s got to get married today”

“Dad are you going to totally ignore the fact that I just told you I’m gay?” Rocco argued, I could tell he was hurt by the fact that he shared his deepest darkest secret and his father was more concerned about his business

“Rocco we’re going to talk about it later”

“Dad!?” he cried, “I want to talk about it now”

Mrs. Cappazo put her hands on Rocco’s shoulders, “Sweetheart, it’s not that we don’t want to talk about it, it’s just that this news really isn’t coming as a surprise”

“Me being gay isn’t coming as a surprise?” He said looking around the room to see that everyone wasn’t in shock and awe like he had expected.

“Not really” His older brother Stephano commented

Lorenzo was shaking his head and Eva seemed just as unsurprised.

“Why was I forced into a marriage then?!”

“Like I said before, let’s talk about this later. Romeo?” He asked looking over at us and then down at our connecting hands, “You know I think of you as a son, I trust you and I know you will remain with the family forever. Since it appears you two are apparently a couple would you marry Fabia for the business?”

I held my breath as my fingers seemed to go cold wrapped in-between his, “Um…”

“No! No! No!” Our family attorney called out with his glasses on and the will in his hands, “It must be a Cappazo and a Luciano getting married or the businesses do not combine. Fabia cannot marry Romeo”

It wasn’t that I was hoping to get married to Romeo but I felt disappointed when the news was delivered.

“Fine then Stephano? Will you marry Fabia?”

Rocco’s older, 24 year old brother looked at me from across the room. I liked Stephano, he was handsome, nice, and ambitious. But I thought of him as my older brother, never as a husband.

“You know I would do anything for the business and I’ve grown to love Fabia as a little sister but I’ve disagreed with this marriage from the beginning. I can’t marry her, especially when Romeo is in love with her. It just wouldn’t be right”

“Fine then Lorenzo?” Albert asked, “Will you do this for the business?”

Rocco’s oldest brother Lorenzo was 25 years old and I think I had only talked to him twice in the past three months. He was stoic, quiet, and strong. He wasn’t fun loving like his other brothers, we had nothing in common, marriage to him would be horrible.

He nodded, “I’ll do it”

I was trying to hold back but hearing that made me break down in tears. I was ugly crying in front of everyone, but I didn’t care. I didn’t care if I hurt Lornezo’s feelings, I didn’t want to get married to anyone except Romeo.

“Please don’t cry” Romeo said wrapping his arms around me as I buried my head into his chest. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me. It was completely quiet besides my sobs and a few whispers coming from two people on the other side of me. I felt like my life was completely over. Marrying Rocco would have at least meant I was married to one of my closest friends. A marriage to Lorenzo meant awkward conversations and no laughter.

I looked up and straight into the eyes of my oldest brother Enzo, he had been whispering to Rocco’s older sister Eva. He saw the hurt in my eyes and I saw the protectiveness in his, “Albert?” He asked calling out, “I have a solution, I’d like to marry Eva”

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Hello! I want to say thank you for waiting!! My 2 week vacation in Boston was spectaular! I loved it there! Sorry about the cliffhanger again! New chapter coming this week!

Also thank you to everyone who wrote to me in the past 2 weeks. I didn't get the chance to reply to most of you but I really appricate the messages and I hope you will continue to send more so i will have time to reply this time!