The Mafia’s Substitute Bride

Leonardo’s eyes were consumed by an insatiable longing to see Sofia’s face as he stepped foot in Genoa. He was in a frenzied hurry to reach home, every fiber of his being throbbing with the pain of separation from his beloved wife. He felt as though he couldn’t survive another minute without her presence, craving to lay his eyes on her, to feel her touch, to know that he was truly alive. Each passing second without her felt like a slow and agonizing death.

Rushing towards the airport exit, Leonardo’s heart raced with anticipation. His car awaited him, and he swiftly settled inside, urging the driver to go faster. The long drive to his home felt unbearable, his patience worn thin by the relentless yearning that consumed him.

As the car came to a stop before his opulent mansion, Leonardo wasted no time. He leapt out of the vehicle and dashed inside, his eyes searching for Sofia. His father and uncle sat in the grand hall engaged in conversation while his cousins lingered nearby. However, Leonardo’s gaze sought only Sofia’s face, desperate to find her. His frantic eyes scanned the room, but she was nowhere to be seen. She must have arrived hours before him. Consumed by anxiety, he couldn’t help but call out her name.

“Sofia!”

The sound of her name escaped his lips like a fervent prayer. The attention of everyone in the room immediately shifted toward him. They rushed towards him, concern etched on their faces.

“Leonardo, are you alright?” his father inquired, his eyes scrutinizing Leonardo for any signs of distress.

“I am relieved to see that you are safe,” his uncle added.

“What happened there, bro? We want all the details. We’re certain there must have been some thrilling, action-packed scenes,” his twin cousins eagerly asked, excitement bubbling in their voices.

But Leonardo’s mind remained elsewhere, his eyes still searching for Sofia. He yearned to hear her voice, to know that she was safe in his arms once again.

His breath caught in his throat when he caught sight of her descending the stairs, running towards him with unbridled joy. She leaped into his embrace, wrapping her arms tightly around him.

“Thank God you’re safe and sound,” she whispered, pulling away slightly to gaze into Leonardo’s face. Tenderly cupping his cheeks in her hands, she pulled him closer and showered his face with kisses, each one filled with boundless adoration and love.

Sofia murmured words of gratitude as her kisses showered Leonardo’s face, “I can’t thank God enough for keeping you safe and fine.”

Her words were warm and tender, like a soft melody caressing his soul. Their intimate moment was interrupted by a sudden clearing of the throat, and Sofia pulled away, her cheeks flushed with shyness. Leonardo couldn’t help but inwardly groan; he had been reveling in her affectionate gestures. Yet, this time, Sofia seemed to let her guard down, not caring who saw their affection for each other.

Anna came as relief washed over her face as she saw her son unharmed. “Oh, my baby! You are alright, and that’s enough for me. Don’t ever put yourself in danger. You have to be safe and take care of yourself, just for my sake,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion, trying to hide her sobs. She embraced Leonardo tightly, and he reciprocated by wrapping his arms around her, planting a gentle kiss on the top of her head. This display of motherly love filled his heart with warmth.

“I promise, Mum,” Leonardo assured her, knowing how much his happiness meant to her. Anna had always been his pillar of strength and support, and he never wanted to cause her any worry.

However, their tender moment was interrupted by Alessandro, whose tone was stern as he scolded his son. “Leonardo, what happened there? Why did you send Domenico back? Did you forget that we always had a strategy to work? Not every time we can work according to our instinct,” he reprimanded, and Leonardo scowled.

“Dad! He wanted me to agree to their nonsense terms and conditions, to which I could never give my consent,” Leonardo explained calmly.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

Alessandro nodded in understanding but demanded more details. “So, how did you sort it out? And how were you able to come back without accepting their proposition? As per my knowledge, Don Adrik is very stubborn,” he asked, curious yet cautious.

Leonardo knew that what he was about to reveal would not sit well with his father. “Dad, what I am going to tell you… you won’t like that. But I had to make a difficult decision. I have to kill Don Adrik,” he confessed.

“What the fuck are you saying, Leonardo?” Alessandro’s voice thundered, and Sofia flinched, clutching onto Leonardo’s side. Anna was quick to scold her husband for his language. “Mind your language, Alessandro,” she chided, looking around, conscious of the female family members present.

Anna took Sofia’s hand and motioned for Aunt Lovlyn, Bella, and the twins to follow her, leaving the men alone to address the grave matter at hand.

Approaching his son, Alessandro spoke in a stern and disappointed tone. “Tell me, Leonardo, how can you be so foolish? You know the consequences of killing a Russian mafia boss. This will only bring more trouble upon us. You’ve made all the Russians our enemies,” he said, shaking his head in disbelief.

“I know, Dad. But he was pushing me, provoking me to kill him. He said something about Sofia that I couldn’t bear and wished for my death. He even ordered his men to kill me on the spot,” Leonardo replied, his anger palpable as he remembered the taunting words of his adversary.

“He was looking for trouble, always pushing the boundaries, and this time, he went too far. I had no choice but to eliminate him, Dad. I had to,” Leonardo said, clenching his fists and exhaling loudly.

His father approached and clapped a hand on Leonardo’s back, a mix of understanding and concern in his eyes. “He’s dead now, and we can’t change that. Go to your room. We’re just relieved to see you safe and well. We’ll be leaving too,” he said, acknowledging the gravity of the situation.

Nodding in response, Leonardo headed to his room, where he found his mother sitting with Sofia. As she noticed him, she nudged Sofia’s hand, urging her to look at him.

“Dad is leaving for home,” Leonardo informed Anna.

“Alright, Sofia, I’ll be leaving too. Take care, sweetheart. And Leonardo, you better call me in the morning. I want to hear every detail,” Anna said in her sweet, yet threatening voice.

Leonardo rolled his eyes inwardly. He knew his mother well, believing he was still her little boy, sharing every piece of his fights. But the reality was far different. He couldn’t possibly disclose the brutal and cruel details of how he disposed of those ruthless adversaries.

Anna gently kissed her son’s cheeks, her love for him evident in the tender gesture, before she quietly left the room, softly closing the door behind her.

Leonardo turned his attention to Sofia, who looked at him with her innocent blue eyes, brimming with tears and affection. Concerned by her tears, he asked, “Why are you still crying, baby girl?” He pulled her into a warm embrace, hoping to lighten her mood with his gentle chuckle. “I am here in front of you, in one piece,” he reassured her.

Resting her head on his chest, she tried to compose herself. “I was so scared for you. Though I know that you are invincible, I was desperate to see you safe and sound,” her voice cracked with emotion.

Leonardo caressed her cheeks tenderly with the pad of his thumb, tracing soothing circles on her soft skin. Sofia’s curiosity got the better of her, and she asked, “Tell me what happened after I left?”

With a soft sigh, Leonardo began to recount the events. “Sofia, Don Adrik is dead. You don’t need to be afraid anymore,” he said in a hushed tone.

Her eyes widened in shock, and she pulled away slightly. “I heard that… you… you killed him,” she gasped, her hand covering her mouth in disbelief.

“It’s true, Sofia. I had no choice. If I didn’t act, he would have killed me. In our world, survival often means confronting and eliminating our adversaries,” Leonardo explained, his forehead touching hers, seeking comfort in their closeness. “You will get used to it,” he added, attempting to reassure her.

As he looked deep into her eyes, he sensed her insecurities and fear. He wanted to protect her from everything, but he knew the reality of their world. “But… but… Leonardo, this is so risky and dangerous. I’m really scared of bringing our baby into this world filled with threats and uncertainty,” she confessed, her fear palpable.

Leonardo sighed, his heart sinking as he realized the extent of Sofia’s apprehension. She was worried about the implications of his Mafia lifestyle, especially when it came to their unborn child.