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“You don’t get to choose how I get to live my life or include me in some messed up deal.” I try to remain calm, stopping myself from yelling at Madre.
“Mio figlio (My child), this is the only way we both get to win,” my mother says.
Father is lying on the bed, still recovering. He watches as Mother and I argue.
“I do not want anything to do with Manny Gustavo.” I turn to face my mother.
“Or his daughter,” I add.
“Why? You’re already thirty-one, and you’re always so fixed on work you haven’t gotten a chance to bring any woman home to us.”
“Madre, I told you, I’m not ready to have a wife or a family yet.”
“You’re never ready for anything. You’ll ruin my business before I’m dead,” Father retorts.
I clench my fist hard, restricting myself from yelling at him. “This man almost killed Daniel and burned the warehouse. We can’t trust him. I don’t.”
My mother walks closer to me. Her flowery shirt is neatly tucked in the blue office pants she has on. She has light make-up on, with her brown hair flowing down her shoulders. I spot a few white strands.
“We aren’t trusting Manny. We are simply having an exchange.”
She touches my arm and stares into my eyes. “They have what we want. It’s only a fair exchange, mio amore (my love).”
“There has to be another way, Madre.”
“Stop being stubborn, Alessandro. With no shipment, we will lose all of our clients to our rivals.”
“Adriana has been missing for weeks now. She doesn’t want this just as much as I don’t.”
I still can’t believe she just up and left; I thought we had a good arrangement going. Maybe I was too much for her to handle, or maybe her father’s the reason she’s nowhere to be found.
“Her father assured us that she would be found,” Mother replies.
“I don’t want to be a part of this stupid deal.” My voice has gotten higher. I’ve endured years of doing whatever they wanted to prove myself, ready to take over the business someday. But not anymore.
“I’m not fucking marrying Adriana Gustavo,” I scowl, disgusted by the idea.
“It’s final. Your mother and I have discussed it. You are going to marry Adriana Gustavo and that is the end of this discussion,” Father says with his voice raised. He coughs a little.
Adriana and I getting married is supposed to ensure a truce between both our families. A temporary one. One that ensures we have enough supply for our scheduled shipments, at least for a while. But there’s no way in hell I’m fucking trusting Adriana or her father. This could well be a trick to steal from us.
“No! I’m done here and none of you can make me marry Adriana!”
I walk out of Father’s room, slamming the door behind me. I hate coming here. This house reminds of Father’s constant berating of me.
“Alessandro!” Mother calls behind me.
“I’m not changing my decision, Madre. There’s nothing you or Father can do about it,” I reply, slowing down my steps.
“Stop there, Alessandro.”
I take a deep breath, squeezing my eyes shut for a second before I stop and turn to face her.
“Please just consider this. Your father’s legacy and all he has built for years will all be for nothing,” she says.
“I won’t let that happen on my watch, Mama. Just trust me. I’ll figure it all out.” I stare at her for a few moments as she crosses her arms and nods in response.
Feeling the need to leave the house quickly, I begin to walk to the front door.
