My dad laughs.
Taking over as the don of the Bonetti family is something I’ve been groomed to do. Being the eldest of three boys, I knew this day would come, I just didn’t realize it would be this soon.
“Good. I do believe I’ve taught you everything I could possibly teach you, but there’s one last thing I’ll need from you before you can take over for me.”
“Anything,” I say; again, far too eager, but leading this family is in my blood, and I’m ready to take my place as the rightful heir.
The door opens from behind me and a soft voice calls out. “Did I make it in time?”
Pushing myself out of my seat, I turn to greet my mom whose arms are spread open as she walks up and brings me in for a kiss on each cheek.
I take a seat back in my chair, and she walks around to the other side of the desk to greet my dad with a kiss.
“So, did I miss it?” she asks again.
“Miss what?” I ask.
“Well, back to that one last thing I’m requesting of you before you can take over for me,” my dad says. He glances at my mom and nods at her with a smile, as if he’s signaling her for something.
She pulls a little black box out of the pocket of her cashmere sweater, and hands it to me.
Leaning forward in my chair, I take the box out of her hand. “What’s this?”
The question comes out of my mouth, but deep down, I know exactly what it is. A small black velvet box. What else could it be?
Opening it reveals a large emerald-cut diamond ring placed in the center of a black satin cushion.
“Now, we know this might not be exactly what you want to hear, but it’s time for you to get married and settle down,” my dad says. “We want you to start leading this family in the best way possible, and that’s with a wife by your side.”
“This was my engagement ring,” my mom says. “I would like you to take it and use it to propose to your future wife.”
Future wife.
Always knowing this day would come, I give my mom and dad a nod and say, “I understand.”
“Now, we have some prospects for who would be best suited for you,” my dad says.
“No,” I snap.
He raises a brow and my mom’s eyes widen, surely not used to me disagreeing with them.
Clearing my throat, I say, “I just meant, I already have someone in mind.”
My dad sits back in his chair and folds his arms across his chest. “Do you now? Well, let’s hear it.”
I clear my throat again. “Give me some time. I need to speak with her before I can move forward with this.”
“Son,”he warns, and I know he wants to press me on this.
“I promise, Dad. I’ll propose to someone soon, and have a wife before you know it, but give me just a little bit of time to get it all sorted. The woman I have in mind will make an excellent alliance for our family. I promise I won’t let you down.”
My parents exchange a curious look. “Fine, but until then, I want to start alerting everyone of this change that will be implemented, and have the capos report to you,” my dad says.
I give him a nod, then glance down at the ring, tuning him out while I move the box from side to side, admiring how the diamond sparkles under the light.
There’s only one person I plan on getting married to. She’s been on my mind every day since the first night I met her.
Liana DiMaggio has been able to avoid the inevitable for the past six years, but her time is finally up. Whether she likes it or not, I’m about to make her mine.
