His Promise: The Mafia’s Babies by C. Tamika

Chapter 364

Aria

Vince took me for a drive, and believe it or not-I was frightened. He hadn’t said a word, and his hand, which was tightly wrapped around the steering wheel, made me believe that he was not here for a wedding talk.

After a while of driving. Vince stopped the car at the side of the road and turned around to look at me.

He took a deep breath. “Since we’ve both signed the contract, I’ll just say what’s on my mine.” He sounded

serious.

“First of all, let me start by saying that you’re one of the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” He said, staring at me. “I admire you for taking over your family, and I’ve heard good things about you.”

“Thank you.” I took in his compliment, smiling brightly. Being admired by the one I loved was all I ever wanted-even if he despised me.

“I feel flattered that someone as powerful as you would want to marry someone like me.” Vince paused for a second. “But the way you did it was wrong.”

A sudden feeling of cold found its way through my body as all I wanted was to wake up from this bad, dream. Unable to respond, I frowned slightly-waiting for an explanation.

“You’re still young, and you live in this perfect fantasy, so I’m sure you don’t mean any harm-but you shouldn’t have forced me to marry you.” Vince spoke in a soft tone.

It wasn’t new to me, but this time it was not coming from his friend’s mouth. It came from the source himself. Forced? He thought I had forced him to marry him?

“Uhm, wow,” I looked down, feeling embarrassed.

“I hope you can listen to me.” Vince didn’t back down. “I feel trapped and disrespected by you picking me up like a piece of garbage, deciding that you’ll marry me just like that.” He told me his frustrations. “Then you come with this ridiculous contract-thinking you have the right to decide over my life.”

I froze.

“Aria, do you understand where I’m coming from?”

“Yes.” I gulped.

He spoke almost like a dad scolding his daughter, showing he did not want to hurt my feelings.

His words were painful, but they were necessary as I slowly began to see the picture. I could feel the pain in his eyes and listened to every word.

I did force him to marry me. I could’ve fought for his heart as any normal woman would’ve done, but instead. I used dad’s connections to get a ring on my finger.

Without thinking it through, I ordered him to marry me, knowing he would not decline to save his family’s honor. How could I even have the nerve to wish for his heart!

“I invited you to my house. You cooked for us, which was very nice, by the way.” Vince smiled tenderly. “But then you told off my brother while that’s not your job, you brought back old memories by

mentioning our father, ranted about blowing people’s heads off-and god knows what.”

I’m a terrible person.

I’m a terrible person.

second, I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to keep my

only trying to

in the contract about Luis’ manners and education which I was responsible for, made me want to

was all a

is still a kid. He’s gone through a lot. He’s vulnerable-so you can at least watch

to say. I’d talked enough crap about everyone for this conversation to go in any direction.

friends have been there at my lowest and know me better

practiced what to say beforehand, meaning it must’ve been on his mind for a long time. Maybe, I was

with good hearts. Friends that would not push him aside or betray him as Beau

“I-I didn’t-

Beau, name calling the other Alfonzos?” Vince’s tone grew colder. “Unless you want us to go to

sorry.” My cheeks

did not know how much more humiliation I

thing you said about Serena?” Vince sighed, breathing through his nose. “I’ll give you a pass because you’re still young and somewhat immature, but unless you don’t want me to lose the tiniest bit of respect I have left for you-please do not ever say that again.”

Young and immature.

of respect for me sounded like a

how much did he

I couldn’t explain why I had done it. Talking bad about others and there struggles made me

I closed my eyes, still trying to hold

was for him to love

Oscar hiring Angelo Marino as your advisor, a Marino to make me feel threatened and to keep this marriage in check. That must’ve

start.”

his words. If he only knew that although I respected dad-I did not stand behind his decision to

to protect everything he built. Yes, he was wrong-but it ultimately was my fault. He didn’t know the Garcias for that long. People made them out to be monsters-so having the Marinos behind me, knowing

dad’s heart at peace, and at the end of the day, that was

to marry Vince in the first place-but he

was to make me happy, so

are getting married in a few days, and I want us to be on

was getting myself into. Vince could let me walk down

a good

attempted to speak a complete sentence, but I did not get far as tears

hands. “Hey, don’t cry!” He pulled away my

mouth to speak, but the pain in my throat felt too heavy, and so did the

finger near my eye to wipe away my tears. “Forget the contract, I’ll tell dad to cancel the wedding, and I’ll help you clear the

his head, chuckling. “We’ve

the blame.” I

your family

Vince still cared for my family’s well-being. He cared for

me to walk down the aisle with a smile after all you’ve just said.” I asked. “I know

because it’s not true.” Vince said, trying to convince

in the world would go on a rant the way he did without hating the person. I knew he disliked me, but I hadn’t realized just how much until now. I

Sure anymore.

the marriage until you can’t take it anymore, and you’ll end up

hoping for him to deny my accusations, but Vince

my