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.

squeezed my eyes shut, trying to keep

to parent his brother. I was only trying to help so no one in the family would interfere.

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

was all a

lot. He’s vulnerable-so you can

sorry.” My voice cracked, hoping he had nothing else to say. I’d talked enough

considering those friends have been there at my lowest and know me better than you ever could.” It

been on his mind for a long

be surrounded by good people with good hearts. Friends that would not push him aside or betray

“I-I didn’t-

grew colder. “Unless you want us to go to war with all the families as soon as we

sorry.” My

not know how much more

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

Young and immature.

the tiniest bit of respect

how much did he dislike

even for me. I knew it was, and I couldn’t explain why I had done it. Talking bad about others and there struggles made me feel a

my eyes, still trying to hold back my

love me the

Oscar hiring Angelo Marino as your advisor, a Marino to make me feel threatened and to keep this marriage in check. That must’ve been the icing on the cake. “That’s so sick. I don’t even know

start.”

that although I respected dad-I

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

me kept dad’s heart at peace, and at the end of the

didn’t want me to marry Vince in the first place-but he went along with it because

happy,

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

Vince could let me walk down the aisle, make me believe he wanted to be with me-but he didn’t.

had a good and

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

causing me to hide my face in my hands. “Hey, don’t cry!” He pulled away my hands to see my face. “We’re just

in my throat felt too heavy, and so did the

wipe away my tears. “Forget the contract, I’ll tell dad to cancel the wedding, and I’ll help you clear the Garcias name—”

his head, chuckling. “We’ve announced our

take the blame.” I breathed, trying to

that much-but I don’t want your family to become the laughing stock.” Vince spoke. “And I need you. My

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

You expect me to walk down the aisle with a smile after all you’ve just said.” I asked. “I know you: hate me, and I can live with

not true.” Vince said, trying to convince himself. “I do not hate you.”

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 thought I could

Sure anymore.

you can’t take it anymore, and you’ll end up divorcing

to deny my

was my