Taken By The Mafia Lord

She just couldn’t understand how men’s egos worked at all because instead of Marcel turning down the offer, he agreed right away just to make an impression on them and prove he was man enough to carry on the task. Arianna didn’t need her damned brothers-in-law’s permission to date him, but then Marcel was just insistent and thorough in whatever he did.

And just like that, Elvis boasted he came into the possession of a hundred year old wine. Of course, it intrigued the men who couldn’t wait to taste such a treat. But then, such a drink was supposed to go along with a snack and that was how she and Natalie ended up in the kitchen making finger foods that go perfectly with drinks while the men got themselves wasted in the living room. Hopefully they got along in her absence and not kill each other.

“I owe you an apology,” Her mother Natalie said to her out of nowhere while they were making the mini duck rice paper rolls with coriander peanut salsa. The other staff was present as well to make the work a lot faster and easier.

“Apology for what?” Arianna asked as she wrapped the duck and vermicelli in rice paper rolls, served in a baby cos lettuce leaf, and drizzled spicy peanut sauce on it.

Natalie let out a deep breath, “You were right and I was right all this time. He’s nothing like his father. I let my fear of the past try to hold you back and I’m sorry for that.” She apologized sincerely.

“It’s alright,” Arianna shrugged, “I was indeed very mad at you, but then, I couldn’t help but look from your perspective at the same time. You’re my mother and thought you were doing the right thing. Honestly, Daniel scares me as well and if I were in your shoes, I would hide my child away from that monster forever. ”

It was at that moment that Natalie turned and faced her, asking with a serious tone, “While you were with Marcel, did Daniel try to hurt you or anything?”

“Well…” Arianna thought it over and said, “He tried to kill me once because, in his language, not mine, I was making his son, Marcel weak, however, Samson was there to save my ass, and ever since then, he’s practically left me alone.”

.....

Natalie’s gaze narrowed with anger when she heard that story. That asshole tried to hurt her daughter. She should have ended him when she had the chance to end him that day! However, she managed to rein in her anger and asked, “Who is Samson?”

“Huh?” Arianna was startled when her mother asked that. She didn’t let out that name on purpose and how was she going to tell her mother that Samson was Marcel’s pet lion?

Nope, Arianna decided against the idea without a second thought. Not now Natalie was beginning to see Marcel in a favorable light. There was no way she was going to accept a man who raised a lion as a bed for her daughter.

So Arianna lied through her teeth,

“About Samson...he’s one of er… Marcel’s men and quite capable as well. He bravely fought through Daniel’s minions to get to me that day, ” yep, he ripped an arm with his razor-sharp teeth. So brave of him.

“Oh, is that so? Then I need to see him in person and thank him for saving you from that monster….” Natalie said, without much thought, and didn’t notice the cold sweat that broke out on her daughter’s face.

“I need to thank him for saving my precious daughter’s life ….” Her mother said with a tone of appreciation, reaching out to tug her hair to the back of her ear while Arianna put on a nervous smile.

She hurriedly said, “Sure, I would make it possible for the both of you to meet one day. But you can’t visit the base for now and when the time comes, the both of you would get along fine,” Arianna hoped, since Samson was not so welcoming to strangers and knowing her mother, she wouldn’t be open to keeping such a predator close by.

“Fine,” Natalie agreed without thinking much while Arianna managed to calm her racing heart. That had been so close. The things she would do for love, Arianna sighed tiredly.

“You should be careful though,” Natalie suddenly said and she lifted her face to meet her somber expression. What now?

“Be careful about what?” She asked curiously and cautiously.

Natalie didn’t answer right away; rather she handed the last of the finger snacks on a tray to the staff to have it delivered to the men while they continued their conversation.

Done, her mother leaned against the counter with her arms folded across her chest, and Arianna asked her once more, “What should I be careful about? Daniel?”

“No, yes, I mean…” Natalie got flustered while trying to explain herself and she paused momentarily. She was much clearer this time when she continued, “Of course, you should be careful of Daniel. But this time, I mean Marcel.”

Hearing Marcel’s name made Arianna suspiciously narrow her gaze at her mother, wondering what she was about to say about him this time. She thought they were over this conversation already.

Natalie went on, “While Marcel might not be like his father, Daniel, he still has his blood running through his veins and like his father, it wouldn’t surprise me if he has a deadly obsession over you too. So I’ll advise you to back out now if you can’t handle that before it’s too late and history repeats itself once again. It would be hard at first to get away from him but unlike me who had no help in the past, you have me, your mother, and the Draven brother, and together we would help you.” Her mother offered her a way out.

Arianna’s lips were pressed in a thin line as she thought over her mother’s words. Was Marcel obsessed with her? Was it not love? That can’t be.

No, Arianna refused to believe in such nonsense. She can’t begin to have doubts now that things are beginning to work out between them. Her mother simply worries about a lot of things.

So she said to Natalie with conviction, “Thanks for your concern, mother, but I’m sure that I can handle that level of affection.”