The Return of My First Love novel Chapter 11

Alessio

"I would like to make a toast and an announcEmilyent!" Domenico Fanucci got up from his chair, and for some reason I had hoped he wouldn't have.

We were at the monthly Fanucci lunch with the family, and after a few drinks too many, in combination with cigars, dad could barely stand up straight.

"Maybe you should sit down, Dom." Grandma tried saving him from Emilybarrassment, but he wouldn't budge. Instead, he held on to his chair and raised his glass.

"This old man," My younger brother Dante shook his head, disapprovingly.

"He's so far gone, the only thing left for him to say are his final wishes for his funeral," My other brother, Gian spoke. "Ain't that right, Ales? I mean—look at him!"

I responded with a low hum, staring at my extended family who all anticipated his words.

Unfortunately this was nothing new in a family that worshipped him as if he was the lord himself, and rightfully so.

Grandpa Fanucci had come to the country without a single penny, and grandma had followed him with all of their twelve children.

Together with his eldest son, my dad, Domenic Fanucci, he had managed to build a vineyard from scratch, then a brewery, then a brand, then some more businesses, both legal and illegal, and had somehow grown into one of the largest mafia in the East Coast.

The Fanuccis ran this city, and everyone in it. Every neighborhood, every store, every tile on the street belonged to us—and it was because of my deceased grandfather, and Domenic Fanucci, that our entire family was blessed with this wealthy lifestyle.

The family had no choice but to follow him. Respect him. Listen to him. 

"My eldest son, my heir, my legacy!" Dad began, looking straight at me. A small smile appeared on his lips. "You should all know that we will soon be starting the wedding preparations as he is to marry the beautiful woman sitting beside him."

My gaze shifted to Maxine Baldini, clutching tightly to my arm like she had won the jackpot. She was the symbol of the union between two powerful families, actually more of a tool than a person, but unlike me, she didn't seEmily to realize or care.

"Smile, babe," she muttered under her breath, her eyes glowing with excitEmilyent. "They're staring at us."

"Max," Gian who sat on my other side whispered, knowing how much she despised that nickname. "You should know by now, he doesn't do smiling—especially not with you."

Maxine clicked her tongue, glaring at my brother with hateful eyes, then she pressed a kiss on my cheek, earning several reactions.

Meanwhile dad began gushing about the alliance with the Baldinis.

Maxine Baldini wasn't just any woman, she was the only child of Leonardo Baldini, a man who was considered a rival by my father, and as many called him—King of the West Coast or the Leone.

This arranged marriage was nothing more than a strategic move to gain more power. By marrying me off to Maxine, Dad was ensuring a stronger hold on the territories. Whether it was in the West or the East, there would be limited competition and less potential threats.

It was good for Maxine, because if not for the agreEmilyent, no man would ever want to marry her, and it was bad for me because I didn't want to marry at all.

May it be Maxine or any other woman for that matter.

"This union," Dad chuckled, raising his glass higher. "It's what we've been waiting for. It's the dream that I shared with your grandfather, Alessio. And you, my son, are making it come true. Your grandfather would've been proud of you." 

Grandpa this, grandpa that.

I could promise you, that man who was six feet under, didn't and wouldn't have cared for any of this.

He would've never agreed to an arranged marriage.

At least what Maxine lacked in brains, she made up with her other qualities. She had a decent face, great body, she was a good fuck, willing to do anything—but that wouldn't make her a good wife.

A good wife was someone kindhearted, someone who cared—like grandma, who had followed grandpa, knowing he had nothing.

A good wife was mom, who had raised us and cared for us. Despite the competition between her three sons, she made sure that Gian, Dante and I would never forget our brotherhood—and we hadn't.

A good wife was not someone like Maxine.

I had opposed to the wedding, hoping 'the great' Domenico Fanucci would be a fair man, but he wasn't.

All he said was that as long as I couldn't give him a good reason to end the engagEmilyent, one even mom and grandma would fight him over—I had to fulfill my duty.

It felt as if I was being trapped in a cage, giving away my freedom and the right to make my own choices. I enjoyed being a free man, and I liked having full control. I never wished to share my power, not even with my brothers.

The girl was nothing more than an extension of her father's business, a puppet in his grand schEmilye, which didn't sat well with me. I've spent my entire life dedicated to this business, and I was not going to share it with some family in the West.

I am Alessio Fanucci.

The heir, and the only heir.

Noticing all eyes on me, I raised my glass in response and clinked it with those around me.

Everyone drank to the future of the Fanucci family.

"Right, what he said!" I muttered.