Too good

LUCA'S POV

“You whatㅡ!” My aunt shrieked as soon as I delivered the news of my marriage to them.

My uncle shot her a warning look that made her shrink back and shut up while he sighed before looking at me.

“Look, Luca…we're just concerned…” His voice trailed off and settled on Elena who was sitting beside me, gracefully, her gaze surveying every member of my family who were just as involved in the business as they should be

She was an epitome of grace. She wanted to always have the upper hand and though she seemed clueless, she didn't show it. She raised her chin up and made sure to look everyone in the eye to show that she wasn't intimidated. So cute that I would almost laugh.

Another man who seemed to have a lot to say piped in. “It just seems awfully convenient” He said with a raise of an eye brow.

I looked at him, a fire blazing in my eyes.

“What is?” I dared him to talk

He shifted uncomfortably by the wall he was leaning on and shrugged. “Doesn't it seem a little too weird that Luca hasn't been seeing any lady that we know of then he causally walks in and says that he got married and… it wasn't arranged” The notion wasn't for me, he was talking to everyone present in the room with me.

My mum who was silent for most part sighed. “Well Luca…we aren't questioning your choice of course but… seriously? I mean she's beautiful but do you really like her?” She asked, her gaze falling on Elena who straightened up, flashing a smile so bright that I would have to shield my eyes.

“Well yes. I didn't also expect to fall in love with him but…” Elena had begun speaking, her warm hand resting on mine while looking up at me with affection. I had clearly underestimated her acting abilities.

Uncle Fernando grumbled something “I'm sure you'll like to tell us how you both met” he said with a smile that was dangerous.

“Well actually I was at this coffee shop while waiting for somㅡ” Elena began to speak when a cousin cut her off.

“Him?”

She levelled him a gaze that made him shut up. “No. I had actually come for a date but I was…lead on and my date ditched so I was still there when he came in to get a coffee, black and strong on the opposite chair then I thought that wow, that is a really handsome man then being the person I was, I walked up to him and asked to have a drink with him and he almost turned me away but…” she paused to tuck her hair behind her ear.

I grinned at her. “I could say I was mesmerized by the woman who dared to approach me” I continued the fake story for her. It was weird. This was just a story we were fabricating at the spot but it sounded believable enough like we knew what the other was thinking and the fact that she had guessed my favorite coffee correctly was another pass. “I agreed and we were drinking coffee then she asked for my number then I gave her. That was about three months ago. I didn't want to make it known because I was almost certain it wouldn't work out…” I paused and looked down at her, my eyes filled with admiration. It wasn't an act. I admired her acting.

She took up the story immediately. “It almost didn't work out because he didn't want to get too close until…”

“Until when you helped me get over my tough times…” I took up the story again. “You showed me that there was something more to me than I could imagine” I whispered, leaning in close.

My cousin who was listening to us made a retching sound that immediately transformed into a fake coughing fit when one of my distant uncles glared at him. There was this look on his face like “too much sweetness” as he stared at us and if I was in my normal senses, I would think the same but I didn't.

My mother smiled at Elena. “Thank you, he seems so much better. Capable of human emotions. I see love in his eyes. Affection”

Okay now I would gag.

Elena tore her gaze away from me and leaned forward to hold my mother warm hands. “It was honestly nothing…I mean he's a jerk sometimes but I love him”

My mother smiled and soon they were discussing normal stuff and things I would rather not say while I relaxed in the couch.

My gaze scanned around the large living room to see that many faces still stared at me with shock and disappointment. I smirked. They should be disappointed. I was 29 years old and I needed a bride to take on the position of the capo fully and now I had one. They wanted the position but they wouldn't be getting it. It was mine.

It was mine because of the daring woman who sat beside me. I respected her, admired the courage she had but that was it. A part of me still wanted to push her away no matter how fascinating she may be.

I was barely registering the words exchanged between my mother and Elena so I looked back at them.

“You must be worried that he would cheat. Aren't all women?” Matthew my cousin said to Elena, his gaze with fury that he tried to mask.

Elena smiled softly and intertwined my fingers with hers. “No… you may think I don't know Luca as much as you do but I do…I may not have spent years with him like you but I have seen the part of him that you haven't and it's…magical…” her tone had gone to a whisper and her gaze was on me as she spoke.

Matthew's brother sighed and threw his head back, a snake tattoo peeking out of the short sleeved shirt that he wore.

I didn't care about any of these people. They didn't exist in this moment. My gaze was on Elena. I knew there was something about her. She was perfect for the job I had given her and even though I hated to admit it, I was grateful that she stole from me. I don't think there was a better candidate for this. It almost felt real to me when she looked up at me with love and admiration. Fuck, she was good

Too good.