Betrothed To The Mafia Lord

Chapter 36

Luca’s POV

“Have you been disrespecting my wife all these while… because she’s quite younger than you?”

I demanded in a quiet voice, purposely making use of the word ‘quite’ despite the fact that she was way

younger than Sofia.

But she has never, ever mattered here in the mafia. It doesn't matter how old you are and how old the

rest of the people are. Once you are in a spot or position that demands people to automatically give

you respect, then that’s what they were supposed to give you without any questions or hesitations.

“What? No sir, it isn’t as it seemed. I never intended for it to come off as disrespectful.” She started

explaining herself immediately, and I could see the fear surrounding her whole body language.

Like I could even do a thing to her… if she hadn’t been disrespecting Sofia all these while, that is.

“I only asked if you’ve been disrespecting her, that’s all.” I rephrased calmly and watched her eyes

widened fearfully once again.

“I haven’t.” She replied and I nodded my head before inquiring, “Why did you sound guilty back then?”

“Oh, that.” She said as she rubbed her palms which I had a feeling we’re wet with sweat, against the

material of the dress she had on.

“It’s because,” She paused and swallowed before continuing after a few seconds, “It’s because Mrs

Ricci had insisted on us referring to her as her first name, ever since the first day we got introduced to

each other.” Matilda explained and I stared at her quietly without saying a thing at first.

“She did?” I inquired and she nodded her head immediately.

“Yes, she did. I insisted at first, I told her it was disrespectful for us to refer to her in such an informal

manner but she had insisted and insisted, until I had no choice but to give in.” She explained and

paused to drag in a slow breath before continuing again, “I’m so sorry if that had offered you, like I

predicted. I’ll go back to referring to her the right way and inform her about how you weren’t pleased

about it, like I had told her at first –“ she continued before suddenly pausing in the middle of what she

was saying when I raised my hand up.

“Since she asked you to refer to her that way, then it’s alright.” I finally said and watched as she blinked

as if she hadn’t gotten what I said at firstly.

“Are you sure, sir?” She asked and nodded her head a few seconds later when I didn’t reply to her and

instead continued to stare at her.

“When did you all finish having dinner?” I asked as I dug my phone out from my pocket and turned my

data on instantly to watch as multiple notifications flooded my phone immediately. I was hoping it would

have been really long since they had dinner, that way, Sofia would have been hopefully asleep before I

made my way into our bedroom.

“Not too long away.” She replied immediately, “Would you like me to fetch Sarah for you?” She asked

almost immediately and I was glad she wasn’t still shaking in unnecessary fear, moments ago.

“No, there’s no need for that.”

“I’ll need you to help me make something I can have for dinner though.” I started to say once again and

watched as Matilda nodded her head immediately, appearing almost too eager to still make something

else tonight, like she hasn’t scheduled to do tonight.

“What would you want me to make?” She asked and I shrugged my right shoulder once. “Something

really light and quick. I have a very bad headache and want to make use of some drugs once I have

what you’re going to be making, so I’ll appreciate it if you whip it up as fast as you can.”

She nodded her head and was already cracking eggs into the mixing machine before I was done.

I got on one of the chairs in the kitchen against the counter and shrugged out of my suit jacket. I

discarded it on the chair beside me and proceeded to unbutton the first five buttons of my shirt. Once it

felt like I could drag in more deep breaths without my suit buttons dragging and scratching against the

line in the middle of my chest and abs.

A couple of texts had arrived from James when I picked my phone back up from the counter and

started going through the notifications.

James: Yo fucker.

James: You home yet?

James: Text me when you finally get home.

And then, thirty minutes later.

James: You bastard, you’re currently online without checking my texts?!

James: I’m beating your ass up tomorrow whenever you see tomorrow.

I snorted as I started typing out a reply for his over dramatic self.

Luca: You know you cannot win me in a hand to hand fight.

James: Bullshit, I’ve gotten countless more training just because of that. I’m definitely beating your ass

up tomorrow, you little wife wouldn’t be able to recognize you once I’m done with you.

I barked out a small laugh as my eyes quickly ghosted over his text.

Luca: Shut the hell up, James. Also I am not sure if I’ll be coming to work tomorrow.

I sent in my reply and reached behind my head to caress my neck, a few feet away from the spot

behind my hair. My muscles hurt.

My whole muscles.

It hurts everywhere.

I think I might seriously need a full body massage at this point, with how the pains and cracks in

different parts of my muscles were only getting worse, day after day.

The smell of what Matilda was preparing wafted into my nose and I breathed in the scent of the food

without thinking right before my phone dinged on the counter.

It was a text message from James, and more notifications pop ups from a couple of apps which I

haven’t opened throughout the whole of today.

James: What? Why?

I typed back a reply immediately, feeling the pounding in my head increase a little bit.

Luca: I honestly don’t have a particular idea. I’ve been feeling really ill, like I’m about to fall sick, which I

cannot afford to, at the time being, at least.

I sent in the reply and continued to type another message without stopping.

Luca: And I don’t want my body to force me to finally take a break by falling sick, which was why I had

decided to take the day off tomorrow and just sleep in.

I tapped on the send button just as a text from James popped up on the screen, after showing the three

dots at the side of the phone where a new text from him was going to appear, seconds ago.

James: Did you say you’re feeling ill? Were you feeling sick throughout the whole of today without

bothering to tell me?

I sighed as I proceeded to reply to James’ text.

Luca: I didn’t think it was a serious headache at first, until it increased as the hours went by.

James: Luca! I had no idea, I’d have insisted you leave for home even before we finish all or scheduled Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

appointments, those are not as important as your health.

I could just imagine saying these same words directly in my face in a serious voice and a face void of

playfulness, not caring that I was his leader at that particular moment.

Luca: It’s a good thing I didn’t tell you about it then. Also, it’s no big deal, ok? That’s why I’m deciding to

stay in tomorrow.

I sent the message the moment I had typed it and placed the phone on the counter before reaching

from the cuffs link on my right wrist and undoing it immediately. I reached for the left one and I did the

same thing to it, and then I rolled the right sleeve up my arm once I was done, and did the same thing

for the other arm.

A reply from James came in just as I was lifting the phone up from its spot on the counter.

James: I’d come see you tomorrow once I’m done in the office. You stay home and get as much sleep

as you need. Forget about the office throughout the whole of tonight and tomorrow, I’ll take care of the

ones I can and leave the ones I can’t for you, whenever you get well enough to come back to the

hospital.

I started to type in james’ reply even before I had completely read his text. I shifted in my seat

absentmindedly, glanced up to see Matilda dishing the food she had prepared onto a plate.

Luca: You will not come here tomorrow.

I sent in the first message before continuing to type in another reply.

Luca: I’m not dying, stop sounding like this. Tomorrow is Friday, which means I have the weekend to

stay at home and continue to rest. I'll definitely be at work on Monday.

I typed and sent the message across just as his own message popped in here.

James: Damn, right I wouldn’t. I’m worried about you.

Luca: Fuck you, James.

Luca: Don’t you dare come here tomorrow.

James: Are you sure, man?

I rolled my eyes at that, James could be overbearing sometimes, and this was a perfect example.

Luca: I am. Quit fretting.

James: I can't help it.

Luca: Well you better find a way to help it, it’s getting annoying and assuming we were having this

same conversation in person, I’d have punched you in the face, a long while ago.

James: And I am the dramatic one.

Luca: I’m ignoring you after this particular text. I’m fine. Don’t blow my phone up incase I don’t reply to

any of your texts tomorrow because I most definitely won’t come online until I’ve gotten enough rest.

I dropped my phone and cradled my head in my palm when it started to pound really badly for a

second.

“Here’s your meal, Mr Ricci.”

I looked up at Matilda standing on the side of the counter with a tray in her hands. Her eyes widened as

she took in my facial expression and she dropped the tray on the counter and blinked once.

“Oh my God, your eyes look really red and almost swollen, is the headache getting worse every now

and then?” She asked and I nodded my head after a few seconds of remaining silent.

She pushed the tray towards me and I pulled it towards me completely and glanced up at her as the

enticing taste wafted and danced its way into my nose.

“Thank you for this, Matilda.” I said to her and watched as a small smile found its way on her cheeks.

“You’re welcome.” She replied before fetching me a bottle of water and a glass cup.

“Would you like a drink with it, sir?” She asked and I shook my head immediately as I picked up the fork

knife that was aligned neatly on one part of the tray. “No, don’t bother about that.”

I didn’t tell her about the fact that I wasn’t sure I’d be able to completely stomach the food she had

prepared, not because of her cooking was bad or something, but because I think the sickness was

starting to affect my appetite, so I wouldn’t to stomach a drink at the moment wouldn’t because it would

most definitely sound reasonable to anyone’s ear.

I forked a little piece of the scrambled egg on one part of the plate and was thankful that it had gone

down my throat without any hassle.

Matilda appeared beside me with a few drugs in her hands which she set on the table beside me

immediately.

“This right here is the regular pain killer, just a little bit stronger than the regular ones.” She paused and

touched the second tablet pack. “This one is more focused on fighting body pains, I noticed you

massaging your neck countless times while preparing your dinner, so I figured out that you’re also

battling with body pains.”

“You have no idea.” I said right before I inserted another forkful of food into my mouth and almost rolled

my eyes when she stared at me fondly, like the way Sarah would look at me assuming she had been

the one in place of Matilda, at the moment.