Chapter 38: For Us

Ana
I woke up with a heavy head, the memories of Dante's call still fresh in my mind. The confusion and doubt lingered, like shadows I couldn't dispel. I walked to the kitchen where Martin was reviewing some documents. He looked up at me with a calm smile, as if he knew what was going through my mind.
"Good morning, Ana," he said, without looking up from his papers.
"Good morning, Martin," I replied, taking a seat across from him. "I need to talk to you."
Martin nodded and set the documents aside, focusing his full attention on me.
"What's up?" he asked, his tone serious.
"Everything is ready for the wedding, right?"
"Yes, everything is prepared. In two days, you'll be Paolo's wife," Martin confirmed.
I sighed, feeling the weight of those words. Two days. Time was running out, and my doubts hadn't diminished.
"Martin, I have so many doubts..." I admitted, staring at my interlocked hands on the table. "A few days ago, Dante called me. He told me we made a promise, that we were going to get married. And I had a flashback, I remembered that moment. But I also remember things about Paolo. I don't know what's real and what's not."
Martin leaned forward, his expression full of understanding.
"Ana, I know this is difficult. You're caught between two worlds, trying to piece together your memory. But let me tell you something, in the world we live in, memory can be a luxury. The reality is, you need stability and strength. Paolo offers you that. He's a powerful ally, someone who can help you navigate this bloody and destructive world."
"And Dante?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
"Dante," Martin sighed, choosing his words carefully. "Dante is loyal and has deep feelings for you, that's undeniable. But he's also full of conflicting emotions and can be a risk in such a volatile situation. Paolo, on the other hand, has always shown himself to be a strong and strategic leader. Right now, having a good ally as a husband is more important than letting yourself be carried away by feelings that can be deceptive."
I looked at Martin, searching his eyes for some hint of certainty. I knew his words held weight, that they came from someone who understood the complexities of our lives.
"Are you saying I should go through with the wedding?" I asked, trying to find clarity.
“Yes, Ana. I believe it's the best option for you, for your safety, and for the stability of the alliance. Paolo can be the partner you need right now.”
Martin placed his hand over mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
"Trust your instincts, but also think about the bigger picture."
I nodded slowly, absorbing his words. He was right about a lot of things, but that didn't make the decision any easier. I got up from the table, thanking him for his advice.
"Thank you, Martin. I needed to hear that," I said, giving him a small smile.
"I'll always be here to help you, Ana. Remember that," he replied, returning my smile.
I headed to my room, trying to organize my thoughts. Marriage to Paolo meant security and stability, but my heart was at war with my mind.
I had to adapt to this new world, accept the darkness and violence that came with it. And even though I doubted my own memories and feelings, I knew I had to make a decision. Two days. Only two days to decide my future, and every passing second brought me closer to a choice that would change my life forever.
I sat on the edge of my bed, trying to process what Martin had said. The bedroom door opened softly and Paolo entered, his presence filling the space with a mixture of authority and warmth. I stood up, walking towards him with a nervous smile.
"Hi, Paolo."
"Hi, Ana," he replied, leaning in to kiss me gently on the lips. His kiss was firm, but there was a tenderness that disarmed me.
I kissed him back, deepening the kiss as my hands clung to his shirt. I needed to feel that connection, but I also needed answers. We pulled away slowly, and I looked into his eyes, feeling the urgency of my question.
"Paolo, I need you to tell me the truth," I said, taking his hands in mine. "Before I marry you, is there anything I should know? Anything you haven't told me?"
Paolo looked at me with a mixture of surprise and concern. His eyes searched mine, as if he was evaluating how much to say.
"Ana, we've been in love since we were kids," he began, his voice low and soft. "We've always had this special connection. I remember when I defended you in school, when everyone was making fun of you for being the daughter of the great Antonio Salvatore. I was there for you, and you for me."
"What else?" I pressed, wanting to know more, feel more.
"We've been through a lot together. Our families have always been intertwined. Your parents trusted me, my family. And when they died, I swore to protect you, to always take care of you." Paolo looked at me with an intensity that made me shiver. "There's nothing I wouldn't do for you, Ana. You know that, right?"
I nodded slowly, though my doubts didn't fully dissipate. There was something in the back of my mind, a feeling that I wasn't seeing the whole picture. But his words were sincere, and that gave me a little peace.
"But... nothing else? Nothing I should know before I marry you?" I insisted, wanting to make sure there were no more secrets.
Paolo looked at me for a few seconds, his expression softening. He kissed me again, this time with more passion, as if he wanted to seal his promise with that kiss.
"There's nothing to fear, Ana. I love you, and I will always love you," he said with a smile. "But now, I think we should get some dinner. After all, even mobsters eat."
I laughed softly, feeling a little lighter. I took his hand and we left the room together. We walked to the dining room, where a table was set with a simple but delicious dinner. Paolo poured me a glass of wine, and we toasted to our future.
"To us," Paolo said, raising his glass.
"To us," I repeated, clinking my glass with his.
As we dined, my thoughts continued to swirl. The security that Paolo offered was tempting, and his words had calmed some of my worries. But the doubts were still there, like shadows that refused to fade. I knew I had to move on, but my heart was still torn between two worlds, between two loves. And with each passing day, the decision became more difficult.
While Paolo and I were sitting at dinner, enjoying the food and wine, my phone started vibrating in my pocket. I took it out and saw that it was Dante. I felt a knot in my stomach, but I tried to stay calm.
"Hold on a moment, Paolo," I said, raising a hand. "It's an important call."
"Sure, no problem," Paolo replied, taking a sip of his wine, unsuspecting.
I got up from the table and walked to a corner of the dining room, making sure Paolo couldn't hear. I answered the call.
"Dante?" I said in a low voice.
"Ana, where are you?" his voice sounded tense, almost desperate.
"I'm having dinner with Paolo. What's wrong?" I replied, trying to keep my tone neutral.
"I need to see you, Ana. Tonight. Please, sneak out for a few minutes. I want to talk to you, just the two of us," Dante pleaded, his voice filled with urgency.
"Dante, I can't. I'm with Paolo and I can't just leave like that." I glanced at the table, where Paolo continued eating, seemingly oblivious to the conversation.
"Ana, please. It's important. Just a few minutes. I need to know you're okay, I need to see you," Dante insisted.
I sighed, knowing this situation was getting more and more complicated. I didn't want to raise suspicion, but I couldn't ignore Dante either. My heart was torn and I didn't know what to do.
"Alright. I'll meet you later. But only for a few minutes, Dante," I finally said.
"Thank you, Ana. I'll be waiting."
I put the phone away and returned to the table, trying to act normal.
"Everything okay?" Paolo asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, just business. Nothing to worry about," I lied, smiling to quell any potential suspicion.
We continued eating dinner, but my mind was elsewhere. The night dragged on, with Paolo telling me stories from our past that I still couldn't recall. Everything seemed so surreal, like I was living in a movie where I couldn't distinguish between reality and fiction.
Finally, after dinner, Paolo retreated to his study to review some documents, giving me the opportunity I needed. I excused myself, saying I was going for a walk to clear my head before bed. I left the house carefully, making sure not to raise any suspicion.
I walked to the meeting spot Dante had given me. I saw him standing there, waiting with a mix of anxiety and relief on his face when he saw me approaching.
"Ana," he said, stepping towards me.
"Dante," I replied, feeling a flood of emotions at the sight of him.
We stood there in silence for a moment, just looking at each other. Finally, Dante spoke.
"Thank you for coming. I needed to see you, I needed to know you're okay," he said, taking my hands in his.
"I'm okay, Dante. But this is complicated. Paolo..." I started, but Dante interrupted me.
"I know. I know it's complicated. But I need you to know that I love you, Ana. I can't bear the thought of losing you."
I felt a knot in my stomach, knowing my feelings were divided. Dante's words echoed in my mind, but so did my loyalty and commitment to Paolo.
"Dante, this isn't easy for me. There's so much I don't remember, so many feelings that are confused."
"I know, Ana. I just wanted to see you, know you're okay. That's all I ask."
We stood there in silence, just looking at each other under the moonlight. Finally, I knew I had to go back.
"I have to go back, Dante. I can't stay long." I gently pulled away from him.
"I understand. Just... please, take care of yourself," he said, reluctantly letting go of my hands.
I nodded and turned around, starting to walk back to the house. I knew that tonight, I had to face my own feelings and figure out what I truly wanted.