12 Dinner Invites

It had been three weeks since the two had worked out their differences. Stella was recovering quite well, not just from the accident but also their extended honeymoon where they didn't step out of their bedroom for almost a week. It was Daisy who despite Tom's warning pulled the newlyweds out because it was becoming uncomfortable for the others. Despite all the time that had passed since the actual wedding none of their friends and family was made aware of this marriage. Stella's uncle and Tom's immediate circle of friends came to know through the grapevine. There was still the matter of making it public since Fred was the face of a lot of businesses. Instead of throwing an extremely belated reception, the couple decided to do something different.

"Was it really necessary to throw a ball to announce our wedding. Our friends and family already know. " Stella complained.

"Our friends and your family knows. It is time I let my family know as well. They may be criminals but they are Italians. You will have their protection once they know that you are part of the family," Fred explained.

"Do you really want to get involved with the mafia again?" She asked him confused.

Fred looked at his wife and smiled. This smile did not have the shadow of sorrow that usually clouded his face at most times. "I am a part of the mafia. I can't deny my roots. It is just that I refuse to participate in anything illegal or unethical that separates me from them. But we are still part of the same family. We always will be. There are some of them you will really love. Uncle Pico is very funny. Then his daughter, Cara, is a timid little creature but sharp as a pin. Cara, like me, separated from the family tradition when coming of age and opened a fashion boutique. The famiglia wouldn't have allowed that to happen without a designated heir. So I offered to be the heir provided by the time I took over Uncle Pico would have to cut off all unethical activities like human trafficking and drugs. He agreed. He doesn't like that part of the business either, having lost his elder son to a drug overdose and being the father of a daughter," Fred narrated.

"They are the Mariposa clan, right, from your mother's side," Stella confirmed as Fred nodded.

"Yes, they are the harmless side of my family. Then there are the Marconi. My aunt married into the Marconi family. They are ruthless murderers. Many of their members are assassins wanted by different governments. The Marconi is a royal family among the mafia. Their sense of honour and their pride almost makes you forget how much blood they shed on a regular basis. They are so far up the supply chain that no one can track any shipment, any deal to them. They actually have a host of legitimate businesses whose sole purpose is to legalize the blood money. I don't really like them but they haven't given me a reason to hate them. All I know about them are rumours. I have no proof to bring them down and even if I did, I couldn't bring them down because of a dozen or more favours they have done to me. Tom has a good business relationship with them, especially when we consider their legitimate side. Once Tom took a bullet of Aurella Marconi, my aunt's niece. Aurelia wanted to marry Tom but he convinced her that she could do better." Fred narrated.

"If Aurelia is coming we need to keep her away from Daisy," Stella commented.

"It's fine. Aurelia is married to a Greek business tycoon now," Fred informed.

"Oh, do you have any poor relatives?" Stella asked in humour.

Fred shook his head half seriously.

"Are Mariposa and Marconi together called the Italian Mafia or is it only Marconi or only Mariposa?" Stella asked.

"The Italian Mafia currently refers to the Marconi. But close behind them in power are the Regnante. Marconi and Regnante don't go along much. Mariposa isn't even in the race." Fred informed.

"Are the Regnante invited?" Stella asked curiously.

"I actually don't know any of the Regnante, I don't even know their Don," Fred confessed.

"Why the masquerade though?" Stella questioned.

"Masquerades allow for quick escapes and less blood bath," Fred told her and she shivered. She didn't want to know what was going to happen on the day of the ball but she was almost sure that it wouldn't be pretty.