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UNFORGETTABLE

♧

SWAE LEE , FRENCH MONTANA _______________________

I WOKE UP around 5:30. After Antonio's family got the idea that we'd been... well, occupied, they finally left us alone. I managed to squeeze in a nap while Antonio handled whatever Mafia paperwork or shady deals he was brooding over in his study.

Stretching lazily, I inhaled deeply, the smell of dinner wafting upstairs. Garlic, basil, roasted something—it was enough to make my stomach grumble. If there was one thing the Genovese family excelled at besides crime, it was cooking.

I rolled out of bed and slipped into something comfortable but chic—no way was I facing his family looking like I'd just rolled out of a grave. By the time I made my way downstairs, the chaos was already in full swing.

The dining room was a sea of voices, laughter, and insults being thrown back and forth like confetti. Antonio stood near the head of the table, his arms crossed, clearly holding back a sigh as his cousin Nico tried to explain why the wine was better uncorked three hours ago. Meanwhile, Andrea was loudly arguing with Lorenzo over the correct way to fold napkins, as if it were a matter of national security.

"Celine!" Gabriella's voice rang out, and before I could even react, she was dragging me into the fray. "Come, sit here, next to me. I want to hear everything."

I plastered on a polite smile. "Everything about what?"

"Everything about you!" she said, grinning like a cat. "How did you manage to land him?" She pointed at Antonio like he was some elusive creature, and I bit back a laugh.

"Well, you know," I said breezily, sliding into the chair next to her, "he begged me to marry him. Wouldn't stop sending me flowers, showing up at my door, and doing that whole smoldering Mafia boss thing."

Gabriella cackled, and across the table, Nico gave Antonio a mocking look. "Flowers, huh? Since when do you send flowers?"

"I don't," Antonio said flatly, shooting me a glare that only made me smile wider.

Dinner was finally served, and it was just as extravagant as I expected. Plates of antipasto, steaming bowls of pasta, roasted lamb, and enough wine to drown a small country. Everyone was loud, opinionated, and borderline unhinged—but there was something oddly comforting about the chaos.

"Celine," Andrea said, leaning across the table with a mischievous gleam in her eye, "you've really settled into this family well. I have to say, I'm impressed. Most people would have cracked by now."

"I don't crack," I said lightly, taking a sip of my wine.

"Oh, don't be so sure," Lorenzo chimed in, wagging a fork at me. "We haven't even started the real family initiation yet."

"Lorenzo," Antonio warned, his voice low and dangerous.

"What initiation?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Gabriella waved her hand dismissively. "Don't listen to him. He's just trying to scare you."

"But there is one," Nico added, smirking. "We just haven't decided if we'll make you eat a raw fish or recite the family tree from memory."

"Do I get to pick?" I asked, deadpan, which earned a laugh from half the table.

Antonio's hand found its way to my knee under the table, a subtle warning and, oddly, a grounding gesture. I leaned into it slightly, letting the warmth anchor me amidst the madness.

As the meal progressed, I found myself fielding endless questions about my life, my family, and how I "tamed" Antonio. Each time, I threw the question back with humor or deflection, earning more than a few laughs and, surprisingly, approval.

By the time dessert rolled around, I could feel Antonio relax beside me. Maybe it was the wine, or maybe it was seeing me hold my own with his insane family, but his hand stayed on my knee, his thumb occasionally brushing against it.

"You're doing good," he murmured, low enough that only I could hear.

"I'm winning them over," I whispered back, smirking.

"Don't get cocky."

"Oh, please." I reached for my glass, lifting it in a small toast to myself. "I've already won."

"Who's scorpion is this?"

The voice cut through the room like a whip, and I jumped up immediately, my heart racing. Everyone at the table paused mid-bite, forks hovering in the air, as all eyes turned toward Nico, who was standing near Venom's enclosure, looking both terrified and fascinated.

"That's my scorpion," I said, standing quickly and striding over to where Nico was.

"Your scorpion?" he repeated, blinking at me as if I'd just claimed ownership of a pet dragon. "You have a freaking scorpion?"

"Yes, and her name is Venom," I said, crossing my arms protectively over my chest. "She's harmless unless you piss her off."

"Harmless?!" Nico stepped back as if the glass enclosure might shatter at any moment. "What kind of psycho keeps a scorpion as a pet?"

"The kind married to your cousin," I shot back.

Laughter erupted around the table, and Antonio groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Nico, stop antagonizing her."

"I'm not antagonizing her," Nico said, his hands raised defensively. "I'm just questioning her life choices. And by the way, what happens if this thing gets loose?"

"She won't get loose," I said firmly, moving to adjust the lid of Venom's enclosure just to be safe. "I take better care of her than you probably do of yourself."

Gabriella leaned over, peering at the scorpion with wide eyes. "It's kind of cute... in a horrifying, I-never-want-it-near-me sort of way."

"See?" I said, pointing to Gabriella. "At least she gets it."

"Celine," Antonio said, his voice low and exasperated. "Why don't we leave Venom in the other room for now?"

"Why?" I challenged, spinning to face him. "She's part of the family, isn't she?"

"God help me," Antonio muttered under his breath.

"I think it's cool," Alessandro chimed in from the table. "A scorpion's a badass pet."

"Exactly!" I said, throwing my hands up in victory. "Thank you, Alessandro."

"Yeah, but if it gets loose, I'm torching the house," Emiliano added, earning a round of laughter.

"Touch her, and I'll feed you to her," I said sweetly, flashing a smile that had Emiliano holding up his hands in mock surrender.

Antonio sighed and grabbed my wrist gently, pulling me away from the scene. "Let's go get Venom settled somewhere safer before this turns into a family-wide panic."

As he steered me toward the hallway, I leaned in close, smirking up at him. "Admit it, they love me."

"They tolerate you," he muttered, though the faintest hint of a smile tugged at his lips.

"Same thing," I said, grinning. "And by the way, that was twenty dollars worth of entertainment."

Antonio let out a low laugh, shaking his head. "You're impossible."

"But you like it." I sang, swaying my hips as I danced out of the room, hearing Antonio's footsteps follow me.

"You know, Celine, I really think you're getting too comfortable here," Antonio muttered, but his words lacked any real bite as I could feel the familiar weight of his gaze on me, lingering on the sway of my movements.

"Oh, right! Celine, we need to go shopping! I love your style," Ambrosia, Nico's little sister, suddenly piped up from behind me, her voice full of excitement.

"Shopping?" I turned to face her, a mischievous grin tugging at my lips. "Now we're talking. I saw these Saint Laurent heels, and I am absolutely positive they'd look divine on you. I swear."

Ambrosia's eyes widened in delight. "You really think so?"

"Absolutely. Trust me, when you want to make a statement, you need those heels," I said, my voice dripping with the kind of playful confidence that came from having enough money to do whatever I wanted.

Gabriella, who had been listening intently, chimed in from across the table, looking far too pleased with herself. "I could use a fresh set of nails tomorrow," she said, tapping at her phone like it was a direct line to her personal stylist.

"You're right, Gabby. I would, too." Andrea, Antonio's other aunt, agreed, turning to her husband, who, without missing a beat, slipped a sleek black card into her hands. "Here, just make sure it's done right," he muttered, his eyes never leaving his plate of pasta.

Matteo clapped"So, no women tomorrow?" His voice was gruff, but there was a certain amusement in his tone. "Oh, fuck yes."

Gabriella, immediately smacked him upside the head. "Language," she scolded, her eyes narrowing with maternal disapproval, making the entire room burst into laughter.

"Seriously, Celine, you're a bad influence on this family," Antonio said, shaking his head in mock exasperation, but I could see the corner of his lips twitching.

I leaned in closer to him, grinning widely. "Hey, I'm just getting you used to the chaos."

"More like adding fuel to the fire," Antonio muttered under his breath, though the playful edge to his tone said otherwise.

"Well, someone has to keep things interesting around here," I replied, winking at him before turning back to Ambrosia. "Shopping tomorrow sounds amazing. What time do you have in mind?"

"How about we meet early?" Ambrosia suggested eagerly. "We can grab breakfast first, and then hit all the shops."

"Done," I said, already mentally planning my day out. "I'll make sure you leave with more bags than you can carry."

"Great! It's a plan," she grinned. "This is going to be so much fun!"

The family continued their chattering, banter and joking flowing seamlessly between them. It was absurd at times, chaotic, but it felt... familiar. And despite the tension between me and Antonio, this felt like the most alive I had in a long time.

Antonio watched me, his arms crossed over his chest as he leaned against the table. "You know, I'm going to regret this, don't you?"

"Probably," I said with a grin, enjoying every second of it. "But who's going to stop me?"

His eyes narrowed slightly, but the corner of his mouth twitched again. "You're going to push me to my breaking point, aren't you?"

"Only if you let me."

I heard a familiar click and turned my head, my heart skipping a beat. "WHO OPENED VENOM'S CAGE?" I shouted, my voice sharp with panic.

Antonio's cousins, who had been in the middle of a conversation, all froze, glancing around like deer caught in headlights.

"You better put that scorpion back, or I swear—" I started, stepping forward, eyes scanning the room for any sign of trouble.

"Relax, Celine," Antonio said coolly, his voice calm but with an underlying tone of warning. "They probably didn't mean to."

"I don't care if they didn't mean to!" I snapped, looking around the room in a mix of fear and annoyance. "Venom could be in a mood. Someone better close that cage right now."

I spotted one of the younger cousins, Marco, slowly backing away from the cage, eyes wide. He wasn't exactly known for his brains, and now he was paying the price.

"Marco, put it down!" I ordered.

He scrambled, muttering apologies, and hurried to close the cage. But the damage was done. My pulse was still racing, and I was absolutely furious.

Antonio looked at me, raising an eyebrow. "Calm down, Celine. She's back in there."

"No," I hissed, trying to breathe through my irritation, but the thought of Venom out in the open was enough to send my nerves into overdrive. "I'm not calming down. What if she stung him? Do you know how dangerous that is?"

"I think you've done enough yelling for one night." Antonio's voice was quieter, almost amused.

Before I could respond, a waiter came by with a bottle of wine and a glass, clearly eager to please. "Signora, would you care for more wine?" he asked, his voice almost too polite.

"Yes. I could use it," I grumbled, reaching out to take the glass, still flustered.

Antonio's hand suddenly settled on the small of my back, his touch a reminder of his presence. "Drink it slowly, Celine. Don't let it go to your head," he said, his voice low and purposeful.

I shot him a glance but took the glass anyway, feeling the smooth liquid burn its way down my throat. The tension in the room was thick, the family's eyes darting between us, waiting for something—anything—to happen.

"You know," I said, my voice a little sharper now, "it's a real pleasure to be surrounded by people who think opening a deadly scorpion's cage is a good idea."

"Well, at least you get to teach them a lesson," Antonio muttered, his hand still on my back, fingers occasionally brushing against my skin.

I ignored him for the moment and turned to face the family. "And maybe while we're at it, you can all keep your hands to yourselves," I added pointedly, making sure my voice carried.

Alessandro, sitting nearby, chuckled loudly. "Oh, come on, Celine, don't act like you don't enjoy the attention."

I snapped my gaze to him, glaring. "You're hilarious," I said, but there was no real humor in my tone. "Maybe you should keep your distance too."

"Don't worry," Alessandro smirked. "I'm just having a little fun."

Antonio leaned closer to me, his hand firm on my back, the warmth of his presence oddly comforting amidst the chaos. "I think you've made your point," he whispered. "Now, if you want to get some peace, you'll have to play along with this little game."

I shot him a sideways look, knowing exactly what he meant. With a sigh, I turned back to the crowd, my posture shifting into something more relaxed, a soft smile playing on my lips despite the storm brewing inside me.

"Fine," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "But only if everyone promises to stop with the weird touching and comments about my scorpion."

"Deal," Antonio replied, a low laugh rumbling from his chest as he leaned in even closer. He tucked my hair behind my ear, the small gesture somehow making my heart beat faster.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the soft smile that tugged at the corner of my lips. It was moments like this, surrounded by family, that made it hard to stay mad. At least for a little while.

"Lottie?" I called, and she appeared almost instantly, a bottle of wine in one hand and a fresh glass in the other.

"You know me so well," I said, taking the glass from her with a grateful smile.

"It's a gift," she replied with a quick curtsy before retreating.

I took a long sip, the wine rich and smooth, exactly what I needed to settle my frayed nerves. The chaos of the evening still buzzed faintly in the background—voices talking over one another, plates clinking, and the occasional burst of laughter. It was a symphony of dysfunction that was oddly comforting.

Spotting an empty seat at the long dining table, I made my way over, swaying my hips slightly as I went. Antonio's gaze followed me, sharp and calculating, but I ignored him. The man was always watching, always thinking ten steps ahead. It was infuriating and... oddly reassuring.

As I settled into my chair, a few of Antonio's cousins—whose names I was still struggling to remember—grinned at me.

"Enjoying the wine, Celine?" one of them asked. His name was... Massimo, I think?

"It's the only thing keeping me sane right now," I replied with a smirk, raising my glass in a mock toast.

Massimo chuckled. "You're fitting in well. Better than some of us thought, honestly."

"Gee, thanks," I said dryly, taking another sip. "Nothing like a backhanded compliment to make a girl feel welcome."

Another cousin, Dante, chimed in, leaning across the table. "She's sharp, isn't she? Antonio, where did you find this one?"

Antonio, who had just taken the seat beside me, leaned back lazily, swirling the whiskey in his glass. "Somewhere far too good for any of you to reach," he said, his voice calm but carrying an unmistakable edge.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the small smile that crept onto my lips. Antonio had this way of simultaneously infuriating and protecting me, and I wasn't sure how to feel about it.

Dante raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Possessive, aren't we?"

"Smart," Antonio corrected, his tone cool as ever.

The conversation shifted, the table erupting into chatter about business deals, summer trips, and whose child had won what prestigious award. I tuned most of it out, focusing on my wine and occasionally shooting a sarcastic comment Antonio's way, which earned me both glares and smirks.

Halfway through dinner, Antonio's hand found its way to the small of my back again, his touch warm and firm. I stiffened for a moment before leaning into it slightly, a silent truce between us.

"You're playing along well tonight," he murmured, his breath warm against my ear.

"Maybe I'm just naturally charming," I shot back, keeping my voice low.

He chuckled softly. "Or maybe you're finally learning to play the game."

I tilted my head to look at him, raising an eyebrow. "Careful, Antonio. You might start to like me."

He smirked, taking a sip of his drink. "Might."

The tension between us was thick enough to cut, but before I could say anything else, Gia's voice cut through the air.

"Antonio, Celine, how about a toast?" she said, raising her glass and grinning at us.

"To what?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

"To love, of course," Gia replied, her tone dripping with mischief. "And to many, many grandchildren."

I nearly choked on my wine. Antonio didn't miss a beat, though, lifting his glass with a smirk that made my blood boil.

"To love," he said smoothly, his eyes never leaving mine.

I clinked my glass against his, forcing a smile. "To love," I echoed, my voice saccharine sweet.

The table erupted into cheers, and I downed the rest of my wine in one go, praying for patience. This family was going to drive me insane.

Dinner finally wound down, the wine glasses emptying and the plates cleared. Just as I thought I could relax, Gia stood and clapped her hands.

"Now, before dessert, it's time for the family tradition!" she announced, her voice bright and full of enthusiasm.

"Oh no," I muttered under my breath, leaning toward Antonio. "What's the 'family tradition'?"

He smirked, sipping his whiskey. "You'll see."

That was never a good sign.

Before I could ask again, Gia and a few of the older aunts began setting up what looked like an impromptu game involving a silver bowl filled with folded slips of paper. Andrea, Ambrosia, and Gabriella began pulling everyone from their chairs, shuffling them into a loose circle around the table.

Antonio stayed seated, his expression unreadable, so naturally, I tried to follow his lead. But Gia's sharp gaze landed on me.

"Celine, darling! Come join us!"

There was no escaping it. I shot Antonio a glare, but he just shrugged, a hint of amusement in his eyes. Traitor.

Reluctantly, I stood and joined the circle. Gia placed the silver bowl in the center of the table and began explaining the rules.

"Each person takes a slip of paper and reads the prompt. Whatever it says, you must do. No backing out!" she declared.

The circle buzzed with laughter and anticipation as the game began. One cousin had to sing a love song, another had to recount a romantic failure, and an uncle was dared to call his wife and profess his undying love in the cheesiest way possible. It was all lighthearted fun until the bowl made its way to me.

"Your turn, Celine!" Gabriella said with a grin.

I sighed dramatically, reaching into the bowl and pulling out a slip of paper. As I unfolded it, I couldn't help but feel the weight of everyone's eyes on me.

"'Share your most romantic gesture ever or reenact one you've experienced,'" I read aloud. My voice was flat, but inside, I was panicking.

"Oh, this is going to be good!" Ambrosia clapped her hands, her excitement contagious.

I racked my brain. Romantic gestures weren't exactly my forte, and reenacting one? That was even worse.

Finally, I squared my shoulders and stepped toward Antonio, who looked both amused and curious.

I leaned down, brushing my hand over his shoulder as I whispered, "Play along, or I'll tell them you cried during that cheesy rom-com."

He raised an eyebrow but gave the faintest nod.

Straightening, I turned to the group with a bright smile. "Fine. Antonio once surprised me with breakfast in bed after a late night. He even fed me himself."

A collective "aww" swept through the room.

"For accuracy's sake," I added, plucking a spoon from the dessert setup and scooping a bite of tiramisu from the plate Antonio hadn't touched yet. I held it out to him, grinning mischievously.

Antonio gave me a long, unreadable look before taking the bite without a word.

The family clapped and cheered, and I slumped back into my chair beside him, relieved the moment was over.

"You owe me," he murmured, his tone low enough for only me to hear.

"Oh, I'm not done yet," I replied, grabbing his dessert spoon and taking a bite of his tiramisu.

Antonio stared at me, incredulous. "That was mine."

I smirked, savoring the bite. "Not anymore."

The family's laughter filled the room, and for once, I felt like I might actually survive these people.

After dessert, with five bottles of wine emptied between us, I had somehow been responsible for finishing two. The room buzzed with laughter, the kind that only comes after wine flows freely and inhibitions loosen.

I swayed to the music, my hips rolling to the rhythm as I held a wine glass in one hand, the other gathering the hem of my dress to keep it from dragging. My shoes had disappeared somewhere between dinner and dessert, but Albert would undoubtedly retrieve them before the night ended.

Andrea clapped her hands as she watched me. "Oh, you are a beautiful dancer, cara mia."

"Beautiful indeed," Nico chimed in, his gaze openly appreciative as he took in every movement.

From the corner of my eye, I caught Antonio's sharp glare as he leaned back in his chair, swirling the scotch in his glass.

"Who knew you had moves like that?" Emiliano teased, his whistle cutting through the music.

Gabriella stood from her seat, clapping along to the rhythm. "Let's show them how it's done, Celine!" She grabbed my hand and spun herself into the center of the room.

Andrea, never one to be left out, grabbed Massimo's arm. "Luigi, up. Let's show these young ones how it's done."

Luigi groaned but allowed Andrea to pull him into the impromptu dance floor. "Fine, but I'm warning you, my back isn't what it used to be."

Alfonso followed his wife Gabriella into the center, grinning sheepishly. "I'll give it a shot, but don't blame me if I trip over my own feet."

Matteo, Nico's older brother, Andrea and Luigi's son, rolled his eyes and stepped behind his mother, dramatically copying her dance moves. "Mom, seriously?"

Andrea grinned. "What? You're just jealous of my rhythm."

"Ew, Mom, can you and Dad not?" Ambrosia groaned from the corner, her face scrunched in mock disgust.

"Oh, let them have their fun," Nico quipped, leaning back with a wide grin.

I laughed, spinning away from Gabriella and twirling into the middle of the room. My wine sloshed dangerously close to the rim as I moved, but I didn't care.

"You're really making an impression," Antonio called from his seat, his tone laced with dry amusement and something darker.

"You should join me," I called back, motioning for him to get up.

"Absolutely not."

"Oh, come on, Antonio!" Gabriella teased, her hands on her hips. "What's the matter? Afraid you'll embarrass yourself?"

Nico grinned mischievously. "Don't tell me you've got two left feet, capo."

Andrea chimed in, "Show your wife you can move, Antonio! She's putting us all to shame."

Antonio groaned, setting his drink down with deliberate slowness. "If it'll get all of you to shut up..."

Cheers erupted as he stood and made his way toward me, his expression unreadable. He grabbed my free hand, his other settling low on my back, pulling me close as the music slowed.

"You just wanted an excuse to touch me," I teased, tilting my head up to meet his intense gaze.

His lips curved into a smirk, his grip firm and unyielding. "I don't need excuses, cara mia."

The room melted away as we swayed, the warmth of his hand on my back sending shivers down my spine. His dark eyes stayed locked on mine, the air between us crackling with tension.

"Don't think I didn't notice Nico staring earlier," he murmured, his voice a low growl meant only for me.

"Oh, please," I scoffed, though I felt the heat rise to my cheeks.

Antonio's hand pressed a little lower on my back, his thumb brushing the base of my spine possessively. "I don't share, Celine."

"Ridiculous," I muttered, taking a sip of my wine to hide my smirk.

The music shifted to something livelier, and Gabriella pulled Lorenzo back into the center while Andrea dragged Massimo along with her. The entire room erupted into laughter as the chaos resumed, Alessandro joining Emiliano in mocking Lorenzo's stiff dancing while Nico tried—and failed—to keep up with Andrea's energetic moves.

Antonio pulled me closer as we watched, his voice low and teasing. "Having fun?"

"I always have fun when your family's involved." I leaned up, whispering just enough to make his jaw tense. "But I'm keeping my shoes off."

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okay y'all these been some LONG ass chapters im so sorry if they've been boring but I needed the forced proximity to be more prominent so i had to step up the chemistry and the way they're around each other lol so there you guys go.

tysm for reading and don't forget to drink water !!

- zio 🍸