Okay whoever made heels can go suck my non-existent balls cause this shit hurts like a bitch,I have a love hate relationship with heels,if they weren't so pretty I'd have burnt all the pairs I own.
I'm currently sitting in this boring car with a driver who clearly believes small talk is a war crime.
'It's like it's an obligation for everyone in this mafia to have a stick in their ass'
After two hours of a bland drive, the car makes a turn and finally reaches the ball. The car stops, and I get out immediately.
My father had already arrived before me as I spotted his car waiting,I signal to his chauffeur standing beside the car and he knocks on his window and my father makes his way out.
His face was stoic as he gave me a nod basically indicating I was permitted to approach him. I walk towards him. He puts my arm through his and we walk in together.
Immediately, as we enter, all eyes shift to me and my father. Various mafia members and leaders watch with hawk-eyed intensity, following my every move.
'What can I say,when you have a ruthless reputation in the mafia world, everyone's eyes are basically glued to you'
We keep walking until we get towards someone.A man, his back facing towards us but I can already tell he's someone important.He turns around and that's when it hits me.
Lorenzo Ricci aka hot asshole and then it dawned on me why his face seemed so familiar. He was one of the most feared men in the entire mafia world and mind you this man is the same age as me but I couldn't lie his accomplishments were far more superior.
One of his greatest feats being killing the head of the Yakuza , formerly the most feared man in the world and creating an alliance with them on the same day.
'Holy shit, I'm getting married to him!!' I groan inwardly. 'Well, isn't this peachy?'
His gaze swept over me, His eyes filled with amusement staying fixated on mine .
It was like he was challenging me,like the first person to look away would lose and I was not ready to lose against anyone, especially not him.
Unfortunately our little challenge was broken by my father
"Lorenzo Ricci it's nice to see you again,this is Cecilia my oldest daughter,the one who you'll be marrying "My father says cutting to the chase ,as he slightly tugs me towards Lorenzo .
I put my hand out to shake him. He grips it strongly. His hands are huge, adorned with silver rings.
He pulls me in a bit closer and whispers in my ear
"This is going to be interesting right Cecilia?"He says my name in a strong accent.
'I don't like how close he is to me. His scent is… familiar.'
I feel the stares of everyone in the room even harder now. I'm used to attention, but this feels different. They know something big is about to be announced.
He strides away, leaving me to watch his fleeting back. His suit hangs lazily on his shoulders, and his back is well-built. The tight shirt shows it off perfectly as he slowly slips out of the spotlight.
I'm brought out from my trance by my father's voice onstage
A hush falls over the ballroom as my father steps onto the stage, all eyes snapping toward him.
"As all of you may have heard about the rumors about the alliance…" He pauses, scanning the room, making sure every single member is listening. His lips tug into a grin. "Between the Italian mafia and my American mafia, well, I am here tonight to confirm these rumors."
"This alliance," he says, tilting his head towards me,"will be sealed with the marriage of my oldest daughter, Cecilia Caddel, and Lorenzo Ricci, my future son-in-law."
A ripple of murmurs spreads instantly. Heads turn sharply, some stiffen, others lean forward, eyes narrowing, assessing the implications.
"She's marrying Lorenzo Ricci?" whispers snake through the crowd.
"The Ricci family wants to take in a Caddel ?"
"The American mafia once again has found another way to shake the table it seems"
Faces shift,Others smirk, enjoying the drama about to unfold. A few exchange quick, cautious glances, silently questioning loyalty and whether this new bond strengthens or threatens them.
The air is thick with tension. I can feel it,the weight of hundreds of mafia eyes sizing me up, measuring what I'm worth, and who might benefit… or lose.
I meet the eyes with a poker face and just observe.
My father's grin widens, satisfied. The room may be silent in words, but the electricity is palpable.
At the center of it all, Lorenzo Ricci stands casually, hands in his pockets, silver rings catching the chandelier light. His eyes sweep the crowd like a predator, lingering just long enough to make each person aware he knows exactly the power he wields.
________
I decide to get myself a drink if I'm gonna survive the rest of the night as I head towards the bar at the corner of the room.
I ask the bartender to get me a glass,he serves me and I gulp it down as I drop the cup,I am about to ask for another when someone sits next to me I don't bother checking who it is,They clear their throat
"Never knew you'd turn out to be an alcoholic…huh cece" Immediately I hear the nickname.
I turn around to see Jackson, my old training partner from when I was a teen.
"Oh my gosh, Jackson! It's been forever. Damn, you've gotten so tall,what have you been eating?" I grin as I hug him. He hugs me back, then lets go and smiles.
"I know, right? But you're still the same short runt as I remember," he chuckles as I roll my eyes.
"Dumbass, and you're still as ugly as I remember," I tease, smirking. He holds his hand out in mock hurt.
I was obviously lying. Jackson has grown well,a full beard, bigger muscles, taller. He's definitely changed since the last time I saw him.
Jackson and I used to train all the time when we were teens. He taught me how to use my first gun. But he suddenly flew out of the country for a mission when I was sixteen and we lost contact.
"So let's catch up. It's definitely been a while. How's it going?" He gestures for us to leave. We walk out through the back exit of the ballroom, unnoticed. I feel a burning stare at my back, but when I turn, there's no one. I shrug it off.
"Oh, you know, everything's still the same,missions,you know the day to day bullshit of being in our line of work"I shrug
"Oh, and as you're probably aware, I'm getting married," I sigh.
Jackson frowns and pulls me in for another hug, a little closer this time.
"It's going to be okay, Cece. If you ever need anything, just call me, okay?" He kisses my forehead
'Jackson is like the big brother I never had even after so long he still provides the comfort I need'
He gives me his new number, and we chat about everything that happened while he was gone.
"I missed this-"Jackson was suddenly cut off by a gunshot we both turned around to see, it's Lorenzo.
"What the hell! Is it a hobby of yours to shoot at people?!" I yell, but he doesn't even flinch. His eyes stayed cold, locked on Jackson like the gunshot was a warning, not a mistake.
Before I can move, he grabs my wrist firm, possessive and starts dragging me away.
"Hey! Leave her alone, you have no right to touch her like that!" Jackson snaps, stepping forward.
Lorenzo finally looks at him that dangerous, calm kind of look
"She's my fucking fiancée. I'm pretty sure I have a right to touch her. You, on the other hand, should stop touching what's mine."
Jackson is about to say something, but I stop him with a nod. I know better than to let him fight Lorenzo. He would kill him in a heartbeat.
And with that he drags me away towards his car and signals for me to enter as his driver drives off leaving Jackson stunned and definitely pissed.
_________
The tension between us is so thick you can cut it with a knife.
Suddenly I feel hot so I click the button to turn on the AC,then guess what Mr asshole does he turns it right off. So me being the bitch I am ,I turn that shit right back on.
He shoots me a glare "It's my car" "I don't care leave the damn AC on"I glare right back. He stays silent and leaves it on.
We stay like that for a while until he suddenly speaks up
"Cecilia it's only a matter of time before we get married so I would expect you to not go out and be acting indecently with other men" he says in a matter of fact tone and I immediately snap at him.
"What the hell,Do you think I'm some whore ,Who goes around frolicking with different men"I am so pissed off by him.
"You sure were acting like one earlier" he snaps back. I'm immediately offended.
"So that's what you mean"I scoff "Let me get this straight to your thick ass ego,Jackson is like a brother to me nothing more and secondly i am not your real wife this is only some stupid arranged marriage and don't you ever call me a whore or I'll knock your teeth in"I say sharply
"Are you threatening me?" He chuckles.
"Yes, I am. You better get used to it. Keep ticking me off, and those threats will turn to action." I point my nail at his chest. His eyes deepen.
The car stops and I get out only to realize we stop at his house.
'just great'
I wait for him to lead the way and he does as we enter into the huge house that's ten times bigger than mine.
He then calls someone and after a while a beautiful red head that's basically a spitting image of Lorenzo,she pulls me in for a hug.
"Hey there gorgeous,I'm Rosa you must be Cecilia,hope this idiot over here didn't cause you much trouble"she says as she gives me a sweet smile that I can't help but return back.
"Thank you. Don't worry, I can handle the cazzo just fine," I reply.
She bursts out laughing and puts an arm around me. Turning to Lorenzo:
"Finally someone with a sense of humour around here" She throws her head back
"I just met her, and I already love her. Not to mention, she speaks Italian too."
'Same' I think, admiring her hair. Lorenzo rolls his eyes and walks away.
Rosa leads me to my room upstairs.