~ VITTORIA ~"What?!" I shouted with my eyes wide open. "You've got to be lying.""When have I ever lied to you, wifey?" He asked with an eyebrow raised.I bit my lower lips and narrowed my eyes at him and his t-shirt which was revealing his toned chest with every movement he did. "Well, people do all sorts of things when they're drunk.""Like what?" He asked dropping his mug and folding his arms like I had just opened up a new room for conversation. And if I was being totally honest, this was the first time we were having a conversation where I didn't feel like hitting him the next moment. Maybe it was the hangover. Yeah, I was sure it was."Waking up in people's bed, dancing crazily, kissing random people." I counted on my fingers."And confessing they enjoyed sex with me after being in denial for so long?" He smirked.I stood up. "I'm out of here." I grabbed the mug, took a last sip from it, and headed over to the sink to drop it. And I felt Roman's eyes follow me. When I turned to
~ROMAN~"Okay but dude, you gave her that hoodie?!" Cleto shouted in a louder voice as soon as we all heard the door to Vittoria's room close shut."Drop it Cleto," I replied to him.He studied me for some time before his eyes slowly opened wide and he gasped, "You like her, don't you?""I wouldn't mind smacking your head for a third time," I told him eyeing him.North sat on a stool beside Cleto, watching me. "He's a goner. He's totally in love. Mother would be glad to hear that.""If only you'd go tell her yourself." I snapped back eyeing him as well making him scoff.Diego shook his head, "And the bet?""Look. Why are you guys even here?" I asked changing the topic. "I've got a busy day today," I added starting to get irritated by their questions. So what if I liked her? They didn't know the history we had before the stupid bet or marriage. And who even still gave a fuck about that stupid bet?"Meeting with Zaed? It was supposed to be this evening." Diego answered in a matter-of-fa
~VITTORIA~I stood conflicted. Trying to fight being vulnerable before him and acting like his words hadn't made my supposed hardened heart turn into a soft mush of love Jelly. If there was something like that."I'm sorry about Isabelle." He repeated and before I said any extra thing, he drew me into a hug. His arms were wrapped tightly around my neck and back and with the way he snuggled into my neck and drew me closer, it felt like he had wanted to do so for so long.I didn't hug him back though, it felt wrong to do so for some reason. Hugging back an Argentero, one of the people who had caused Isabelle's death. I had no idea what she would think of me wherever she was and how bad of a person and selfish I was.I pulled back but he still held my hands and I took a deep breath, deciding it was finally time to let him know. "Do you know why I regret that night with you so much?" I asked him, searching his eyes to see if he even had the slightest hint. "It's because that was the same n
~VITTORIA~The party was at a hotel, according to Yara and it was going to be strictly on invitation. I mean she was still part of a mafia family even though she was a celebrity and in the spotlight. And besides who knew what next was going to happen? If someone else that wasn't Bianchi was by a corner and was deciding to end us all.We were on the way already, I rode with Roman as usual and we were dressed just right for the occasion. Roman had come home the day before with another set of dresses and shoes and whatnot just like he had done before our wedding party. And of course a bouquet of roses which he had said he needed to start getting more often for me. Even though I told him it wasn't going to be necessary.We pulled up in front of the giant hotel that was well-lit from the outside and screamed luxury. As Roman held the door open for me and I came down, a valet attendant came to us and Nicola followed behind."Ma'am, I'm not sure but I think I just sighted one of Mr Tiziano's
~VITTORIA~"And if I don't want to?" I asked him crossing my legs and leaning back into my seat."You know damn well I'm not asking now, am I?" He asked."Can't believe she's letting the man stand for so long," One of Yara's celebrity friends said. "I'd stand in a heartbeat and let him do away with me.""Fucking stuck up bitch." Another mutteredI looked around a bit to see some more eyes were starting to fall on us and I sighed, standing up. I was determined to not make the headlines."Now that wasn't hard, was it?" Roman asked as he led me to the dance floor. The light dimmed as if it had been waiting for us to step into the floor and all that was left was a lit silhouette of couples together and others who sat in the crowd."You were flirting with him right?" He asked as he placed his hands on my waist and pulled me in making me gasp at how roughly he did it."I have a knife in my dress if you're being this way." I threatened and he rolled his eyes as we moved side by side slowly.
~VITTORIA~My eyes rested on Roman and he still had his back turned to me, walking back to our table. I wondered if the man who had the gun to my side knew I had come with Roman. And if he did, I thought about what would happen when Roman noticed I was gone.My legs didn't stop moving but they were not trembling either. It was not the first time I was in this position and all I had to do was find an opening and slice the dude with the knife I had hidden which was hugging my thigh tightly.Yara and Zaed or whatever his name was, looked like they were flirting with each other and none of them noticed what was going on either. Well, not like I could blame Yara though, I mean, she had since distanced herself from the Cosa Nostra so it wasn't like she had any reason to be on the alert.The next set of couples walked past us to the dance floor just as Roman took a seat and turned around. Martini was crouching over now whispering in his ear and I saw his smile drop as he scanned the dance fl
~VITTORIA~He helped me into the car and I realized I didn't struggle for him to leave me alone this time around. He was being gentle with me as well, carrying me carefully to avoid hurting me further. From time to time, I could see him bite at his inner cheeks, steal a glance at me, and repeat the same thing all over again. I was just bad at guessing what he was thinking about.When we got home, he carried me in and helped me to the sofa in the living room.I had certainly not come not spent that much time in the living room and most especially, not with him in it so I was kind of taking in the whole living room all over again and realizing that he really had good taste for interior decor. He lowered himself in front of me and took off my heels, massaging each foot gently after he did so. He had removed his jacket long ago and his shirt hands were rolled up almost to his elbows. His tie was gone also and a few of his top buttons were opened.When he was finally done with the massage
~VITTORIA~The best part about the last few days was that I had recovered extremely fast and had gotten enough bed rest. The worst part about it was that I had not been to work in the last few days either. It wasn't like I had not wanted to do so though. Uncle Quinto had come over to the house the next day and had made Roman promise him I wouldn't go anywhere until I was alright. And of course, Roman was extremely thrilled to make the promise after which the both of them had gone to discuss some things in the kitchen which I couldn't hear about.The previous day, Uncle Quinto had come again but this time with Yara, and I knew he had given her the 'family talk' once more making her follow him to show she cared. And I knew left for Yara, the text she had sent me one of the days was more than enough for her.Roman didn't leave the house often and even when he did, which was usually when I was asleep, he made sure Nicola was there and Nicola had even reported that on two occasions, the tw