by Serena Light
She couldn't help but stare at him in shock.
Here she was giving herself to him because tradition demanded it – even if she didn't want to – and this man, her husband, refused because he didn't want her to be frightened.
"Why don't you change into something more comfortable, and we'll head off to bed, hmm?" Salvatore caressed her cheek, Nicole's heart jumping in her chest as it felt like the weight of the world suddenly lifted from her shoulders. She watched him sit down beside her, before falling back and covering his eyes with his arms. "I'm exhausted."
The sudden urge to cry with relief overwhelmed Nicole as she swallowed the lump in her throat, and looked down at her husband's lying figure with a wobbly smile before stepping off the bed and making her way over to the washroom.
Instantly stripping out of her lingerie she put on a grey silk cirrus pajama set with matching grey shorts. A relieved laugh bubbled through her as she couldn't help but hug herself. Removing her makeup and tying her hair into a braid over her shoulder, she stepped out once more, surprised to find Salvatore on top of the covers, having been too tired to change and instead just took off the clothes, asleep in nothing but his boxers.
A chuckle escaped her as she covered him with the blanket, making her way over to the other side and slowly getting under the covers. Turning off the lights, she settled in bed before closing her eyes, falling asleep within minutes.
Chapter VI: When in Versailles
Salvatore's eyes fluttered open on their own, inhaling sharply he turned onto his back before rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand before the movement beside him drew his attention to his right. He stared at the back of the head for a second, before remembering it was his wife and that he had gotten married just yesterday. Looking at the wedding ring on his left hand, he played around with it for a second before glancing at the time displayed on his phone.
7:15 a.m.
Pushing the blanket off him, he swung his legs over the edge and ran a hand through his hair. Picking up the phone on the side table, he pressed the dial and waited.
"Bonjour," The man greeted. "Good morning. This is room service, how can I help you?" He asked in a thick French accent.
"Bonjour," Salvatore rubbed a hand over his face. "Je voudrais commander le petit déjeuner,"
"Oui, oui," The man sounded surprised for a moment before regaining his composure. "Qu'aimeriez-vous monsieur?"
Looking down at the menu placed on the side, he gave the order before putting down the receiver.
Stepping into the washroom, he took a quick shower and got changed into a slate grey three-piece suit with a light blue button-up and azure blue tie. Just as he sprayed on his cologne, he heard a knock on the door followed by someone opening it. Slipping his feet into his polished black loafers, he heard muffled voices reached him inside his bedroom. Stepping out of the washroom, he found Nicole cocooned in the blankets as he grabbed his essentials and put them into his pocket, almost forgetting his rings before he stepped out of the room, and found Marco and Tazio seated in his lounge, both of them already having helped themselves to breakfast and coffee
"Eccolo!" Marco exclaimed as Salvatore approached them, Tazio grinning from behind his coffee mug. "There he is! The man of the evening!"
"It's 8 in the morning, idiot," The mafia boss shook his head at his brother's antics before settling down and pouring himself a cup of coffee.
"How was it?" His younger brother nudged him teasingly. "Enjoyed?"
"I slept like a rock,"
"Oh! That good, huh?" Marco turned to Tazio with an impressed smile, the second-in-command rolling his eyes half-heartedly.
Exhaling deeply, Salvatore grabbed a pain au chocolat with his black coffee, biting into it as a silence lulled over the three.
"Are Manuel and Thomas here?" He asked after a sip of his coffee, looking down at the French newspaper placed before him.
"Stationed outside the door," Tazio nodded.
"What about Matteo and Samuel?"
"Waiting by the car," Marco informed.
"And Mr. Ayubi?" The Mafia boss asked once he finished his pastry and leaned back with his coffee. "Did you find out his location?"
"Mukhtar Ayubi is staying in an eighth-floor penthouse on Avenue Kleber in the 16th arrondissement with his entourage," His younger brother leaned forward. "In addition to the two guards who are constantly with him, he has two men assigned to the room and a scout watching from an apartment across the street and two guards in the lobby."
"That's it?" Tazio looked at him in confusion.
"Oh no, he has three vehicles parked on the street below and assets in the French police. Oh, and not to forget the usual CCTV feeds and usual building security." Marco sipped his coffee. "He is almost at par with Salvatore's measure of security,"
"How do we plan to get into the building? Much less get Ayubi out?" Tazio looked at his boss who was rubbing his chin in thought, finding the freshly shaven skin unusual after his usual stubble. "This could take weeks,"
"Gather the men," Salvatore put away his coffee and stood from his place, buttoning the front of his blazer. "Have them gather here at 1400. That should be enough time for Nicole to leave for shopping,"
"Yes, boss," Both men stood from their place and made their way out the room as Salvatore walked back into his bedroom.
As he had predicted, Nicole opted to go exploring at 1 p.m. asking him if he wanted to join, but he had politely declined before informing her that she had been assigned two guards who would be with her wherever she went. And as instructed, at 2 p.m. all of Salvatore's men were gathered in his suite and enlightened of the information they currently possessed.
"The first obstacle is getting into the building. Marco has a contact who will arrange for coded security badges that will get us into the building, from where Augustine will help us." Salvatore spoke as the men listened in silence, allowing him to propose the plan before they asked any questions.
"Augustine will work ahead of us and run an intercept to the building's security feeds, making it possible for us to get in undetected by the CCTV feeds. Ale, you'll have to stay in contact with Augustine," The Mafia Boss nodded towards one of is men. "Piero, you're in charge of the exit strategy,"
"What do we need?" Piero inquired.
"Vehicles." He sat down on the sofa, leisurely leaning back. "Call Victor Baudin, he owes us a favor. Tell him to prepare a few vehicles that can be reconfigured to blend into the city since we don't need the French police knowing of our extraction program,"
"While you guys set the first phase into motion, I will be meeting Matthias who can provide us with the charge we need to blow the elevator in such short notice,"
"Wait, blow the elevator?" Tazio looked at his boss in confusion.
"The only way to get Ayubi out is through the elevator." Salvatore nodded. "Augustine, besides rigging the CCTV feeds will also set charges at the moment Ayubi is in the elevator with his men and out of the reach of the rest of his security team. The elevator will drop down the shaft, engaging the emergency brakes and allowing them to arrive at the basement where a team led by Tazio will be waiting to take care of the guards, get Ayubi, and exit through the camouflaged vehicles,"
"Any questions?" The Mafia Boss looked around at the men, as they shook their head, understanding the plan and their role to play. "Alright, get going then."
Nodding, they all left through the door, leaving Salvatore to sit on the sofa and look out at the view before him.
It took almost two weeks to call in the favors, get the material at such short notice and to finally get everything set in motion; and throughout that time, neither Nicole nor Salvatore saw much of each other. But today was finally the day, the Mafia Boss would have Mukhtar Ayubi in his grasp.
"Everything ready?" Salvatore asked the men in front of him, all of them providing him with an affirmative. Nodding to them, they all fit their earpieces into their ears before setting out for their extraction mission.
"Once you have him, take him to the warehouse, do not bring him back to the hotel," Salvatore spoke into the device, the team leads providing him with an affirmation.
The Mafia Boss sat down on the sofa, listening to them set everything up.
"Position status," Salvatore asked.
"Alpha 1 in position," Marco spoke into the earpiece.
"Gamma 3 in position," Piero confirmed.
"Beta 2, need your status report," The Mafia Boss spoke into his device, waiting for Tazio's confirmation. "Beta 2, come in,"
"Affirmative," His second in command spoke up. "Beta 2 in position."
"Alright, don't fail me," Salvatore sighed into the device. "Teams set out,"
Getting up from his position, he walked over to the window, looking out as he waited for further reports.
"Status report,"
"Elevator down," Marco informed. "Athens on is falling,"
"Beta 2 in position," Tazio spoke, the screeching sound of the elevator coming to a halt ricocheting. "Go, go, go, go," He instructed, two men, prying open the elevators while two men shot the guards inside, a third man grabbing hold of Ayubi.
"Gamma 3, sit-rep," Salvatore instructed.
"Gamma 3 on standby, Command,"
"Beta 2, move now," The Mafia Boss spoke. "Alpha 1, get out of there,"
He heard movement on the other end, men talking and bustling before the sound of doors slamming shut reached him.
"Package secure," Tazio spoke through heavy breaths.
"Gamma 3?"
"On our way, Command,"
"Alpha 1?"
"Secure,"
"Casualties?"
"None,"
"Gather at the rendezvous point," Salvatore instructed before taking the device out of his ear, pulling on his blazer, he stuffed his gun into its holster before nodding for his bodyguards to get moving.
Arriving at the warehouse, he patted his men on the shoulder, congratulating them on a job well done and that they deserved a round of champagne before he went inside the building. Entering the brightly lit room, he found Mukhtar Ayubi sitting in a chair, Piero and another one of his men standing behind him. The curly-haired man looking around him in confusion as he watched Salvatore enter and take a seat before him.
"Who are you? Why-why am I here?" He asked in confusion.
"You and I have the same problem, Mr. Ayubi," Salvatore informed. "I think we both can help one another,"
"What? What are you talking about?"
"Mason Brown," The Mafia Boss spoke. "Cut his supply and I'll let you go,"
"Why would I do that?" Mukhtar asked him.
Looking over his shoulder at Piero, the man stepped forward with a tablet. Holding it screen first in front of the man, Mukhtar's face paled at the video feed being relayed to him.
"That is your son, isn't it?" Salvatore asked calmly.
"You let my Tabish go!" He tried to get up from his place, gasping when Marco forced him to sit down and forced the man to look around him desperately. "Please, he's just a little boy, let him go."
"Cut your ties with Mason Brown and no harm will come to Tabish," Salvatore gave back the tablet. "And if you don't...well, then, I can't vouch for his safety,"
"Who are you?"
"The Devil," He responded with a feral grin. "Now, do I need to make a call or is everything taken care of?" He took his phone from his inside pocket, holding it in his hands.
"No! No!" He cried out hysterically, begging for him to stop. "No, I will end my ties with Brown,"
"And Tabish will be returned to you the moment you do," The Mafia Boss stood from his place and prepared himself for the long drive back.
Once he arrived at the hotel, it had already grown dark. Making his way inside the lobby, the receptionist greeted him before he took the elevator up to his suite, finding Nicole's guards standing before the door, greeting him with bowed head before standing straight when he gestured for them to stand straight.
"What did she do today?"
"Shopping," Both men spoke together, the Mafia boss nodded before making his way to the door. "For your family supposedly,"
"My family?" He looked at them in confusion.
"Either that or she's already pregnant because she bought baby clothes,"
"Serafina," He put the pieces together. "And yesterday?"
"Sightseeing," Manuel informed. "The Palace of Versailles,"
"Dismissed," Salvatore nodded, both men bowing their head to him before he swiped his card and entered the suite, his ears instantly greeted by the sound of music coming from his bedroom.
Opening the door, he was monetarily taken aback by the number of things littering the room, there was no space for walking beside the one his wife occupied at the center of the room, dressed in a navy blue pencil skirt dress with a cream-colored silken bow around the waist and holding her head, looking around her in bewilderment.
Grabbing hold of the T.V remote, he muted it, the lack of sound having Nicole turn around before flushing in embarrassment to see her husband standing before her.
"You're back," She squeaked, clearing her throat before speaking once more. "I mean, welcome back,"
"I did not expect to see all this once I got back," He informed, picking up the brand new t-shirt lying by his feet with the tag still intact.
"I...well..." Nicole trailed uncertainly and fidgeted with her fingers. "I wanted to get everyone a gift and I did not know their sized or what to get them so I kinda went-"
"-All out?" Salvatore provided.
"-Out of control," She spoke at the same time he did. "I'm sorry for the mess,"
Salvatore sighed as he picked up a dress from the floor along with a pair of beautiful stilettos.
"The dress is mom's size, and the shoes would fit Serafina," He stated, putting them to the side as a smile split across Nicole's lips.
"You know their size?"
"Of course,"
"Oh! Please help me sort through all this,"
"I don't have much of a choice," Her husband shook his head and begun picking up everything off the floor.
The two spent the next hour and a half separating things into various piles, sorting the clothes according to what would fit Arcangelo, Rosalie, Arsenio, Angelica, Marco, Serafina, Alessio, Aurora, and Irene, with Serafina's unborn twins having a separate pile for them.
"She told me she's having a boy and a girl," Nicole spoke as she folded a purple onesie and put it to the side.
"Michele and Marina," Salvatore smiled, his wife looking at him in surprise.
"They've chosen names?"
"And Godparents,"
"Who?" Nicole asked in shock, eager to find out more about her future nephew and niece.
"Well, me and..." Salvatore trailed as he folded a blouse and added it to Serafina's pile. "You,"
"Me?"
"Serafina made me and my future wife her twin's godparents, and seeing as you’re my wife, that makes you Marina and Michele's godmother,"
"Oh, wow," Nicole laughed, taking a step back as unexplainable joy had her chest swell with happiness. "Tell me about Aurora and Irene,"
"Ah, Arsenio's girls," Salvatore chuckled as he dusted his hands. "When Angelica found out the gender, she was scared that Arsenio wouldn't want her, but when she told him that Aurora was a girl, Arsenio had been so excited and rubbed his hands together saying 'oh, just wait until the boys start coming, her uncle and grandfather are Mafia Bosses'," He shook his head as Nicole couldn't help but laugh.
"Since they are the first two grandchildren, they are spoiled rotten but funny enough they are polar opposites." Salvatore helped Nicole put everything away, packing it all up as she listened intently, realizing she liked his voice. "Aurora is more into spy gear and guns, and AK-47's - don't ask me how she knows what they are, but she loves them. Meanwhile, Irene is your typical princess with dresses and frilly skirts and tiaras and wings."
That was what they talked about over dinner: Salvatore's nieces and everyon
e's excitement for Serafina's twins. Nicole found herself laughing every once in a while as her husband would let out a soft chuckle at the memory, shaking his head in disbelief. Somehow their conversation shifted from the kids to his siblings and how different they were from one another and whatnot, and how they all get into fights every once in a while but are fiercely overprotective about the other.
Soon they both lay in the dark, Nicole telling him about her family and how she didn't have any siblings growing up, so her father always spoiled her and that she was the princess of the house, a yawn having her quiet down for a bit.
"We'll leave in a few days," Salvatore informed from beside her.
"So soon?"
"My business finished sooner than expected,"
"Shame," Nicole cuddled into the comforter and turned to face her husband in the dark. "I was hoping to have more of this while we were here. You're not bad company when you're around."
Salvatore turned to look at her in the blackness that surrounded them, hearing her breathing slowly even out as he never had anyone said that to him.
"Who's to say we can't enjoy each other's company when we're back home?" He found himself admitting silently.
"True," His wife murmured gently in agreement. "We can still enjoy each other's company once we're back home, too,"
Chapter VII: Hades and Persephone
“Before we go to your estate, can we drop by home for a second, I need to pick up Percy.” Nicole looked away from her window towards Salvatore who was driving the car.
“Percy?”
“My husky, Persephone,”
“You…you have a Siberian Husky named after the Greek goddess of spring?” Salvatore chuckled. “Why not Khione - the Greek goddess of winter?”
“Ha-ha, make all the fun you want, I need to pick her up. And I named her Persephone because she loves spring and rolling around in flowers,” Nicole scrunched up her nose at his teasing. “You don’t mind dogs, right?”
“Not at all, have one at home myself.”
“Oh! What breed?”
“You’ll see when we get there.”
Before going to Salvatore’s estate, they stopped at her parent’s chateau to pick up her husky. Loading her into the car, they resumed their journey, driving to the outskirts of Tuscany and onto a hill, where a massive mansion stood. Nicole’s eyes widened and her mouth fell open as they pulled up at the circular porch. The house before her was huge and in an H-shape. Greek columns lining the entrance as everything looked out of a fairy tale.