by Serena Light
"Should I pour you a glass?" She inquired with a flirtatious smile, looking over her shoulder at him.
"Yes, please do,"
Pouring in the drinks, she handed a glass to him before leaning back, looking at him from over her glass.
"So, Mattia, tell me about yourself,"
"Why would you want to talk about plain old me when we could learn so much about gorgeous you?"
Olivia giggled at his words, pouring them another glass as her dark eyes regarded him with lust – a look Salvatore was all too familiar with.
They spent time drinking as he could see her getting tipsier with every successive glass, all inhibitions leaving her mind as she leaned onto him, giggling and slurring something almost incomprehensible.
"I'll be back," She giggled and stood from the couch, making her way to the washroom. "Don't go anywhere, handsome,"
"Wouldn't dream of it," He winked at her watching her disappear behind the door.
Putting the glass on the table, Salvatore stood from his place and walked around the room a moment, the door opening having him look back to see Olivia standing in the doorway in black silk baby doll chemise, giving him a sultry look as he stood in the center of the room, watching her make her way towards him.
"Let's take this off shall we?" She purred and began to unbutton his shirt, gasping in surprise when he grasped her arm and turned her around so that her back was pressed flush against his chest, an arm wrapped around her midriff as she brought her arms up to play with his hair.
A hiss escaped her as he ran his cold hand over the skin of her bare stomach, pushing the chemise to the side as the cold air of the room had her grit her teeth and rest her head against his shoulder.
"This is for Luca," He murmured into her ear, plunging the dagger into her stomach as she gasped, pain enveloping her body as the blood flowed the wound, Salvatore pulling it out in one swift motion as she grunted. Her eyes widened with tears brimming as he plunged the knife into her once more. "This is for all the pain you caused my family,"
Just as she was about to scream, Salvatore clamped a hand over her mouth, Olivia's bloodied hands coming up to try and pry his hands off as blood flowed down her stomach and soaked her chemise, slithering down her bare legs. Her scream was muffled as he jerked her head back against his shoulder, sobs wracking through her as the blade enflamed her insides.
"And this is for Serafina," He put the dagger against the skin of her neck, the bite of the steel just as cold as his voice. "Tell Jayson, you don’t fuck with the Regnantes," He told her before slitting her throat from ear to ear, blood gushing out of the cut as he let her collapse to the floor in a shuddering heap, her throat gurgling and forcing her to choke on her own blood; the life leaving her with one last shudder.
Salvatore stood before her corpse a moment, looking down at her with a mask of indifference before making his way to the washroom.
Scrubbing at his hands, he removed all the blood before cleaning his dagger and grabbing a towel from the racks. Running the cotton over everything that he touched before leaving the room, his knife wrapped up in the towel as he made his way back to his room.
Giving a quick call to the hanger, he grabbed his packed bag and left the room, checking out before sitting down in the back of the car, soon settled in his jet for the flight back home.
Heaving a breath, he made his way up the marble staircase and pushed open his bedroom door. Walking across the extended foyer he entered to see Nicole lying on her side on the bed, her hand gently patting the chest of the baby cuddled in her side with the second one beside her.
"Hey," He called out softly, putting his bag on the ground as her eyes opened, blinking up at him.
"Hey," She whispered, sitting up in bed with ruffled hair and disheveled clothes. "You're back,"
"Yeah," He nodded and settled on the other side with the babies between them and trailed the back his hand over the boy's cheek. "Olivia tried to seduce me," He revealed quietly, noticing Nicole still for a second.
"What did you do?"
"Slit her throat,"
"Did anything happen?"
"No, nothing," Salvatore looked her into her eyes, assuring her that he would never do that, never cheat on her. "Nothing happened,"
Nicole swallowed thickly before stepping out of the covers, allowing her nightgown to fall to her thighs before she made her way around the bed. Salvatore watching her silently, before inhaling deeply when she straddled his lap and cupped his face into her hands, kissing him fervently.
"I want you," She murmured against his lips. "I'm sorry for the way we left things, but I need you, Salvatore,"
"Let’s put the twins to bed first," He tangled his fingers into her hair. "Then I'll satisfy your need,"
Chapter XXVIII: High School Reunion
Salvatore stood in a two-piece navy blue pinstriped suit with a pinstriped white undershirt, picking up a watch as he looked at his collection of ties, wondering which one to match with his attire.
"Look!" Nicole squealed as she bounded into his closet in a black halter pencil skirt dress that hugged her in all the right places and accentuated her curves as she spun for her husband. "And it has pockets!" She exclaimed in delight before putting her hands into them to show him with a wide grin, a small smile quirking at his lips at her antics.
"Beautiful," He commented as he fastened the watch into place.
She giggled before bouncing back to her closet to finish getting dressed, Salvatore shaking his head at his wife.
Looking back at the racks of ties, he picked out a blue paisley tie and began fastening it around his collar before picking out a pocket square to match. Slipping into his shoes, he looked up at the sound of his wife clearing her throat and was momentarily taken aback by the drastic change.
She leaned against the doorway before him, one hand rested on her hips as she wore a gold watch on one wrist with bangles clinking on the other, rings shining on her fingers and her nails painted pastel pink. Nicole paired the dress with her pearl choker as her hair fell over one shoulder in elegant waves, her red lips pulled into a sultry smile with her misty green eyes looking at him with expectancy.
"Gorgeous," He breathed out as his stomach erupted with butterflies at the sight of her. Making his way over to his wife, he wrapped an arm around her waist and brought her flush against him, Nicole gasping at the sudden movement as he looked down at her with shining eyes. "Do we really have to go to this high school reunion? Can't we just stay home and lay in bed and cuddle...preferably naked,"
"No, baby, we can't stay home since I've already RSVP-ed it," Nicole tsk-ed at her husband, running her finger down his tie.
"Doesn't matter, we'll anyways be back within an hour," Salvatore hummed before leaning down to capture her lips in a deep kiss.
Nicole had found the letter by sheer luck and then went on to pester her husband for four days to convince him to go to his high school 10-year reunion. He had been very against it, saying it was pointless and then she went and convinced the boys to go and tried again, and again, he told her it was useless. But when she insisted they go for an hour and brought forth her best pleading look, he relented, saying they'd go for an hour.
And now, he pushed Nicole against the doorway, grasping her hips as she encircled his neck, messing up his professional hairdo and pulled away after a minute, placing a hand against his lips when he tried kissing her again.
"No, I know what you're doing," She let out a shuddered breath, suddenly feeling very warm. "And it's not going to work,"
"You didn't give it time to work, gliko mou," He murmured as Nicole bit her lip.
She had been teaching him a bit of Greek, small things like objects and terms of endearment and he always used them to his advantage, knowing he made her weak.
"The guards are waiting for us downstairs, Salvatore." Nicole gave him a disapproving look. "It's rude to make people wait," She patted his chest and ducked under his arm, her husband groaning as she walked towar
ds the lounge to pick up her clutch.
Sighing, Salvatore fixed his hair and wiped away the lipstick from his lips before following his wife out the door once she had fixed her appearance.
In the back of the car, Nicole had a huge grin on her lips as she looked out the window, her husband watching her squirm in excitement before she turned to him with wide shining eyes.
"What's it like?" She inquired eagerly.
"What's 'what' like?"
"High school," Nicole exclaimed in exasperation. "What's high school like?"
"Like any other high school?" He looked at her in confusion. "You know? School buildings, lockers, classrooms, gym, grounds, all that sort,"
"Tell me more,"
"Nicole, you're asking questions like you've never been to one," Her husband chuckled at her eagerness and shook his head. "It's like any other school, just this one was Mafia exclusive,"
"Mafia exclusive?"
"Well, yes," Salvatore shrugged. "Dad made the school once he adopted Arsenio. He realized that – as his son - he would now come under his enemies' radar, so he made a mafia exclusive school where children with direct mafia affiliations got enrolled and studied with every sort of protection to keep them safe. Hell, even the staff had some form of Mafia affiliation. Every single Mafia child went here,"
"Not every," Nicole muttered quietly. "I didn't,"
"What do you mean 'you didn't', every Mafia child went there,"
"Yes, every Mafia child either went there or was homeschooled, like me," She shrugged. "I've never been to a high school before, just seen them in the movies, so this is my first time in one,"
"It's really not that fun," Her husband assured with a shrug, having forgotten that she had never been to a formal schooling institution.
"It would have been better than being homeschooled," She shrugged it off and looked down at her watch.
They soon arrived at the red-bricked building Salvatore hadn't seen since he was 19, and he was taken aback by how well maintained it had become. As a matter of fact, it looked bigger. While he was busy taking in his old high school, Nicole watched the number of suit-clad men and elegantly dressed women making their way out of expensive cars and across the parking lot. Seeing all the people, anxiety instantly overcame her, her throat running dry as dread filled her.
Releasing a shaky breath, she interlaced her fingers through her husbands, looking at the people with uncertainty shining in her eyes and clutched onto his arm for some form of comfort.
"What's wrong?" He looked down at the evident distress across her expression.
"I'm not sure, I just suddenly got very anxious,"
"There is nothing to be anxious about," Salvatore assured, cupping her chin into his fingers and tilting her head back, rubbing his thumb over her jaw. "Nothing going to happen as long as you’re with me,"
"It's not safety concerns," Nicole swallowed. "It's more of like...this was a bad idea type of thing because you said you didn't want to be here and-"
"You know, now that we're here, it doesn't seem like such a bad idea anymore," He murmured, leaning down and placing a gentle kiss on her lips as she looked up at him uncertainly. "It's fine, baby, really. Just stick close to me because they're going to be a lot of Mafia sons around here, and I'd rather they not get close to you,"
Nicole giggled at her husband before shaking her head at his antics.
"Ready to go in?"
Nodding, she linked her arm through his as they both walked down the parking lot. As they approached, people stumbled back and got out of his way before bowing their heads to him, allowing him to walk ahead before his men pushed open the high school double doors. Nicole's heels clicked against the marble floor, lockers to either side of them as every single person before them instantly moved to the side the moment they caught sight of the Mafia Boss and allowed him to pass with their heads bowed.
Nicole watched, impressed with the amount of power and respect her husband had, but gasped in surprise when they entered the gym. Unlike the movies, it was covered in décor and lights, photo booths set up with tables and refreshments, people mingling with one another and greeting the other like old friends. She looked around herself, at the colorful streamers and the banners, the people and the dresses. It was all a lot to take in and the event hadn't even begun yet.
As they neared people, they greeted Salvatore with the utmost of respect and bowed heads, shaking hands and asking after his wellbeing as he responded politely in response, making his way further inside.
Soon, they were joined by Stephan and Russo, Piero and Fransisco were there as well, as was Marco with a lean blonde headed guy who wore glasses on the bridge of his nose and gave a dimpled smile in their direction, waving enthusiastically. Nicole had been with her husband through the initial part of the function, noticing how no one asked about her. A couple of people gave a once over, but no one asked who she was.
Up until they went to get drinks, the couple was arm in arm, but no soon had Salvatore taken a sip of his champagne Stephan grabbed hold of his arm and dragged him into the crowd, having said something about meeting someone.
And just like that, Nicole found herself all alone in the midst of unfamiliar faces and looking around for anyone she might recognize. Walking around the gym with a glass of champagne in hand, she looked around herself, her way being intercepted by a group of three.
"Hey!" One of the two boys halted her, holding out his hand and giving her's a firm shake. "I'm Clemente, and this here is Duran and Cristina," The man before her introduced the other two in turn, Nicole giving them polite smiles.
"I'm Nicole,"
"We were wondering, Nicole, if we had any classes with you since you look horribly familiar, but we can't seem to find you in the yearbooks," The girl, Cristina, explained.
"Oh, I never studied here, I was homeschooled," She chuckled in response as they all got looks of realization. "I'm here with my husband,"
"Who is...?" The second man, Duran inquired curiously.
"Uh..." Nicole looked around in search for said husband, unable to find him in the midst of the thick crowd. "Well, I can't see him....but his name is Salvatore? Salvatore Regnante,"
The trio before her all turned quiet for a minute before they began laughing hysterically, clutching their stomachs and nearly spilling their drinks as Nicole took a step back and looked at them in confusion, wondering if she had said something funny.
"Dio mio!" Duran cackled, slapping his knee. "Salvatore Regnante? That's hilarious!"
"Oh! Too good!" Cristina piped in as Nicole's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"That man is incapable of loving, sweetheart," Clemente placed a hand on her shoulder as she looked at his hand with a raised eyebrow. "I mean, that was hilarious, and a nice try. But it's a known fact that Salvatore Regnante is incapable of either loving someone or marrying anyone,"
Just as she was going to retort, the three seemed to find someone else they recognized and walked away, leaving her to stand there stunned and confused for a moment before resuming on looking for someone she knew.
Having failed on finding any one of the guys, Nicole fell prey to the same occurrence at least a dozen times more. People coming up to her, asking who she was, and then she informed them she didn't study here but instead was accompanying her husband, Salvatore, and she got the same reaction. Hysterical laughter, disbelief, and people looking at her as if though she were delusional, and even when she tried telling them that she was married to Salvatore they silenced and belittled her 'whimsical fantasy'.
For two hours, Nicole seemed to be going around in circles, unable to find anyone and just wanted to go to her husband, feeling like she would cry in frustration if she came across another person who was going to laugh at and belittle her.
"That ruthless psycho?" One person had scoffed.
"Did you hit your head, sweetie?" Another one chuckled.
"Hilarious!"
"Salvatore Regnante and marriage? Hah! Impossible,"
"Heartless,"
"Cold hearted,"
"Cruel,"
"Merciless,"
"Brutal,"
"Savage,"
"Monster.", "Monster.", "Monster.", "Monster.", "Monster.", "Monster."
The room spun around Nicole as she couldn't understand what was going on anymore, her head pounding with an ache in her heart and her lungs constricting as she was scared she would fall. It felt like everyone was either mocking her or laughing at her as she felt the bile rise in her throat, everything feeling a little too overwhelming.
That is until she felt someone grab her arm, Nicole jerking away in panic and dropping her champagne glass in the process.
"Nicole," Salvatore's face was before her as she looked up from the shattered glass.
"Salvatore," She breathed out in relief, collapsing in his arms as he held her close, people's attention on them due to the falling glass and the fact that this unknown girl was hugging the world's most ruthless Mafia boss.
Instant murmurs broke through the room when Salvatore hugged back, holding her close and leaning down to her ear as he stroked her hair.
"Hey, what's the matter?" He asked her gently, Nicole being unable to respond as she tried to will the tears away, hiding her face in his chest. "Come, I think you need some fresh air,"
Salvatore led her out the way they had come as she kept her gaze low, his arm wrapped around her shoulder and murmurs surrounding them and Nicole could feel their eyes on her. Soon the polished wooden flooring of the gym turned into the porcelain marble before they entered a room, and the mafia boss closed the door behind him as she walked out of his hold a few steps forward.
"Nicole..." Her husband called out and instantly she turned to him with bloodshot eyes and flushed cheeks, hitting him on the chest.
"Where were you?" She demanded in anger and hit his chest with every word. "Where were you? Where were you? Where the fuck were you?"
"Hey, hey, hey," Salvatore grabbed hold of her wrist, holding her close to him as she let out a shuddered breath, trying hard from crying at the humiliation she had been facing for the last two hours. "Stephen and I stepped out for a bit and I wanted to tell you, but couldn't find you, and Piero told me that you were with Russo, so I thought you were safe and-"