by Tiffany Jade
I throw his beer at him as I re-enter the room and shrug my shoulders.
"Only the best for my wife." I wash down the words with half the can. Na fuck that, the whole can. Luckily I'm a smart fuck and I'd brought an extra in my hoodie pocket.
Dax flips the top on his and fingers through some more papers. "Three dresses?! The hell she need three dresses for?"
"The wedding, the reception, and the after party."
"$25,000 for alcohol, what the fu—nevermind man, that you're gonna need." Dax shakes his head as he downs his can too. "Are you really going through with this brother?" I can feel his eyes on me as he asks.
"It's the last thing Father expects me to do at this point. So yeah, I am." And as fucking pissed as I am and as much as I don't want to be tied to that witch for the rest of my life, I mean it.
The only way to get this situation under control, is to play my father at his own game. Lucky for me, I'd been playing it for over twenty years now, I knew the rules. Once I married her, Father would have no choice but to let me have more control over the family business.
"Where's your lovely bride at tonight? Why isn't she here driving me fucking bat shit?" Dax lights up a joint as he settles back into the couch.
"Some more wedding planning I would guess? I don't even know anymore."
"Hmmm..." Dax takes a hit and holds it in, as he slowly releases it, a smirk lands on his face. "What's my budget for the bachelor party?" Dax throws the papers down on the floor and takes another hit. The gleam in his eye tells me he's definitely up to something.
"What makes you think you're in charge of my party? Last time I trusted you to take me to a party I ended up at some college kegger and met—" I trail off, shaking my head. D looks down at his hands. Once again that was Dad, not him. "Fuck it, no budget. Dad's paying." He glances up, the smirk returning.
"Then we better get our money's worth."
"Rise and shine Sleeping Beauty," Dean's voice creeps into the edge of my dreams. My dreams of that night with Gray, only instead of being interrupted by his fiancé, we had gotten to finish our night cuddling and learning all about each other. The smile stuck on my face quickly fades as reality sinks in.
"I made you breakfast," my eyes pop open to see Dean carrying a tray towards me. I sit up and he places it in my lap, waffles covered in fresh strawberries and whipped cream. A giant mug of coffee catches my eye though and I reach for it first. I could use alcohol but caffeine would have to do for now.
"Thank you," I raise the mug in his direction and give him a small smile. Returning the smile, he sits on the edge of the bed.
"Did you sleep well?" I tilt my head in his direction at his question, and a sheepish look crosses his face. "Well, considering?" I take a bite of the waffle and use my mouth being full as an excuse to just nod.
Definitely frozen waffles, doesn't hold a candle to the skills that the twins had showed us. I take another bite though, because I have a feeling I'm going to need all the energy I could get to make it through another day.
"My Dad has requested our presence at a meeting in an hour. He sent one of the maids out to pick you up some clothes this morning, you'll find them in the closet." He waves towards what appears to be a giant walk-in closet on the other side of the room.
"There was someone in my room this morning?!" I ask through a mouthful, shock overpowering my manners.
"Being employed for my father requires an ability to be insanely quiet..." he shoots me a sly smirk, "And you were snoring loud enough to cover for her even if she had slammed every door on her way out." I smack him as he starts cracking up.
"I do NOT snore!" he continues to laugh as I roll my eyes and take another bite.
"Fine, you don't snore, but the look on your face when you thought just maybe... Woo!" He stands to leave but pauses at the doorway. "I'll be back to grab you when it’s time to go, please don't be late. I'd like to keep you on his good side." I just nod again, I'd like to stay on his good side too.
Dean shuts the door behind him, giving me my privacy to finish up my meal and start getting ready. I set my tray down on the desk by the door and head for the bathroom. A shower is definitely a necessity.
I didn't realize how much of a necessity until I saw the mirror. Holy hell, if my hair got any higher and more knotted I would have to pull a Britney Spears circa 2007. The bags under my eyes looked like they had their own luggage and my fuck was that drool on the side of my face?
I yank open the glass door to the walk in shower and quickly try to turn on the water but am faced with a damn computer staring back at me. Glancing around I see what looks to be about fifteen shower heads coming from my sides and above me, and is that a touchscreen? I touch the screen and jump as it starts beeping at me.
"Son of a bitch!" I squeak as I tap it again, hoping for better luck.
"I'm sorry, I do not recognize that command."
No way. A talking shower.
Dean has a freaking talking shower.
"Uh... water on?" I ask and am pleasantly surprised when all of the shower heads begin working. "Well I'll be damned." I smile as the perfect temperature water begins running down my body.
Looking around I spot a shelf with a plethora of what looks to be some rather expensive products. Don't mind if I do.
I go through the motions as quickly as possible, only having to remind myself twice that I really don't want to piss off Viktor by being late, and if I'm good and don't die, I can take another shower tonight. But now to turn this thing off.
"Water off?" I try, and silently pat myself on the back as all the shower heads instantly turn off. I rush to get dry and comb through my hair before borrowing Dean's robe and heading for the bedroom closet. As I open it I can feel my eyes widen.
One side is completely covered in his clothes, lots of suits, and definitely not cheap ones. Mostly black. A built in shelving unit holds t-shirts and a whole wall holds shoes. Taking in the other side of the closet I take in a deep breath. It's completely full of women's clothes. Dresses, shirts, skirts, pants, shoes, handbags, clutches, even a shelf of jewelry that probably cost more than a year's rent.
I quickly grab a simple black t-shirt and some black skinny jeans, the rest of the closet too daunting for me to even dig through. Some black flats make the cut and I turn back to the bed where I see clean underwear and a bra in my size too. Gotta hand it to them, this is a different kind of service.
Creepy...but good service.
I dress as fast as I can and right as I'm pulling a shoe on I hear a knock at the door.
"Livi?"
"Come in!" He chuckles as he enters. He too is dressed all in black, as usual.
"All those clothes and that's what you went with?" He comes over and grabs my arm to help me balance myself as I slide my other shoe on.
"What's wrong with it? Do I look bad?" I start fidgeting, straightening out my shirt and dusting off imaginary lint from my pants.
"God no, you look amazing." Dean puts his hands up and backs up a bit, taking me in with a look that only makes me slightly uncomfortable. "Like really amazing. But I think most girls would have went for the Gucci or Louboutin's." He sticks his arm out as he waits for me to grab onto him.
"Well as cliché as this is going to sound..." I grab his arm and nudge him, "I'm not most girls." He smiles down at me and begins to lead me to the front door.
"And don't I fucking know it," he whispers. He opens the door and we head out into the hall.
"Thank you boyfriend," I giggle. Damn I deserve an Oscar. He shakes his head at me but a smile stays on his face as he leads me back to his father's office.
"So what is this meeting about?" I ask as we head down the stairs.
"No clue, he said he had some business partners coming in that he wanted me to meet."
"What does that have to do with me?" Confused as to why I'm being dragged into meetings when they barely know me, I can't help but ask.
"You're with me now, in my world, you're ei
ther all in or you're all out. He's testing you." I nod. Great. I love tests.
As we reach the door we both seem to pause and take a deep breath. As he knocks on the door I feel an intense dread pool up in my stomach. Shaking it off I place another smile on my face.
"Ah! Come in Son!" Viktor's strong voice commands my attention as he opens the door for us. He shakes Dean's free hand and places a kiss on my cheek as he ushers us into the room. My eyes land on the people seated on the couch where just last night I had woken up to this nightmare.
And apparently the nightmare wasn't over yet.
"Dean, Liviana, I would like to introduce you to some of my more recent business partners. Please welcome Lorenzo and—I'm sorry dear, I always confuse your name and your Mother's?"
She stands with an amused grin on her face and walks towards me, reaching her hand out.
"Serafina. Pleased to meet you Liviana."
Chapter 24
I can hear my door slide open and Dean's heavy yet hesitant footsteps as he enters. If I didn't have my face and body buried in two layers of blanket and some random giant hoodie I had found hidden behind all the fucking Armani in the closet, I'm sure I would have seen the same pathetic, weak ass apologetic eyes he had shown me as he walked me back from the business meeting from hell. He clears his throat, interrupting my inner head rant.
"I'd ask if you're okay Livi, but I know you're not." I feel the edge of the bed dip down as he sits down. I resist the urge to kick him off and just go for the silent treatment instead. "Livi, please look at me, we really need to talk."
As I let the complete silence feel the room, Dean begins to fidget. "Fine." He takes a deep breath and the bed shakes like he's adjusting something. I feel another light weight hit the bed. Unable to help myself I peek out, and am surprised to see a phone laying next to me. I reach for it slowly, watching Dean, trying to analyze what is going on behind his now guarded eyes. As I pick up the phone the screen lights up, of course it's locked.
"I'll give you the password, I swear. Just hear me out." He scoots a little closer, "I know it's hard to believe right now Livi, but I'm on your side." I can't stop the snort that comes from his comment.
"On my side?" I ask, trying so hard to keep my voice calm, collected. "You consider it on MY side when you discuss how you're going to kill the man I love," I swallow the catch in my breath as my eyes start to water, "with his fiancé’s help, at a wedding that you want me to attend as your date so that I can witness the whole, fucking, thing." Calm and collected be damned, my body shivers as the tears begin to fall. "I would call that the complete opposite of on my fucking side Dean." He reaches for me but I smack his hand away.
"Livi—"
"Shut the fuck up Dean. Seriously." I throw the phone at him and turn my body away. It's quiet for a few minutes but he makes no move to leave. "You can fucking go now."
"Liv, just how much of the meeting do you remember?" He can't see but my eyes roll so far into the back of my head it's amazing I didn't sprain them. How could I forget a meeting where everyone in the room was planning ways to murder two of the very few people on this earth that I truly cared about. And I was supposed to help...
"Oh Serafina, I thought you had already been introduced to our dear Liviana." Viktor's loud voice boomed through the room.
"I have been sir!" she giggles as she shoots me a wink, "but as she wasn't fully dressed and ready for guests the last time I saw her, I figured a proper introduction would do."
This bitch.
"I wasn't fully dressed because I had just got done fu—" Dean grabs my arm and spins me around to sit in his lap, smashing his lips to mine, effectively shutting me up.
"Not now," he whispers against my lips. He kisses me again, as I hear his father crack a joke about young love. Dean tucks my head into him and finds my ear, "Please Livi, don't test them right now, I'm too outnumbered to save you." I nod my head slightly so he knows I understand and places another kiss to the top of my head. He scoops me up again and sits me down next to him, I smile and bat my eyelashes as I look up to meet Viktor's amused smile. The look of confusion on Serafina's face as she looks from Viktor to Dean and back to me is enough to make my smile look real.
"Are you two ready to focus on business now?" Viktor knocks Dean on the shoulder as he walks by and takes his place in the giant leather chair behind his desk. He motions for Serafina to find a seat over by her father and his men.
"Now, Lorenzo. I trust that you have secured Dean's invitation to the wedding?" Viktor wastes no time as he changes his tone from joking to don't fuck with me. His eyes land on Lorenzo who nervously wiggles a bit in his chair.
"I believe so sir." Lorenzo glances to Serafina, who takes the small hint and paints a beaming smile on her face.
"As you know Viktor," she purrs out his name as she turns to speak to him. Ew. "Due to...well...past circumstances," she quickly glances between Dean and Viktor, "and the fact that Grayson and Daxon have figured out who Dean is," I can't help the gasp that escapes me. The boys know?! Do they know Dean has me?! They have to right! I bet they are trying to figure out how to get me back right now. A little bit of hope lights within me. "Getting his invitation has come along with a few stipulations."
"Proceed," Viktor makes a waving motion with his hand.
"Grayson and I have arranged for a full weekend of wedding activities," Serafina looks directly at me and smirks. "He just couldn't imagine fitting in everything he wanted to celebrate, in one short day." Dean's hand lands on my thigh and squeezes.
"What does this have to do with me Serafina?" Viktor asks, annoyance dripping from him. Serafina's smile drops as she refocuses on him.
"Well, sir, due to the amount of people who will be coming on all sides, from both families, it has been decided that now would indeed be a good time for all of the larger families to meet." Viktor smiles as he sits back in his chair and lights a cigar. "However, this requires some rules that the Demonte's would like me to inform you of."
"Rules?" The expression on Viktor's face clearly shows that rules are not his favorite.
Serafina pulls a piece of paper out of her handbag, unfolds it, takes a breath and begins to read. "Every guest will be expected to arrive at the Demonte property in New York on Friday by 3:00 p.m. Every guest will be searched by fully armed security at both gates and before entering the house. Every guest will be required to be fully unarmed. Every guest will be assigned a room and will be required to remain on the premises for the duration of the wedding weekend, which will end with the reception which will take place after the wedding on Sunday night. Each family requesting representation at the wedding will be required to attend a meeting on Sunday before the ceremony. And last but not least," Serafina takes another breath and glances towards her father, who nods, urging her to go on. "Any person found to be breaking or found premeditating any form of bodily harm to any other member in attendance, will be dealt with using deadly force."
Viktor stays silent as everyone in the room thinks over the list Serafina shared. She stands up and slowly walks up to Viktor's desk and places the paper down. He doesn't even glance at it, just takes a drag from his cigar.
"So they are asking for a truce. From some of the biggest families in the country." He doesn't ask. He makes the statement and a grin spreads across his face. "That hasn't been done in years."
"Because the last time it was attempted, we had one of the largest blood baths in history. The amount of men lost at the Lucci wedding set records in mafia violence." Lorenzo finally speaks up from hiding behind his daughter.
Viktor's grin widens, and I can feel my heart stop as the words leave him, "Well I think it is time to set a new record."
My stomach flips as I look to Serafina, hoping, praying, that by some fucking miracle, uber bitch doesn't want her wedding ruined by a shootout. But the smile on her face tells me everything I need to know.
Her eyes meet mine and begin to sparkle, "I have already planned how to get Dean in a
position to take Grayson out at the altar." I'm going to throw up. Dean's hand squeezes my thigh again and I begin to shake. "We just have to wait for him to say, 'I Do,' so that I have my legal share. If Dean is quick enough, he will be able to take out Daxon too as he will obviously be best man."
The room starts to spin as they all begin to laugh.
"What about their father, what will we do about Gio?" Viktor begins to pour out glasses of whiskey and pass them around the room. Serafina smiles as she takes her glass.
"Oh Gio? I will keep him distracted." She winks and takes a sip of her whiskey. She leans ahead of her father and puts her hand up by her mouth, as if blocking him from hearing her. "My soon to be father-in-law will be very compliant once he finds out the video I have of him and I is in my drafts ready to send to my soon to be mother-in-law if he gets in my way."
Viktor chuckles, "You women and your powers of persuasion."
My head and heart both pound as I look at Dean. He avoids my stare and raises his glass towards his father.
My heart begins to ache again as I curl into a ball on the bed. Dean making me relive the meeting making the pain even worse.
"I remember everything Dean, fucking everything." My anger finally kicks in and I uncurl myself and get up on my knees glaring at Dean. "I remember you, sitting there, toasting your father as he talked about committing a giant murder spree. I remember you just squeezing my thigh as I heard that YOU," I shove at him, "YOU, the one who promised to protect me," I shove him again and he stands up to avoid falling. I follow him off the bed. "YOU are going to kill not just one but TWO of the people I love." I give up on shoving and reach up to smack him. He takes it. Putting his head down.
"Do you feel better now?" he asks, his voice quiet.
I can feel the tremors take me over as the image of Gray laying on the ground takes over my mind. Screams ring through my ears. Dax falls.