I got back in the car with my men and we went home. I didn't clean up Italian blood in Italian territory, that was for them to mess with. "That was easy." I sighed as I stared at the girl in the picture.
"What's that Niko?" Demitry asked.
"Some pictures that fell out of Marco's pocket. I want this girl found and invited to my party. I don't care who she is." I gave the picture to Demitry.
"I'll do my best. What if she doesn't show?" He cocked his head to the side.
"We'll make her show. I want to know everything about her and what her connection to Marco is. She can't be innocent in all of this. If that's his woman...I'm going to kill her." I smirked and sat back in the seat.
"Why not take her and keep her and torture her for information?"
"Demitry, you know I would do that too, but in the end...she will die." It was silent the rest of the way back to the house. We got back and I walked into the house soaked in blood and my mother stared at me in shock.
"Niko! What happened?" She ran to me and grabbed my face with both of her hands.
"It's business. We didn't have a single casualty but god they had at least fifty." I walked away from her and to my room. I locked the door behind me and went to shower. I had a few meetings with some of the heads of families and then had to talk to my father about this shit going on with my mother.
Chapter Three
Maria
I hoped and prayed that he would be okay. I didn't plan on leaving his side anytime soon. He still hadn't opened his eyes. It'd been hours since the doctor had come to stitch him up and give him some pain medicine. I kept his hand in mine and said a silent prayer that he would be okay. The doctor said he had lost a whole lot of blood and that it might take weeks to recover. I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket. "Hello?" I spoke softly.
"What happened to Marco?" My father spoke sternly.
"He got cut up and beat up pretty bad, father." I tried not to cry, my father would see it as weakness and that's not what I needed him to see in me right now.
"I've got Giovanni coming down to get him. You can stay there while he gets better. You need to stay away from the house for a bit. Your mother isn't doing well and now that Marco has gotten hurt, the last thing I need is you getting in the way. Am I clear?" I felt the tears silently falling down my cheek.
"He shouldn't be moved, father. The doctor said he could tear his stitches. He's better off here with me." I tried to fight for him. I didn't want to be here worrying while he was there at the house that I was now banned from.
"My word is final. Am I clear, Maria Anna?!" He yelled through the phone.
"Crystal." I hung up and went into the bathroom to shower quickly. I got a text from my cousin Isabelle, we called her Belle for short. She was my best friend since we were in diapers.
Belle: Hey, heard about M. Sorry. Is he okay? Are you okay?
Me: Father's moving him home. He banned me from the house. I have to stay here. Come with your dad and stay with me? Paolo's here! ;)
Belle: I'll beg and fake cry if I have to! Thank God my dad isn't as bad as yours! Lol
I stood under the hot water and cried silently. There was a knock on the door about fifteen minutes later as I was wrapping a towel around my body. I threw my hair up in a towel. "Yeah?" I opened the door not expecting it to be Marco. I gasped and helped him back to the bed. "You aren't supposed to be up and about. Stay here in bed like the doctor said, okay? Father called and told me that you're going home without me. He thinks that it will help you heal faster if I'm not there to distract you."
"Is he insane? What if the Russians come after you? I won't be here to protect you. He won't be here to protect. It'd just be Louis and Paolo." He put a hand on my cheek as I laid my head on the pillow next to him.
"He knows what's best I suppose. It'll be okay. He just wants you to be able to completely rest. I understand but I don't want to be away from you."
"I want to tell you something, Maria. I want you to know how I feel before I have to leave." He kissed me softly. "I have never felt so protective of a female as I feel for you. I am deeply in love with you, Maria. You are my whole world. I know that you're mine because your father arranged it but I'm glad he did. I had always wanted you for myself. I would die for you, mio amore." I kissed him softly so that I didn't hurt him.
There was a short knock on the door and my Uncle Giovanni walked in. "Give me ten minutes please!" I shouted as I ran into the bathroom. I hurried and got dressed in a royal blue silk sundress and a pair of black heeled booties.
"You were allowing her, your fiancée, to lay next to you while only wrapped in a towel? She is not your wife...yet. You should have told her to dress, Marco. If it happens again I will make sure that the Don knows his daughter's fiancé is acting indecently like a husband before you are both even wed." He crossed his arms in front of his chest and stared angrily at Marco.
"I'm sorry, Sir. It won't happen again." He actually seemed upset at my Uncle's opinion of him allowing me to lay next to him like that. I walked out of the bathroom and looked down at the ground as my Uncle approached me.
"It wasn't his fault. It was mine." He grabbed my face in his hand and squeezed. I was shocked at his behavior, gasping.
"You are not a whore. You are the daughter of the Don. Act like it." He squeezed harder and then released me. He had done that to Belle whenever she was in trouble but he also hit her. My father was nothing like my mother's brother. He would have never hurt me like that but then again, I had never done anything that angered him severely. I didn't say anything back to my Uncle as he helped Marco from the bed and walked with him slowly out of the door.
"Stay. Don't follow us." My uncle spat at me. I wasn't even allowed to say goodbye? Belle walked to my side quietly with Paolo in tow. She placed an arm around my shoulder.
"The Don is really mad at Marco, Maria. He was the only one who came out of the club alive. My brother was killed." Belle hugged me as I softly cried.
"Paolo, can we go out tonight? Please." I looked up at him.
"If you do anything stupid and I get in trouble, the Don will kill you and I both. You'll stay in tonight and we'll get pizza and ice cream." Paolo looked sad. He loved partying with Belle and I. We always had lots of fun together. The last time we got in huge trouble. Belle had picked a fight with a Russian girl and that turned into Belle almost getting killed before Paolo stepped in and calmed everyone down and we left. My father heard about it though and I was grounded for five months. Belle had a sneaky look on her face. I knew exactly what she was thinking...we were going to sneak out.
-------------------------------------------
After I had given Anna a bath, tucked her into bed, and read her favorite bedtime story to her, she fell right to sleep. I kissed her forehead softly. She was too innocent for the life she would have to grow up in. My phone buzzed as I quietly shut the door to Anna's room.
Blocked: I was beginning to wonder why Marco ran before I got the chance to kill him. Now I see that he has you. I'd watch myself if I were you, Maria Salvatore.
I dropped my phone and the glass of water I had been carrying. The glass shattered on the floor. I felt utter fear and I froze. Paolo and Belle came running up to me. I didn't know I was crying until Belle's hands were wiping away the tears. I stared at Paolo as he picked up the glass and my phone. He must have seen the text and was on the phone with someone shortly after. Belle grabbed my hand, her bag, and my phone. She pulled me out of the front door and to the elevator.
"Where the hell are we going? We can't leave now. I...want to go back. NOW!" I felt the tears falling.
"No, we're going out and you're gonna forget what just happened, Ria. You don't need the stress right now. I grabbed a dress and heels for you and we're going to meet up with a couple of my girls. They heard about a wicked party a few blocks over. This night is your one night to party and be like a normal girl." She grabbed my hand and we caught a cab. I saw Paolo running down the stairs and loo
king all over the sidewalks for us. Belle handed me my phone.
"Flirt with the boys, drink, dance, and have fun tonight. Please, Ria."
I half-smiled and pushed the thoughts of the text from whoever they were out of my mind. "You're right, Belle. I need this." We rode in the cab for about 10 minutes until we arrived at Belle's friend's apartment. We paid the cab driver and got out. The apartment building was super nice.
Chapter Four
Nikolay
I stood in the shower and washed the blood off of my face, hands, and torso. I didn't expect to walk away without a scratch. I expected a fight, especially from Marco. He was supposedly an enforcer before the Italian Don moved him up in the ranks. I sure as hell didn't believe that now. An enforcer would have fought back no matter what the situation was.
Then again, he was an Italian. They have never come close to ever being as strong as we are. I dried off and put on the black Armani suit that my mother had apparently decided to give me. Is it really a gift when you give her a monthly allowance and that's the money she used to buy the suit? I laughed to myself.
I walked into my office and called my father, it went to voicemail. I walked out of the office and to his room. I knocked on the door loudly. I heard some shuffling and something fall to the floor and shatter. I knocked again. "Open the damn door." I yelled. I wasn't a very patient person to begin with and having to deal with my parents' problems was the last thing I really wanted to do. I had a party to plan at the townhouse in the city.
My father opened the door with just a robe on, "what the hell do you want, Nikolay?" He was angry because I must have just interrupted sex with his mistress.
"I need to speak with you." I looked him dead in the eye, "be in my office in 5 minutes and don't bring her." I walked back to my office and sat on my desk. This was going to be a long day and I swear if he brought her in here with him I was going to kick him out of my house and side with my mother just for the hell of it. There was a small knock at my office door and Anya's head poked around the door.
"Papa?" I motioned for her to enter and she ran to me. I crouched down and opened my arms wide. My childhood best friend and right hand's wife had brought this sweet little girl into my life and then they were killed in a car accident along with my fiancee six years ago.
"Anya! My sweet little love!" I hugged her tight and kissed her forehead. Anya was only a couple of months old and in Vladimir and Anastasia's will they had left Anya in my care. I told her of her parents often but she still called me Papa. I wasn't her biological father but she is my daughter in all but that. She handed me a brush and a hair tie. "Papa, will you braid it please?" I smiled.
"Of course. What have you done today?" I brushed through her dark brown hair and started to braid it.
"NaNa and I walked in the garden and planted flowers." She called my mother NaNa and my mother spoiled little Anya just like a grandmother would spoil her granddaughter.
"Did you have fun?" I finished braiding her hair and tied it back with the hair tie. I picked her up and went to sit in my chair.
"Yes, Papa!" She smiled up at me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. My father walked into my office and sat in the chair across from my desk.
"Anya, go see what NaNa is doing for me and keep her company." I sat her down and kissed her forehead. She walked out of the door after giving my father a hug. She was the sweetest and kindest little soul. She waved at me before she left the room.
"What did you want, Nikolay?" My father crossed his arms in front of his chest and glared at me.
"What's this I hear about you kicking my mother out of my house?" I glared back at him.
"The crazy woman is driving me crazy. This was my house before it was ever yours, remember that. I will do as I please in this house and I will fuck whomever I please. Your mother will move into a new house and be content."
"My mother isn't leaving MY house. If you wish to continue your affair..." I stood up and found that I was beginning to yell. My father was making me very angry about how he was willing to continue an affair and kick my mother out of MY house for caring that he was sleeping with another woman.
"I will continue to fuck whomever I want." My father stood up and put his hands on my desk.
"Then you will get the fuck out of my house with your little whore and only speak to me on matters of business. I will not allow you to disrespect my mother and all of the shit she has gone through with you, my father and her husband, since she married you. The little whore and you can live happily some place else instead of causing constant trouble for me in this house. You can find whatever house you would like and I will split the cost with you. You have a week to find a new house. That's final. I have other things to do so you can go." I sat back down in my chair and opened my laptop, dismissing him. He got up and walked out without saying a single word.
I pulled up the last party inventory and supply list that we had and dialed Demitry's number. "I've sent you the list of things that are needed. See that they get delivered to the townhouse by five and no later than that. Send out the invitations via text and don't forget to invite Marco's girl. Just put it as a generic party and put the address."
I hung up and sent the supply list to Demitry's email. Tonight was going to be the best party I had ever thrown. I just had to make sure that Marco's girl was there and I would have Demitry handle taking the girl.
Chapter Five
Maria
I slipped into a skin tight sparkly silver one shoulder dress and a pair of black Louboutin stilettos. "Ria, can I please curl your hair? You never do anything with it except wear it up or straighten it." Belle begged me all the time to let her curl my hair. I sighed.
"Yes and you can do my makeup." She quickly got her curling iron out and started to curl my hair.
"Maria, your phone just went off." One of Belle's friends, Elana, shouted across the room.
"Could you hand it to me, please?" Elana walked over and handed me my phone.
"I'm so glad Belle convinced you to come out with us. She always says that you take things too seriously." Elana laughed nervously.
"I know I do, but it'll be worth it one day. Hard work does pay off, ya know." I shrugged as I unlocked my phone. I had a text from an unknown number about a party.
"Is it Marco?" Belle looked down over my shoulder.
"Umm, no. It's an address for a party." I sat it down in my lap.
"Where?" Elana sat back on the couch and turned the music down.
"635 W 42nd St, 45th floor, #457." I knew that was a super expensive place. My father had bought a place there a couple months ago. I stayed there occasionally. "Belle, did you grab my keys?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Father has a place there. He bought it a couple of months ago. We could just crash there. I still have the keys for the garage and the condo." I remembered the day he first brought me there. Up until a couple of months ago my father and I were inseparable.
"Papa? What's this?" He had blindfolded me when we had gotten out of the car in the parking garage. I heard him unlock a door after we had gotten out of the elevator.
"It's a surprise for you and Marco, my darling daughter." He grabbed my hands and led me forward, stopping a few moments after. He undid the blindfold.
"What is this place, Papa?" I smiled at him.
"I thought that once you and Marco were married, that you would like a place to yourselves to start your family. Your grandfather did the same for your mother and I but we decided to stay in the mansion. I stress respect for your body to Marco because your mama and I did things a bit fast and your eldest brother was born six months after your mama and I were married." He chuckled. Papa walked over to the couch and sat down.
"I understand, Papa. Can I be honest and tell you something, Papa?" I walked over to the couch where Papa was sitting and sat next to him.
"I always want your honesty, don't ever be afraid to tell me anything mia cara figlia." He kissed my forehead.
"I kn
ow that you and mama were arranged and I'm not doubting that you two grew to love each other, because you did. I just worry that Marco isn't interested in me and will seek someone else in secret or will choose a mistress. He doesn't want to settle down. He made it very clear to me with his actions that he doesn't want to be married. He wants to be the lady's man enforcer, Papa. He doesn't regard me as his fiancee. He always treats me like I'm a burden that's been forced upon him." I felt a few tears fall from my eyes and down my cheeks.
"Oh, figlia, don't cry. He will learn to love you. You, mia bella piccolo tesoro, must learn that he will care for you. He does care for you already, very much. He won't want to be with any other woman than you after he moves up in the famiglia. I promise, la mia bella regazza. You will see." My father kissed my forehead again and that was the last happy memory I shared with my father since then.
"Ria...Ria? Earth to Ria..." Belle's voice pulled me back to reality.
"Yeah?" I wiped a couple of tears away.
"You okay? You just kind of spaced out on us. I finished curling your hair by the way." Belle grabbed a can of hairspray and sprayed it vigorously all over the curls. I got up and looked in the mirror.
"Belle, they look amazing!" I smiled at her. They made me look like a totally different person.
"What were you thinking about?" Belle asked as I sat back down for her to start on my makeup.
"When father showed me the condo. It was the last time I remember us actually liking each other. But we aren't getting ready for a downer party, so let's just focus on tonight." I smiled and giggled.
Dangerously In Love: Mafia In Love Series, Book One Page 2