Page 4

Valentina

I look up at the sky, closing my eyes and enjoying the sun on my face. The fresh breeze swirls around me, causing wisps of hair to wrap around my face.

I’m happy that it’s still nice weather and not snowing. I’m going to enjoy this small time to myself, a small moment to enjoy some freedom. Well, not total freedom since the guards are stationed around me.

Scary biatch.

I walk into the coffee shop and look around. It’s not very busy. I push the wispy locks from my face and walk over to sit at the small table in the corner, next to the window of the coffee shop, to wait for my cousin Mia. I pull at my red dress as I cross my legs, sitting up straight.

That biatch best not keep me waiting forever; she’s always late.

I look at the people walking down the street, talking on their cell phones or to their friends. Some walk in a hurry and look pissed off.

It makes you wonder what makes them tick. Are they living a good life, or are they living on the fly by the seat of their pants, trying to make ends meet?

Do they take life as it comes?

Do they plan out every little detail?

I always wonder what life would be like to be a normal girl.

I bet that they’re not living like I am.

In my case, I’m living by the dictates of the underworld, my uncle Elio, the Don of the Italian Mafia. He’s been like a father to me since my Mom died in childbirth. My father, who knows, nobody knows anything about him. I don’t know anything about what happened. The bastard raped my Mom, so yeah, he’s not in the picture.

My Mom was Don Elio’s younger sister, and my Uncle Elmo, his twin, died a few years ago in one of the many Mafia wars.

I’m living on borrowed time, yeah, because soon, Don Elio will decide on which Mafioso to marry me off too. I know it will be soon since Don Elio is working on getting the best alliance. It depends on the deal; he’s going to hand me over to a mobster.

That’s totally a scary biatch.

You would think that I’m ready since I’ve known my entire life that I was going to marry a stranger, an arranged marriage. This shit happens all the time in the underworld. Love is not part of the equation; it’s a brutal fact.

My stomach twists in a knot, my chest constricts, and I close my eyes. I don’t want to think about it nor entertain any fears.

It’s hopeless to feel any fear.

It’s going to happen, period.

Well, of course, if I die, then I’ll escape my fate.

Of course, I won’t take my life, but I can always hope that something happens to end my life. It’s a dark, twisted thought, but I live in darkness every day. I know that life is precious; we don’t know when we will take our last breath.

I’m surprised; maybe luck was on my side since Don Elio gave me his approval. So, I got an Accounting Associate Degree. Of course, he chose what to study, and it was online. Yeah, it's nothing fancy, but it’s still something that gives me pride and confidence that I’m not just a stupid girl jumping to his every command.

Yeah, but I am.

Hell, hairy balls.

It’s a biatch life.

I open my eyes and stare out the window, then widen them. I blink to control my reaction; I can’t draw attention from the guards; they will report everything to Zio.

And I stare at the gorgeous man walking on the sidewalk in front of me with such confidence and elegance. His gait is graceful for a man, standing tall and strong. He must be an important businessman, right? I know that his dark gray wool suit is custom-made, fitting his body perfectly. He’s wearing expensive Cartier sunglasses; I know because Zio Elio loves Cartier sunglasses. His shoes are Italian, black leather shoes. Everything about the man screams wealth and importance. Or he's a mob boss.

Hell, hairy balls.

He’s someone who would be worth getting into trouble with Don Elio.

Yeah, but I won’t ever do that. And that man is not anywhere near my lifestyle, the underworld life.

The man glances at me as if he felt my gaze taking him in. He lifts his chin, lowers his black eyeglasses, and stares at me with brilliant blue eyes for a minute. I fall into his gaze, feeling my heart speed up.

I force my heart and body to be still and not react. I squeeze my legs, my nipples are hard, and I feel my stomach flip.

He slides his eyeglasses up his straight nose with his finger, crosses the street, and climbs into the black Range Rover parked along the street. I can’t see him anymore; the windows are tinted very dark black, and I wonder if he’s looking at me.

I watch the vehicle pull out onto the street and drive away. I inhale to take in some much-needed oxygen. I didn’t realize that I was holding my breath.

Wow, he’s something to dream about. I’ve never reacted to a man like that. Every part of my being is alive, tingling.

“Sorry.”

I turn; my cousin Mia is standing next to the table and places her purse on the chair. I raise a brow, sigh, and shake my head.

“Always late, Mia, you know that Don Elio is always monitoring my time. I want to know everything that you heard Don Elio tell your Mom. Maybe we can figure out what’s going on.”

“Valentina, I know, but I swear it was not my fault. There was an accident a few blocks from the house. The guards got us out of there as quickly as they could. Yes, I did hear Mom talking to Don Elio, and she was demanding a lot of money for allowing Zio to marry me off. Oh my god, I hate her. She only comes home when she needs money,” Mia whispers, sitting on the chair.

“It must be hard since Zio is gone, and there’s no one that can control her.”

“Yeah, she’s a fucking Biatch,” Mia hisses, gathering her brows.

I lean in closer to talk because we don’t want the Soldiers to report our conversation to Don Elio.

“Tell me everything.”

“I heard them talking in father’s office; she likes to use it when she’s around. I wish she would just stay away and stay on her long vacations.

I don’t have any issue with Mia’s hate for her Mom. I don’t know what it’s like to have a Mom, but I know what it’s like not to have one. I wonder if Mia ever thought about that and tried to get along with her, or at least try to see where she’s coming from. I never said anything about it.

Maybe I should.

Is it worse not to have a Mom or to have a Mom who’s hardly around and doesn’t care?

I chew my lip, looking at Mia's expressive golden-brown eyes. She looks Italian, and so do I, except that my eyes are hazel. Her face is flushed, and she tosses her long brown hair over her shoulder.

“Okay, got it. Tell me what was said.”

“Don Elio and Mom were discussing how much money he was going to give her to keep her happy.”

“How much?”

“ million dollars.”

“Wow, that’s a lot of money.”

“Well, think about it, Vee; Don Elio will benefit from the marriage. We’re just a pawn in the mafioso world. I just pray that the one I get isn’t a complete monster,” Mia whispers, blinking the tears in her eyes.

Mia is super sensitive; I’m not.

“Well, you have a point. But all of the mafiosos are monsters, so we must pray that they won’t abuse us in any form. Respect, that would be a plus, but I doubt it. They rule our world.”

“There’s more, Vee. Don Elio has several prospects and is working on the details, and soon, you will know who it is. Mom asked about me, and he said that he’s working on your husband first. It all depends on what’s beneficial to Don Elio, the Conti Famiglia. Vee, I’m so afraid. What if I never get to see you? I don’t want to marry a stranger.”

I inhale, chew my lip, and force the emotions deep into my mind. I don’t need to react. It’s all good. So, the best thing to do is compartmentalize; it’s always worked. Besides, I’ve never had anyone to give a fuck about me, my feelings, my dreams, which I don’t have because I’ve always known that Don Elio rules my life. So, maybe someday, my locked-up emotions will hit me like a fucking tsunami. Yeah, the eruption will be epic! I hope that it doesn’t cause any waves.

Hell, hairy balls.

I must be a cold biatch, right?

“Don’t worry, it’s all going to work out.”