Reign of Desire, page 3
The clothes cover me completely, but I’ve never been allowed to wear leggings, and these are clinging to me like a second skin. The matching sky-blue tank top isn’t much better and accentuates my breasts. I pull on the zip-up jacket that goes with the rest of the outfit, then run back into the bathroom to find a comb to run through the tangled mess that is my hair. I’ve thought about cutting it a hundred times, but never got “permission.” It sounds stupid even thinking that. I had to ask for everything, even to go to the hairdresser, and when it was permitted, I was made to look like the pretty doll Aurelio wanted or my father expected. It’s not like I want to cut it all off, I like my hair, but to be told that I couldn’t irked me. I was tempted to do it myself, but I knew I’d earn a beating.
I can’t put it off any longer. I need to go back out there. Dad could be sitting on the sofa next to Alessio, and I’d be screwed.
Alessio’s taken off his jacket and is tapping away on his phone when he senses I’ve entered the room. He draws his gaze upward and wordlessly moves his head to the side, motioning for me to take a seat. As I move into the room, I see Niccolo at the far end of the living space. He nods, telling me to move quickly.
“Privacy, Nic,” Alessio says, and just like that, my protector is gone again.
My hands clasped in my lap, I try to keep from passing out. This man holds my fate in his hands. I’m biting my lip so hard that I taste blood.
“What have you done?” Alessio asks, and comes to sit beside me, wiping a drop of blood from my lower lip. “This stops now,” he orders. “You’re not going back to your father.”
I blink once, and then again. Did I hear him right? He’s not sending me back. His light touch returns to my lip, his callused hand rough against my cheek. He’s not afraid to get his hands dirty. Niccolo’s told me he’s earned his men’s respect by fighting alongside them, not just barking orders from his pedestal. Alessio’s older underbosses were apprehensive at first about having such a young man take over Il Destino. At thirty-six, he and Reno are the youngest capos to have taken over their territory. But Alessio’s won them over…well, most of them. There are two for certain who would like nothing better than to see Alessio fail. One is my father, the other Gaetano.
“Are you going to send me away?” I whisper.
He drops his hand. “I’ve already told you that isn’t an option.”
The worst image moves through my mind. “Gaetano.” I can feel my heart racing, and I’ve already decided that I need to make my escape.
“No,” he replies firmly.
“I don’t understand.” I shake my head, trying to imagine any other options.
“I need a wife. I’ve chosen you.” Alessio speaks as if this is a natural progression in our conversation.
“P-Pardon?”
“It’s me or Gaetano.”
“Me? Married to the capo of Il Destino? It’s laughable. This is some kind of joke.” It’s not possible. A capo can choose any woman he wants as his wife. Usually, some young, beautiful virgin. Definitely not a widow marred by the touch of another man.
“It’s not a joke,” Alessio replies curtly, his annoyance growing. Damn! I’ve insulted him. When will I learn to choose my words more carefully? When he lifts a hand, I jerk back and brace. “What the hell is that? You think I’d hit you?”
I ignore the last question and clarify what I meant. “Capo, it’s not done. Why would you choose an old married woman when you can have anyone you want? What will the rest of the family think? I’ll ruin your reputation.” I stand and wave my arms over my body. “Look at me.” He does, then his eyes lock with mine. I can’t help it, my lips tremble as I speak. “I’m broken.”
Alessio rises to his feet and stands before me. “My reputation is my concern. I’ve made the decision. We’ll be married two weeks from Saturday.”
“Two weeks!” Although I can’t see myself, I know my eyes are wide with shock.
“I’ve hired the best wedding planner in the city. She’ll be here within the hour. It’ll be a small wedding out of respect for Angela and Aurelio. Only the underbosses and their families, Reno and his family, and out of courtesy for the new peace between La Famiglia and Il Destino, Marco Moretti and his family will receive an invitation.”
“How is that small? At a minimum, there’s over a hundred and fifty people. I can’t wear white or a real wedding dress.”
Alessio raises a hand to stop me from continuing my tirade. “I don’t give a shit what people think. It’s formal. Make it a gown, and I don’t care if you wear black. We’ll marry late in the afternoon, have a formal dinner, and we’re done.” He begins to walk to the front door.
“Aren’t you staying for the wedding planner?”
“No. You have this covered.”
“Alessio, this has to be perfect. Anything less will be a disaster.” Panic starts to well up inside me.
“I trust you.” Then he disappears out the door. He didn’t say what kind of décor he wants, flowers, invitations… Shit! I drop into the cushions, taking in all that’s happened in the last half hour. I’m marrying Alessio Cassini, head of one of the most dangerous families in America. I’m going to be the wife of a don.
I need to talk this through. I can’t call my mother; she’ll be monitored by my father. My sister is a kiss ass and will definitely run to Dad. I haven’t talked to many of the women from Il Destino, and they’ve been ignoring me since my marriage to Aurelio anyhow.
The only other woman I trust, sad to say, is Lucia. I scramble to find my bag and dig through it, pulling open the lining and taking out her phone number. My father would go through my things, even my purse. I know it because many times, I would come back into my room and things would be out of place. At first, I thought it was the housekeeper being careless when she was cleaning, and then I saw him in my closet digging through the pockets of my coat. Not that I had anything to hide, but I didn’t feel safe after that, and his finding the number for Lucia, a member of Nostra Casa, would result in painful repercussions. That’s why I decided to hide it in the lining. I thought if I had to disappear, I could call her as Lucia had already offered to help when I was married to Aurelio.
I pull out my cell, then consider that Dad would and could have it tracked. I don’t want him showing up at the door. I know there’s a guard standing outside the apartment, but my father is ruthless and alerting him could result in disaster. I decide to ask the guard. That’s the better choice.
“Excuse me,” I say quietly.
The man’s dark head turns my way. “Ms. Mastro, do you need anything? I can have it brought to you.” The man is well trained. That’s his way of saying, You aren’t leaving.
“I want to make a call, but my phone…” I don’t know how to explain myself. I drop my gaze and shake my head in frustration. Before I can tell him to forget about it, he’s on his own phone.
“Ms. Mastro wants to make a call.” There’s a slight pause, after which he replies, “Yes, sir,” and hands me his cell.
I take it, looking at it for a moment as if it’s going to bite me, then put it to my ear.
“Hello?”
“Who do you need to call?” The sound of Alessio’s voice is both exhilarating and nerve-racking.
I swallow deeply, then answer him in a whisper. “Lucia.” I don’t want him to think I’m trying to run and quickly add, “I don’t know how to plan all this alone.”
He’s silent for what seems like eternity. Alessio’s tone changes, his voice softer as he says, “I’ll make the call to Leo. Perhaps he’ll allow Lucia to come out to be with you. In the meantime, get started with Margaret. Choose what you like. She’s the best in her field and can guide you through the basics.”
“Really?” I breathe out. He’s being so sweet, so considerate.
“No promises, Josie, but I’ll ask. Don’t use your phone. It was smart that you thought of that. I’ll arrange for another to be delivered to you. Niccolo will bring it to you. Don’t take one from anyone else if they offer,” he warns. Alessio knows my dad is sneaky and underhanded.
Thank you doesn’t seem like enough, yet I say it anyway. “Thank you, this means a lot to me.”
“Okay, Josie. Go back inside and wait for the wedding planner. I’ll be by later tonight,” he tells me and rings off.
Half an hour later, Niccolo drops off a new cell phone for me and takes my old one. “Alessio, Lucia, and I are all programmed in already. If you have a problem, you call me or Alessio first,” he says.
The phone in my hand rings, and I jump. Lucia’s name flashes on the screen.
“You’re marrying Alessio. How cool is that?” Lucia exclaims jubilantly.
Before I say another word, I see Niccolo leaving and give him a wave goodbye. Once the door closes, I say, “I’m scared.”
“He’s not Aurelio,” she says firmly. Lucia softens her voice. “I know what you’ve been through and so does Alessio. He wasn’t happy about it then, but was cautious to do anything about it. He was in a difficult position. He’s doing something about it now. Alessio’s protecting you from your father. You need to trust him.”
“It’s hard to trust,” I whisper. “I’ve seen the ugliness that happens with the men in our world.”
After a long pause, Lucia says, “You sweet thing, you have every right to doubt. What you’ve been through was horrible. So terrible that I wanted to take you away from Aurelio at that dinner the night we met. I also know that Alessio didn’t have to help Leo, but he did. And I recall that when he was agitated after he was shot, you were the only one who could calm him down so I could see to him. He trusted you and Niccolo to look after him. That says it all.”
My heart swells with pride. He did trust me. Alessio was vulnerable, and he leaned on me.
“Right,” I say quietly.
“Be there as soon as we can. Hold tight, okay?”
“Thanks, Lucia. I’m better now.”
Shortly after Alessio leaves, Margaret arrives with a roller suitcase filled with books and swatches. I’m left in awe by her style. She’s in her midforties and looks incredible and so much younger, wearing her blonde hair up in a high ponytail, sleek and chic. Her clothes are designer, and her skirt and jacket are tailored to suit her bombshell hourglass body. It’s obvious that she takes great pride in her appearance. She never comments on my cut and bruises, but simply takes me by the hand and sits with me as we take out the first of her books.
I was expecting her to be more highbrow, but her sweetness shines right through. I feel completely lost through the whole process. My mother and father decided what my wedding to Aurelio would be, including my dress. I felt like a cupcake in an elaborate dress that just wasn’t me.
It takes us over two hours to get through just the basics. “Right. We have The Mansion reserved for dinner. The menu looks fantastic. Alessio would like the church to be St. Michael’s, and I’ve already spoken with the priest. He’s reserved four o’clock for the wedding. We’ll have to take photos between four and six, and then the reception, and receiving the guests will start at six thirty, giving you a few minutes to freshen up beforehand.” Margaret sets her pen down on the pad of paper and looks up at me with a grand smile. “How does that sound?”
“So far, wonderful. I’d like to have Alessio review the menu, though.”
“We can do that, but he specifically said that whatever you choose is fine,” she reminds me.
“Can we have a prime rib or chicken option? I know most women prefer chicken, but I think the men would appreciate the beef.” Personally, I love prime rib, but I can hear the tongues of those prissy stuck-up snobs wagging now.
“Absolutely. Consider it done.” She pulls out another book with invitations. “Take a look at these.”
I turn the pages, and they’re all so beautiful that suddenly, I’m feeling overwhelmed again. “I don’t know.”
Margaret must sense this is becoming too much. “Tell you what, why don’t we put this all aside for a minute. We’ll make some tea, and you can tell me some of your favorite things. If I know a little more about your likes and dislikes, I can help you narrow some of this down. For instance, I can already see that you don’t want anything frilly or flashy.” She stands and goes to fill the kettle.
“How do you know that?” I ask as I follow her.
“You picked the venue where the interior is classically beautiful. Cream walls, beautiful greenery in the gardens, and even the linens are in cream with silver overlay. But you must have some favorite flowers or scents that you can tell me about. And I think that with your rich dark hair, you should wear a silver-blue gown, but then again, you would look fabulous in anything.” Margaret shrugs nonchalantly and pours the tea into my mug and one for herself. “Take a few minutes, and we’ll look at the invitations again.”
Margaret takes a sip of her tea and tells me about herself. She’s been married and divorced and had the great luck of finding the perfect partner for herself the second time around. When she talks about her husband, her eyes light up, and I can see that all she’s saying is true. It’s good to walk away from planning for a bit. Partway into our conversation, we’re both shocked when the front door pops open and Lucia is race-walking toward me, all smiles and joy.
“Lucia, what did I say about walking?” A low grumble echoes through the room. Leo walks in next, with Alessio and Niccolo right after him. Lucia ignores him completely, and before I know it, she’s hugging me fiercely to herself.
“I’ve missed you so much,” Lucia exclaims. After my initial shock at seeing her so soon after we spoke, I hug her back.
“Me too,” I say quietly. She pulls back and notices the marks on my face. She turns abruptly to Alessio, her hands on her hips, her protruding belly prominently on display. “I hope you beat the crap out of whoever did that to Josie.”
“Easy, stellina,” Leo warns, and comes to stand next to her, wrapping an arm around her waist. “We’re only staying if you can contain yourself and don’t get aggravated, remember?”
I’m so busy watching as Leo calms his wife that I don’t notice Alessio coming into the room and stopping by my side. His fingertips touch my lip. “How does it feel?”
“Better, thank you.”
“Good.”
“Since reinforcements have arrived, let’s see if we can get the rest of these details out of the way.” Margaret claps her hands and moves back to her books to pull out the invitations again.
“What are your colors?” Lucia asks.
“I don’t know.” I sigh.
“You must have a favorite,” she insists.
“I’ve never had the right to have a favorite, and if I did, it would have been vetoed by my father or Aurelio,” I confess.
“Screw that. We’re choosing what you want. If you want green with yellow polka dots, then that’s what we’re going with,” Lucia states. I scrunch my nose up with distaste. “Oh good, that really wouldn’t work for a wedding.” She laughs. Her giggle is so contagious that I can’t help but laugh along with her.
I laugh so hard that my ribs hurt. When my eyes catch Alessio, he’s grinning from ear to ear, watching me.
“We have lots to decide.” Margaret taps her pen to remind us of the task at hand.
“Josie likes pinks and pale blues. She doesn’t like to be on display. Unfortunately, as she’s the bride, there’s nothing I can do about that. We can, however, make this as painless as possible,” Alessio says. He looks at the book I’m holding, showing a light cream invitation with a solid silver border. “I like this one.”
I do too, but thought it may be too simple for the wedding of a capo. “Me too.”
“Then don’t second-guess yourself.” Alessio drops a chaste kiss on the top of my head. “The wording in the invitation will read ‘Alessio and Josephine are requesting your presence for their wedding.’ I don’t want mention of your father.”
I turn my head up to face him. “That’s not how it’s done.”
“I don’t give a fuck. He did not give you to me. I took you from him,” Alessio states. He then quickly changes the subject. “We’ll be in the study. Seeing that we can’t be seen in public until your injuries heal, I’ve ordered dinner from one of our restaurants, and it’ll be served at seven. Leo has graciously agreed to stay for a few days with Lucia to help you, and we’ll be dining together.”
In a matter of moments, Alessio moves from sweet and calm to hard and cold. I don’t know what to think. I blink as he leaves, with Leo and Niccolo falling in line behind him.
“What’s next on the list?” Lucia asks, sitting beside me and taking my hand in hers. The warmth of her hand is comforting. While Margaret grabs yet another book of flower arrangements, Lucia leans in. “He’ll take care of you right,” she whispers.
I do the same and reply, “I hope so.”
Several hours later, it’s come to my attention that I love blush pink and cream. It’s soft, feminine, and elegant. I choose blush roses with deep greenery for a bouquet and the low rectangular centerpieces will be ivory roses surrounded by candles. Both the church and dinner venue will be adorned with the same color tones and flowers.
The invitations will be hand delivered. Not that anyone would refuse their capo, but it adds a touch of class.
Venue, check. Invitations, check. Flowers, check. Guest list, check. Alessio gave Margaret a list earlier, and I have no need to add to it. Lucia and Leo are already on it, and I can’t think of anyone else. Church, check. Margaret has her own makeup artist and hairdresser, and I’ll use them. The only thing left is my dress.
“We’ll go dress shopping tomorrow,” Lucia says.
“I can’t go out like this. If someone sees me, I’ll embarrass Alessio.”
“Then the gowns will come to you,” Margaret announces. “I have several shops I work with. I’ll have each of them pick a dozen or so and have them brought over. We can have our own little fashion show. How does that sound?”
