Velvet Chains: Dark Mafia Romance, page 11
“Izzy! Take a look, isn't this perfect for you?” She asked, holding up a midnight blue dress. The color alone was enough to catch my attention, so I agreed to try it on. I walked into the dressing room and found that the dress was just as comfortable as it looked.
Once I stepped out, I knew that the dress was the right decision. Sarah's jaw dropped when she spotted me, and when I turned to look in the mirror, I understood why.
The dress had short sleeves and a slit up the side, but what really made me like it was that it managed to cling to my figure without being overtly sexy, and the color made my skin look stunning. I almost looked like a different person, like one of the celebrities in magazines.
“That's it! This is the one. You'll knock them dead.” She said after a moment, and I nodded. Just being in the dress made me feel more confident than usual, and I would need that confidence for the event.
“Thanks Sarah.” I said, as we walked up to the cashier to pay for the dress. Matteo, my bodyguard, and our driver were waiting for us once we had paid, they took the bags and followed behind us as we left the store.
“Thanks? Come on, we're friends. If I had a fancy event to go to with Mark, I'm sure you'd go shopping with me. Plus, you were by my side for wedding preparations and I know that I practically turned into a bridezilla at a point, but you stuck by me.” She teased as she playfully bumped into me from the side. I found that my laugh was too loud, and too harsh, I knew it was because of how guilty I felt.
My day with Sarah was going great, but I still felt conflicted about being around her. I felt guilty because of what Mark had said to me on our ‘double date’, and even worse, I felt sick in my stomach about not telling her.
“Oh. Speaking of, how's life as a new bride treating you?” I finally managed to ask. She laughed cheerfully in response.
“Oh, it's great. Mark has been so nice and thoughtful. You know how people say men stop trying after you get married? Well, ever since the wedding, he has been extra attentive.” She said, and the wave of guilt I felt only grew stronger.
I couldn't help but wonder if he was being so nice to her because he felt guilty about what he had said to me. She didn't deserve this, Sarah was the nicest person I knew. Yet, I was hesitant to tell her.
I didn't want to be the one to break her heart, and I was scared of how it would affect our friendship. As much as I hoped it would stay buried forever and I could forget about it, I knew it wasn't the right thing to do.
“Right now, Mark's talking with the moving guys back home. They're picking up the furniture we purchased. Before the wedding, he wanted a horrible green bean bag in our living room, but now he has seen the light. He picked the couch I wanted. I hate to brag, but I really got a good one. What about you? Have you decided on a date for your wedding?” She asked. Her joy and excitement about Mark felt like a stab.
“The engagement was fast but we're going to take our time with the wedding.” I responded, distracted again, glad I had kept the engagement ring on my finger. Sarah seemed so excited for me, I couldn't imagine having to explain my deal with Vincenzo to her.
I wanted to tell her about the fake engagement, but I didn't even know how to broach the subject. There was no way I could explain it without telling her about Vincenzo's business, and I was all too aware of how that would put her in danger. So I decided not to tell her about it, for her own good. No matter how much I felt like a traitor.
I looked at Sarah again and she had a wide smile on her face and was positively glowing.
“I'll get a cab back to the hotel.” She said once we reached the car and I shook my head immediately.
“Don't be ridiculous. You came all the way out here and took time out of your honeymoon for me. The least I can do is drop you off,” I told her, and although she tried to protest, I insisted. She didn't relent until the driver insisted that it was no problem and it wasn't out of our way.
I let out a sigh of relief when she finally got in. The ride back was just as fun as our day shopping was.
"So, can we talk some more about that snooty saleswoman?" She started, reminding me of the first store we went to.
"Oh God, yes. Did you see her face when we walked past with my bags?" I smirked with satisfaction at the thought.
"Yeah, she looked stunned." She giggled.
"She could have fit two whole eggs into her mouth with how wide her jaw dropped." At that, Sarah and I laughed.
We laughed so much that by the time we got to her hotel, my cheeks had begun to hurt from smiling too much.
“Do you want to come in and say hi to Mark? He'll be sad he missed you,” she said, and I immediately said no. Meeting Mark again wasn't high on my to-do list.
"Alright. Goodbye Izzy, text me!"
"I will, Sarah, take care." I watched her go into the hotel before leaving.
However, as Sarah stepped in, I felt my phone buzz. A glance at the screen made my eyes widen. It was a text from Mark.
Can we talk?
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
VINCENZO
The hunt had begun.
After my meeting with Pietro, knowing that arrangements had been made about Luca, I was able to turn my attention elsewhere. Isabelle. I needed to educate her briefly on the people we were going to meet and how she was to behave around them.
I felt bad for alarming her, as I saw her eyes widen with every word I said, but it was necessary. She had to be on guard, because everyone would see her as my weakness and try to get information out of her.
“Are you ready?” I asked right before the team of stylists I hired whisked her off to get ready.
“Stay close to you, suspect everyone, and keep the topics of conversation as shallow as possible. I got it.” She looked up at me as she spoke. Her eyes, slightly red around the edges, were practically screaming her nervousness at me. For all our talks and all my lessons, she was still so easy to read. I felt my hands move and immediately stifled the urge I felt to pull her into my arms.
"And when in doubt?" I asked, as the stylists nearby began to unpack their boxes, pulling out an assortment of makeup containers and accessories.
"Stay silent." She mumbled hurriedly, as one stylist held up a pink hairpin. I shook my head.
"Not that one." I said, before I finally left the room and started my own preparations.
I got ready faster than Isabelle ever could. I had been to many of these events so I had a lifetime of practice on preparing myself for them. The only difference from my usual routine was that I had to pick out my tie carefully. I had caught a glimpse of the blue dress Isabelle would be wearing and I wanted to pick a tie that would match it. We were supposed to be an engaged couple and our clothing had to reflect that. I thought the night would offer no surprises, but the moment I saw Isabelle, I knew I was wrong.
Isabelle looked stunning. The blue dress she was wearing made her skin look so deliciously pale that I wanted to lean in and take a bite. Her moonlight skin contrasted the blush make up on her cheeks. Her hair was piled up and held in place with glittering hairpins and some curly locks framed her face. She looked like a sculpture come to life, and I wanted nothing more than to take her into my arms and hide her from the world so only I could look at her. The thought of other people seeing her like this made my blood boil.
She must have noticed something from the look on my face, because her blush, which was originally just makeup, intensified as her face and neck grew flushed. I stretched out a hand to her, and when she put her hand in mine, I felt my breath quicken. With the way she looked tonight, I wanted to just undress her now, stay in and let the event go on without us.
“Ahem.” My chaotic thoughts were calmed by someone clearing his throat. When I turned around, I spotted Pietro looking at me with a knowing grin.
“Any news about Luca?” I finally asked, choosing to ignore the teasing smile on my brother’s face.
“None yet, but I’ll keep you posted. Just remember to watch your back.” He told me as he slipped me a small gun with a silencer on it. To her credit, Isabelle’s face didn’t go pale at the sight of the gun. Maybe she had gotten used to it by now. I attached the gun to an ankle holster. The unofficial rule was to come to these types of events unarmed, but I had some leeway on the etiquette. The gun was insurance. We hoped it wouldn’t be necessary, but it was always good to be prepared for anything. I had never been caught without a weapon in a dangerous situation and I wasn’t about to start now.
“Isn’t that what I have you for?” I quipped and he chuckled as Isabelle and I walked out the door. I didn’t have to look back to know that Pietro was going to get in another car with some men and tail us. Ever since we got into the business, we had always had each other’s back.
The ride to the venue was quiet, from the corner of my eyes I could see Isabelle beside me. She was fidgeting, her hands seemed to have a life of their own as she absentmindedly tapped the window.
It was an elegant affair. Everyone at the event had allies and enemies present but were willing to set all grudges aside for tonight. However, the undercurrent that hung around in the air betrayed it for what it really was; a gathering of wolves.
The moment I stepped out of the car with Isabelle, I was on guard and on edge. We hadn’t even gotten into the hall yet and it already seemed like there were hundreds of eyes on us. And maybe there were. Every person in there had their own bodyguard waiting in the wings with firepower just in case things went south. Although I thought Antonio would know better than to make a move at an event like this, daring moves were still his type of style.
I took a brief second to let my eyes adjust once we stepped into the hall, the contrast between how dark it was outside and the brightly lit hall almost blinding. What was more annoying was the amount of attention Isabelle received. I still didn't know if her nerves would hold under the pressure.
“Why are they staring?” Isabelle asked me in a whisper, and I grinned.
“Maybe it’s because of how you look in that dress,” I whispered back and watched her face turn pink. I wasn’t lying, but I could also see some of my enemies, the Salvatore and the De Belli clan. Representatives of all the families, friends and foes, were sizing us up, their eyes focused on us like they were trying to pick apart every single detail. If I hadn’t been so focused on keeping things together, I would have scoffed.
“Don Vincenzo, you’re looking well, and your fiancée looks divine,” a shifty looking man walked up to me and said. I did not to simply walk away from him because as much as I disdained him, he was a fool who could be a useful tool if I played my cards right. The man's name was Alvarez and he had beady little eyes and hair that looked too greasy to be real. He was one of the new foreign associates Don Antonio had been working with lately, close enough to be considered Antonio's new right-hand man. Alvarez was from a Colombian cartel and because I didn’t trust Antonio, I didn’t trust him.
“Nasty business, what happened to Don Salvatore.” He sighed theatrically. This was my problem with him. He thought he and Don Antonio were so smart that no one noticed their little moves. That was why he could stand before me, and say something like that while reeking of smugness.
"Yes, it's terrible."
"I only hope things settle down from now on."
“You’re not alone, that’s what everyone here is hoping.” As I spoke, someone else joined us. The woman, Loredana, had blond hair and a polite smile on her face. She was another perfect tool, a favored daughter from the Messina clan, known for feeding the rumor mill whatever she could find, and I was about to give her prime material.
“What are you all talking about?” She asked, her love for gossip making her eyes shine brighter than the diamonds that circled her neck.
“Nothing much, Alvarez here was just telling me how invested he was in the investigation into what happened to Don Salvatore.” As I spoke, I watched his face turn ugly. Loredana was a notorious blabbermouth, and in less than thirty minutes, everyone in this hall would know that Alvarez had a unique interest in the case. From the look on her face, I knew I had succeeded in making Loredana suspicious of him, so whatever rumor she would pass around would be unfavorable to him, and ultimately, to Don Antonio. Just thinking about how everyone would keep a close eye on him from now on made me want to laugh out loud.
My attention turned to Isabelle, who had been snacking on a plate of finger foods placed on the table beside us. Despite her focus on the snacks, she couldn't hide the glint of curiosity in her eyes.
“Darling, I see a friend over there, let’s go,” I said to her right before we walked away, leaving Alvarez stuck in place with a face that looked like he had sucked on a lemon.
"Who was that?"
"Alvarez. He works for Don Antonio, the man we met in the jewelry store." I said, and she visibly shuddered, possibly at the memory of what had happened that day.
"That man's here right now?" She asked, and I nodded.
"There's a possibility that we'll bump into him, so be prepared."
We walked around, talking to different people. Everyone in the room was a key player in Palermo’s underworld society, and despite how many smiles were shot at us, it would have been naïve to assume any of them were genuine. I had to keep an eye on Isabelle. I found that despite her calm appearance, she was still nervous. It showed in how much she was fidgeting with the engagement ring.
To her credit, Isabelle was doing better than I thought she would. Whenever I saw her fidgeting, I would pat her hand. She leaned into me constantly, and I found my arm around her shoulders. Showing intimacy seemed to come naturally to us. However, every time I made eye contact with her, it felt like touching a live wire, my breath quickening and my blood beginning to rush downwards.
“You’re a dangerous woman, you know that, right?” I whispered in her ear. When I saw her earlobe turn red, I found myself fighting the urge to lean in and make her blush even more. I grew hyper aware of her and everything near me. I could feel the satin soft touch of her fingers in one hand and the soft curves of her body that leaned on me. Being so close to her, inhaling her scent, it put some ideas in my head. My breathing grew heavy as I looked at her and imagined all the things I could do to her. I wanted to leave my mark on every inch of her skin.
“Hm?” She leaned in close to say, and I found myself tightening my grip on her shoulders when her breath fanned across my face. She was so close that I wanted to lean in and kiss her, but I stopped myself. Displays of affection could be chalked up to being in love but a full-on kiss, the way I wanted to kiss her, that would raise a few eyebrows.
We continued to make our way around the room, chatting with people and drinking champagne. I could tell from the way they looked at us that our displays of affection had done the trick and they no longer had doubts about our engagement.
However, before I could feel at ease, I spotted someone approaching me. It was obvious that this approach was purposeful, because the figure came from the other end of the hall.
The man was dressed in black, everything from his shirt, to his coat and tie were pitch black. It looked like he was here for a funeral, rather than a glamorous event.
“Vincenzo, what a pleasure to see you here. And your fiancée, Isabelle, is it? You’re practically glowing.” His cheerful voice made me want to grit my teeth.
"You flatter me, Don Antonio." Isabelle responded. Before Antonio could continue speaking to her, I decided to take charge of the conversation.
“Thank you, it’s a pleasure to see you here too. I was just telling Isabelle that she should get used to this kind of events,” I responded with the best version of an amiable grin that I could muster. Isabelle must have felt the danger of Antonio’s presence because despite the smile on her face, she leaned closer to me.
“I just wish this evening had started out as pleasantly as it is right now,” He suddenly said, looking sad as he let out an obviously rehearsed sigh.
“Oh? Is that so?” I asked, feeling my curiosity and dread mount with each passing second.
“Yes, one of my lieutenants died. It hit me hard because he was one of my oldest associates,” he said, and I felt my heart stop.
“It's just so terrible, you know. Luca had a terrible year. His wife left him, and things didn't seem to be working out for him. But I never thought he would commit suicide.” He continued without me prompting him.
“Suicide?” I heard myself asking.
“I’m afraid so. He drowned at sea a few hours ago. For some reason, he went for a swim near the dock. He didn’t seem to see a ship coming into the bay as he was swimming. I just hope I can watch those around me closely and prevent it happening again.” Antonio finished talking. His expression of grief was obviously fake.
“My condolences, I imagine that must have come as a shock to you,” I said, trying to cover up my true feelings.
"It did. Luca was like a brother to me." He responded and I found myself battling the wave of frustration that rose within me at his words. However, I had to keep calm. I somehow managed to do that and send him off, he practically whistled as he walked away.
The barely suppressed rage in me had me clenching my hands, making Isabelle hiss in pain as my grip on her arm tightened. I loosened my grip, but still felt troubled as I ran through the plan again. It had been compromised and I didn't know how. Somehow Antonio knew what I had been planning and got to Luca before we did. I went through the rest of the event in a slight haze.
