Filed to story: No Escape From The Mafia Kings Embrace
When I stepped into my room, three other girls stood there waiting for me. “Your services are no longer required”, I stated calmly. A tall brunette stepped forward with a scowl. “Excuse me?”, she sneered. I half-smiled, “I won’t be needing your assistance in getting ready. Please leave. Don’t make me ask again”, I feigned sweetness. “Wow, you are a real fucking bitch aren’t you? Not even give us a chance?”, a smaller blonde, said incredulously.
I frowned slightly, “It’s not that I don’t believe all three of you ladies are very talented. I’m sure you are, or my husband would never have brought you here. It’s just that I don’t like to wear make-up, so I won’t be going to. I like to style my own hair in simple styles. And it’s really not that hard to pick out a dress and put it on. It really isn’t anything personal ladies”, I explained.
The girls looked taken aback by my explanation. A red head stepped forward with a chuckle, “Okay, we can’t really hate on you for that. You are very beautiful. Well, since you aren’t firing us to hire somebody else, I feel like us girls can move passed it”, she said. I smiled softly, “Thank you”. “You’re welcome. However, if you change your mind and you do need our help, we will be downstairs in the kitchen”, the blonde said, with a genuine smile.
“Thank you, ladies, very much”, I nodded, as they filed out of the room. “You’re welcome”, the brunette said, as she closed the door. I breathed a sigh of relief. That could have turned ugly super fast. I’m really glad that they understand and aren’t too upset about it. I stood there for a moment to catch my breath. My heart was beating fast in my chest. I’ve never liked conflict. I deal with it when I have to, of course, but I don’t like to.
I let my shoulders sag as I walked to the ensuite bathroom. I didn’t need to wash my hair, so I started filling up the tub. I have some time before we actually have to leave. I know that it’s only 4:30ish, so I can take a short bath. As the tub filled with hot water, I went back into the bedroom to choose a dress.
All of them were either red or silver, and floor-length hems. I browsed through them, trying to determine which one I wanted to wear. It was taking me so long, that I had to go back to the bathroom and turn the water off for the tub. Finally, I chose an open-back red dress. My thoughts drifted to Luca’s words as I looked over the cute little accents on the dress. ‘Pick the best dress for me, piccola. I want to drool over you tonight’. My face heated up, as I went to the bathroom to remove my clothes and sink into the hot tub that I had prepared.
I moaned in delight as the hot water engulfed my body. This is the first time I have actually got to use the tub since coming here, and I am absolutely loving this. My muscles started to relax, and my eye-lids began to get heavy. I tried to fight the tiredness that closed in around me. But I failed.
Luca’s POV
Damnit, it took me forever to get the information I needed from Gibson, then it took forever to wash all of his blood off of me. I rush into the house, already dressed, expecting Mara to be downstairs and ready, but she’s not. Ma walked into the hall from the kitchen and spotted me, “She refused help, she hasn’t come down yet”, Ma said. “Thanks, ma”, I said, sprinting up the stairs, two at a time. It doesn’t surprise me that she didn’t want help, but I’m also curious as to why as well.
As I opened our bedroom door, Mara stood in front of the body-length mirror, in the corner of the room. I’m immediately awe-struck by her beauty, and the sight of the ruby red dress that hugs her every curve. Her dress drags the ground slightly, with an open-back, giving me the sexiest view of her softly toned skin, but also didn’t allow for her scar to show.
Her eyes swept up, catching mine in the mirror, and she smiled sweetly. “Sei assolutamente meravigliosa, bambina. Potrei non lasciarti andare con quello. (You are absolutely gorgeous, baby girl. I might not let you leave in that)”, I uttered gutturally, as I rubbed the back of my neck.
She turned and looked at me quizzically. I smiled sheepishly, as I walked towards her and wrapped my arm around her waist to pull her close. “You are absolutely gorgeous, baby girl”, I whispered. She blushed and looked down at her dress. “I feel weird”, she replied softly. “Why?”, I asked, with a quirked eyebrow. She hummed as she slowly looked back up at me. “You look amazing, Luca”, she smiled, automatically bringing a smile to my face.
“Thank you, bambina. But, why do you feel weird?”, I asked again. She shrugged her shoulders, “Dresses are pretty, yes. But, I feel exposed in them”, she answered nervously, rubbing her hands along her dress. “You look stunning, principessa. Like a Queen”,I complimented, kissing the tip of her nose. A dark shade of red graced her heels, blending with the color of her dress. That is adorable as hell.
“Are you ready?”, I asked softly. “I just need to put my heels on”, she answered, trying to break free from my hold. “Wait, you’re forgetting one more thing”, I said, reaching into my jacket pocket. She looked at me confused, as I pulled a necklace box from my suit pocket. “Turn around, piccola”, I ordered gently.
She swallowed hard before slowly facing her back to me. I pulled out the ruby necklace I had bought to match her dress and the theme. The blood-red stone sits in the middle of a petite silver sunflower, accenting her dress and skin perfectly. She gasped, amazed, as she reached up and touched the pendant. “Do you like it, principessa?”, I asked, as I clasped it, nervous of her response.
She smiled as tears formed in her eyes. “It’s beautiful, Luca. I love it”, she whispered gently. I blew out a short breath of relief, to know that she liked what I picked out for her. “No tears, then, preziosa (precious)”, I uttered, next to her ear, as I placed my hands on her shoulders and kissed her hair. “They are happy tears. I’m sorry”, she mumbled, with a sniffle.
I wrapped my arms around her waist and rested my chin on top of her head. “I know”, I smiled. “Thank you, Luca. I really do love it”, she said, touching the necklace again. “You’re welcome, piccola. Why did you not want help this evening?”, I questioned gently. Mara frowned, “My scars”, she muttered. I drew my brows together in confusion. “What about your scars?”, I asked. She shrugged as she tried to step out of my hold. “I just don’t want any rumors to spread, especially about you”, she answered, when she realized that I wasn’t letting her go.
My heart twisted for her. She felt like she needed to hide her body in order to protect me. “You don’t have to do that, piccola. You don’t have to hide who you are in our home”, I told her, seriously. “I’ve only ever told you about that, Luca. No one else knows what happened. I haven’t shown anyone”, she murmured, tears welling up in her eyes. I turned her around in my arms.
