“Miss Elle, should I have these taken to your room?” The poor girl is probably wondering what she had done wrong. I force myself to smile. “Yes please. Is Dominic back yet?” “Yes, he just returned. He's in his office, but—” I don’t wait for her to finish. I’m already making my way there. Seething with rage. Ignoring her calls behind me. I throw the door open.
“Dominic, damn you! I thought I told you last night that you don't have the right to control my life.” I stopped suddenly realizing that he was not alone. Dante and Dario are occupying the two chairs that are in front of his desk. They turned to look at my entrance. Dominic rises from behind his desk like a king from his throne. “Elle? What’s this about?”
“What’s this about you ask? I'll tell you what this is about. Can you please explain to me why there are boxes sitting in the foyer with my belongings—things that should be in my apartment? “Calm down.”
Why the hell does he keep telling me to calm down? When he very well knows that it has the opposite effect on me. “Don’t you dare tell me to calm down okay.” By this time, he had come around his desk and was standing in front of me.
“Listen Elle, we’ve discussed this. You can’t go back to your job or to your apartment. I had my men pack up your stuff to be shipped on the night of your attack. Your landlord has already been informed that you are not returning.” The morehe says the angrier I get. He had strangers going through my personal belongings. I cringe at the image of them handling my underwear and other personal items.
Dominic reaches across the distance separating us to touch my arms. It was only then that I looked at him closely. I gasp when the notice splatters of blood on his hands and on his exposed neck. I also recognize the undeniable scent of blood. My anger is suddenly replaced by confusion, concern and panic.
“Dominic!” “Wha..what happened, did you get hurt?” I reach over to open his shirt—tugging the fabric apart and running my hands over his torso to look for any signs of injury. He grabs my hands and presses them firmly against his chest to keep them still.
“I’m fine Elle. The blood is not mine. We had some trash to take out this morning.” His words somehow penetrate my panic. I’m relieved that he was not harmed. But this is a stark reminder of what Dominic does for a living. And it makes me feel uneasy.
Dario and Dante, who were quiet throughout our exchange, are now standing beside the chairs they previously occupied. “Elle, my brother has shared with us the good news. I’m looking forward to having a new sister.” I'm touched by his words since I never had a family. Why is everyone acting like this is a real marriage? Don’t they all know that Dominic is doing this to protect me?
“You’re family now and we protect family.” Dario says. I suddenly have glassy eyes and have developed the urge to cry. “Thank you…I don’t know what to say.I never had any family before.” My voice breaks with emotions. Dante and Dario both give me a quick embrace. They then left me alone with Dominic. The room’s quiet and the weight of Dominic’s gaze is steady reminding me that I’m no longer alone.
He leads me to a chair. “Are you okay, Angel.” I press my palms together until they stop trembling—taking a deep breath, finally getting my emotions under control. He sat on the edge of his desk, close but not imposing, his presence steady. The nearness of him was both unsettling and comforting.
“Elle, my only goal is to protect you. I never meant to control your life. You have to trust me—I made the choice to pack your things and end the lease because I thought it was the safest way forward. I’m sorry Angel. It just isn’t safe for you to return to your previous life.” I let out a slow sigh. “I do understand, Dominic. But all I’m asking is to be part of the decisions that shape my future. Please, involve me.”
“I had no control over my life growing up. I need to retain some control.” I look at Dominic pleading that he understands why this is important to me. My voice trembled, but my eyes held his, pleading that he understood. For a heartbeat, the silence stretched between us, heavy and unyielding. Then his expression softened, the steel in his gaze tempered by something quieter. “Okay, I'll try to do better by involving you in decisions that affect you.”
Relief flickers through me. “That’s all I ask.” I then turned on my heel and walked out of his office without uttering another word. The echo of my footsteps sharp against the polished floor. I didn’t look back. And Dominic didn’t try to stop me from leaving. The door clicked shut behind me, leaving Dominic alone in the silence of his office—and leaving me with the first taste of control I’d claimed for myself in a while.
Chapter 22
~Elle~
My days have been filled with preparations for the wedding. Serafina has been a godsend. She has visited me every day, for the last five days, helping me navigate this world. It almost feels as if I’m living a dream and at any moment I would wake up to find out that all of this was not real.
Since Dominic has deemed it unsafe for me to venture outside of the mansion, all the preparations are being handled remotely.
I’m amazed at how much could be accomplished once one has money. Dominic has made it clear that the wedding must happen at the specified time, regardless of the cost. It’s almost comical to watch how people trip over each other to fulfil his every request.
On the first day Serafina arrived, armed with catalogs. She expected me to pick the perfect wedding dress, because in her words, “you’ll be getting married only once.”
She has been giving me a crash course on what would be expected of me as the wife of a mafia boss. It’s been surreal. Apparently, members of the Cosa Nostra value family and divorce is frowned upon.
The cake, décor, and menu for the event has been taken care of. Anna has been invaluable in helping coordinate everything, as the ceremony and reception would be taking place here at the mansion. I’m agog at the amount of effort being put into the preparations. For someone who had never belonged anywhere, the sight of people bustling with excitement over me was overwhelming. I didn’t know whether to shrink from it or let myself believe.
By Dominic's directive, I was also expected to acquire an entire wardrobe of clothes. I cringe when I remember the prize tags on some of the clothing that Serafina had me choose from an exclusive boutique. The numbers were so high it felt like a joke.
Underwear, lingerie, dresses and shoes were chosen. All of which were brought to the mansion for me to try on, to see which one gets a stamp of her approval. I stood among the garments, overwhelmed by their beauty and their weight. Her manicured fingers were brushing over silks and lace as though cost were irrelevant.
Surprisingly, it was fun modelling the clothes in front of Serafina. We would break out into fits of giggles at times because of how ridiculous a few of the outfits were. There were sequins that caught the light too harshly, or a neckline so daring it felt like a joke.
Despite the laughter shared, it felt as if they were costumes and that I was preparing to play a role. I would be the wife of the Don and would be expected to accompany him to society events—where my appearance and manner would be scrutinized.
Later in the privacy of my room, doubts about what I’ve gotten myself into begins to creep in like a shadow. The silks and lace that are hanging in my closet now feel like chains that have bound me to the life I have chosen.
Dominic has tried in the last few days to spend time with me. I haven’t slept in his bed since the night I agreed to marry him. We jog together every morning, then have breakfast together before he heads off to the office. Dante and Dario often join us for meals. I’ve gotten to know each of them. I’m made to feel as though I’m a member of the family. I enjoy it when they regale me with stories of their childhood together.
When they are not at the mansion, Jimmy is always close by. Dominic has assigned him to protect me when he is not physically around. He has instructed me to stay close to him. If Jimmy is not trailing behind me, he’s in the kitchen. I suspect that he has a crush on one of the maids.
When I get tired of being cooped up, I venture outside, trying not to pay attention to the guards patrolling the grounds.
