Eleven

Audrey's POV

I stood in front of the little mirror in the bathroom with mixed feelings in my heart.

I was dressed in the same gown I had on when I was brought here, my bouncy and shiny blonde hair looking dry and frizzy. Although there were no eye bags under my eyes I felt utterly exhausted even having just woken up from my little fighting session. I feel miserable and my appearance is giving that off properly. The thought of being married to a stuck- creepy guy has kept me uneasy all afternoon, calling it a fake marriage doesn't even make me feel any better.

"Miss Audrey" A voice called out snapping me back to the life that has become my reality.

"I will be down soon" I yelled hoping whoever it was could hear from outside the door.

"Don Ivan says they can't start till you are down"

If J wasn't uncomfortable with eating with them before, I sure am now.

I didn't bother giving her a response and she didn't say anything else either. I sighed deeply to myself preparing myself for whatever it is they have planned, they couldn't have just brought me all the way just to keep me safe right? No one protects someone they don't know without having a reason.

                                    ****

"Audrey, glad you could finally grace us with your presence" Ivan spoke up immediately I got to the last staircase. He was standing a few steps away from me like he had been patiently waiting for me to come, which only increased my discomfort.

"Sorry for the delay, I am not used to having nothing to wear" I winced as I said it, my cheeks tinting pink. I wasn't the type who always had an overflowing wardrobe but I always have something to wear at least, this is all new to me.

"Oh, sorry about that. When you get to Dante’s he will make sure you get a fully stocked wardrobe just to your  taste, I can assure you that."

I could only pick out one thing from all he said.

" I am not going to stay here?"

He smiled before responding, "Last I remembered you hate it here so much you tried to escape last night"

I just knew it, of course, they are aware of my little attempt. It wouldn't stop me anyway.

"But here will definitely be much better tbh staying with him," I replied, making sure my hatred for Dange was obvious in my voice.

"Don't conclude so fast besides no one would believe you both are married if you live in different houses" He was still smiling but every ounce of humour in me had vanished as he reminded me of what I had been trying so hard not to think about all afternoon.

"Can't it be like a fake relationship? Tell everyone that we are dating, that sounds better to me than an abrupt marriage" I blurted out before I could stop myself.

He didn't respond right away, he simply watched me, stared at me with calculating eyes like he was trying to piece something together. I was growing uncomfortable and he knew it but he didn't seem to care.

"In the Mafia world, being a financee to a mafia world means nothing compared to being his wife. The wife of a Made Man especially one like Dante is literally a suicide vision if something as little as a stray of hair on her skin is found wanting" His voice was now calm, collected, cold, and devoid of any humour, almost like he hadn't been joking a few seconds back.

"But that only applies when he loves me and that isn't the case here, is it?" I knew I was pushing my buttons, his eyes said so but I needed to know. I need something to tell myself that would help me go through all this.

"Except you prefer being locked up in one of our safe houses till we can clear all of this out, I suggest you do as I have said".

If he didn't make it clear that I didn't have an option earlier, he sure as hell did that now.

I swallowed hard as it slowly dawned on me just how much shit I have gotten myself into.

"The Wedding is two nights away, you would move in with him on the wedding night to make everything even more believable. You are a smart girl, you know how to play your part just right. Don't make me regret keeping you alive" He was already heading towards the large door I presume leads to the dining room before his words could even register.

Fucking Mafia Men, they rescue you and suddenly you owe them everything.

"Shall we?" Ivan ushered, the large door now wide open.

I took in a deep breath bracing myself before heading towards him, his hands calmly folded behind his back.

The dining was two times in my dorm back in New York. Women dressed in black and white rushed in and out setting the table with different meals I had never seen before....I have always read about Italian meals, but I never expected I would ever get to taste any.

There were two large dining tables on each side with the same design but it was obvious which was meant for the heads and the ones for the lesser rank. Intricately designed dining chairs surrounded both tables all tucked in except one.

Creepy Guy sat at the end, his dark eyes solely fixed on me, a large scowl on his face like my face had already destroyed whatever appetite he had earlier. For someone who kidnapped me, he sure has a bigger problem with me than I have with him, and now I am expected to marry him in two nights’ time.

"You both would get all the time to stare at each other soon but for now, it is time to eat," Ivan said in a giddy voice, his earlier tone long vanished like it was never there....but his words were etched into my brain.

I sighed internally before making my way to the table making sure to pick the seat very far away from the creepy guy. I don't want to lose my appetite.

"Shall we?" Ivan spoke up once we were all seated, the tension in the room so thick I felt myself suffocating from it. Back at home, we always get as one big happy family, with big smiles on our faces catching up on all we have missed from each other's lives, and now here I am....about to eat even when I am this close to puking from suffocation....Great.

Dante finally moved his eyes away from me, his eyes now clashing with Ivan who actually held his gaze compared to me. It was like they were in a silent heated conversation only the rest of them could understand.

I was already giving up on ever getting to eat when the door flew open and a man I had not seen since I got here walked in, urgency and panic on his face but he hid it so properly. If I weren't so good at reading people I wouldn't have sensed it, well except the creepy guy of course. He is like a book with a lock that has no key.

The man looked much older than Ivan and Dante, his hair in a long ponytail which applied this look as a mafia man even more. He had a slight stubble on his jaw, a frown etched on his face like it permanently belonged there, I guess Mafia men don't know about the word smiling then and no Ivan's little stunts don't count. He was dressed in a black suit just like the rest of them, one thing I can never understand. These men don't get the concept of freedom in your own house, it's scary.

"Leonid," Ivan said with a slight nod ushering him to go on.

He wanted to speak but hesitated once his eyes landed on me and I immediately grew uncomfortable ...what is the problem now? Did I breathe wrongly this time?