3. Emiliana

                       I take one last look at myself in the mirror. My hair is straightened, part in the middle, and held at the nape of my neck loosely. My makeup is minimal. Only lipgloss and the dress I chose is conservative. A long-sleeved cream gown embellished with crystals along the waist. The skirt flows down to my feet where I exchanged my heels for flat shoes. Elena is always teasing me about how innocent I look at first glance then when someone spends a few minutes in my presence, they realize how nuts I am. Gotta thank my parents for giving me these looks because my future husband has no idea what he's getting himself into. I've never taken a soul. My father and brother are overprotective to the point where they'll cover my eyes so I don't see a corpse. Danillo is the only person who doesn't shield me. He tells me I have to be strong for the future. Right now, I regret not letting him train me. He'd offered to do it but my brother forbade him. Telling him it wasn't necessary.

If I'd wanted to learn, nothing could have stopped me. But I always thought that with three overprotective men, I would always be fine. That I would never need the skills to defend myself. Joke's on me. Here I am. Getting ready to go down to my engagement party with a man old enough to be my grandfather. Two weeks have passed since my father told me I would be marrying Romeo. And two weeks have also passed since I decided to kill him. We haven't heard back from Valerio about the poison but during that time, it occurred to me that poison wasn't my only option. I could use a knife or a gun or a broken champagne bottle. Even a pillow. The picture of that bastard suffocating to death is the only reason I'm attending this party. Taking a deep breath, I leave my room.

Judging from the chatter and music coming from downstairs, the celebration is well underway. The nerve of these bastards. Is this something to celebrate? Is my marrying an old pervert a happy occasion? These fucking traitors. I thought they were on my side. I thought every man in the Cosa nostra would be willing to protect me at the very least. It's what papa used to tell me when I was young and I believed him. But how wrong I was. Lesson learned. I won't ever make the mistake of assuming anything. Whatever innocence I had left, ends here.

As I descend the stairs, a small part of me knows that everything might go to shit. I might fail and die. Or worse, live. As Romeo Vernetti's wife. But I can't let those thoughts linger and make me doubt myself. I'm stronger than this. I can do this. I'm a Calderone. We are strong. With my shoulders straight and head held up high, I enter the ballroom. There's a moment of silence, where every eye turns to look at me and I soak in their attention. I'm used to it. As the Calderone princess, people are always curious about me. Plastering a smile on my face, I walk further into the room. Nodding at everyone I pass while murmuring 'thank you for coming'. Inwardly it's 'fuck you'. If I make it out alive, I will show these people who the real Emiliana Calderone is. Just you wait.

But right now, all I'm wondering is where the fuck is Elena? I can't see her. I spotted my parents in one corner talking to some underbosses. Angelo is busy chatting up some woman. They all watched me arrive and they know not to expect anything from me. I haven't talked to any of them for the past two weeks because I'm angry. We sit at the same dinner table three times a day but I haven't said a word to anyone. If they ask a question all they get is a yes or no or a nod. I heard papa tell mama that it's only a tantrum and that I will get over it. Clearly, he doesn't know me. I can hold grudges from here to kingdom come.

"Dude"

"Thank fuck you're here. Where were you?" I ask a blushing Elena. I can only imagine what she's been up to. What with all the pink cheeks and flushed skin. 

"I found a guy. He might be better at eating pussy than the last one"

God, this bitch.

"I'm glad you're having fun at my expense"

"Please, everything is set. You have nothing to worry about. Plus you know, if I could, I would swap places with you and finish the job" I do know that. And it's the reason she's not getting the silent treatment like the rest of my family. At least she's loyal "Have you seen him yet?"

"No" we both turn around, trying to find Romeo. I catch someone staring at me but before I can register their face, Elena taps my shoulder. I whip my head toward the direction she's pointing. My stomach turns and I'm ready to throw up in front of everyone. Romeo walks in with... a whore. It's the only word that can describe her. She's wearing a really short romper that I'm sure it's barely covering her ass with six-inch heels. Her lipstick is blood red even though it doesn't match her whole get up and her blonde hair could use another round of bleach.

"Is he trying to disrespect you?"

"Who the fuck cares? I'm just glad I don't have to entertain him" if possible, I would like to stay far away from him. As if he can hear me, he turns and looks straight at me, smiles then starts moving toward us. When he's just a few steps away, Elena scurries away. Leaving me to deal with him alone. That fucking bitch. I'm going to pour acid on her face and...

"There she is. Isn't she lovely Mia?" Romeo asks his whore. I smile because there's nothing else I can do.

"Yes. She looks so innocent. Like an angel"

"Of course, she does" leaning toward me, he whispers "It's the reason I'm going to enjoy defiling you on our wedding night"

Defile.

That word sends a shiver down my spine. Defile is exactly what will happen if I fail to kill him. It hits me then. That I can't fail. No matter what happens, I can't fail. It's either he dies or I do. An invisible clock starts ticking. Counting down our days. The minutes we have left on this earth. He wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me into his side. I go willingly. Because he's dealing with innocent Emiliana. A nineteen-year-old who has spent her life sheltered and will do anything her parents say. Throughout the evening, Romeo walks around with the two of us in his arms. Showing us off. They don't say it to my face but I can hear snippets of their conversation. They're comparing me to Mia. Saying how different we are.

(Maybe he wants his whore to teach his future wife how to suck dick. I don't think she knows how it looks)

It's the twenty-first century. You can basically g****e everything. But they're right. I've never seen a dick. Congratulations to everyone else who has accomplished that important task.

(This fucker has guts. Parading Calderone's daughter on one arm and a whore on another. I hate him but I'd like to be him)

(Poor girl. Didn't she just recently turn nineteen)

(Is the boss really going to let this happen? I thought she was his favorite)

I almost snort at that but remember the role I'm playing. Smile. Another smile and... I feel it then. That pull I felt back in the club. The one that drew me to him. Snapping my head around, I look for... I don't even know how he looks. Or his name. What the fuck am I looking for? Romeo pulls me along. Breaking the spell. I've thought about that man every day. Fantasizing how different this will be if I was marrying him. I can't imagine he would be as ugly as this asshole whose hand is inching toward my ass every second. He tried to "accidentally" brush his fingers along the side of my breasts but I folded my hands over my stomach. Blocking him. Now his hand is on the small of my back. Moving lower with each second that passes. Any other time, that hand would have already been cut off. Today? It's allowed to be there.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

Before he goes any further, I excuse myself "I'm just going to the bathroom" of course he tries to squeeze my ass but I'm out of his reach so fast I bump into a waiter. Luckily, he wasn't carrying any glasses. With my head down, I hurry toward the bathroom. I'm too preoccupied to notice anything so when someone grabs my wrist, I yelp. The person shoves me into the bathroom and to my horror, turns off the lights. Plunging us into total darkness. My first instinct is to scream but a hand comes up to my mouth. Another goes around my middle. Restricting my movements.

"Do you want to marry him?"

That voice... That cologne... It's him! The guy from the strip club. Immediately, I relax. Because for some reason, trust him.

"Answer me, innocente" his mouth is right behind my ear, his breath and voice sending shivers down my spine. Delicious shivers. Not like the ones that pervert evokes.

"No" the second the word is out of my mouth, he turns my face. His hand slides up to my eyes, covering them, then I feel his nose on my cheek.

"Good" then his lips are on mine. I don't even think. I kiss him back. Wishing he could take his hand off my eyes so I can see him. I have so many questions but I don't want to stop kissing him to ask. He pushes his tongue into my mouth and the familiar ache between my legs begins. Will he touch me today? Make me come again? I want it. I want everything. I want him to take my virginity right here. Right now. With my pervert fiance on the other side of the room. I want it so bad my panties are soaked.

"Please..." I whimper against his lips. I would tell him to take everything if his mouth lets up. But he doesn't. He kisses me until my head spins. So that when he leaves, it takes me a moment to realize he's gone. That's how dazed I am. I also notice the lights are back on and the person staring back at me in the bathroom mirror looks the way Elena did earlier. Flushed. My cheeks are almost red and my lips moist and swollen.

Innocente.

He keeps calling me that. Who is he? Why was he here tonight? Can I hope... No. I'm not stupid. I can't put my hopes in a faceless man. I only have myself to rely on. Since I was only wearing lipgloss, I don't need to retouch anything. Patting my hair back in place, I leave the bathroom. Only to bump into my mother outside.

"Who was that man?"

Shit.

"What man?"

"The one who just left"

"I don't know what you're talking about" sidestepping her, I go back to the party. Romeo's nowhere to be found and it's almost time for the announcement. I go in search of Elena when but end up bumping into another waiter. I look up to apologize and my eyes widen when I realize it's Valerio. He shakes his head, slips a small piece of paper into my hand then he's gone. Lifting my palm, I look at it. There are only two words written on it.

Wedding dress.

What the fuck does that mean? And where is the poison we agreed on?

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