Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Jamie

The silver gown hugged my curves tightly, showing off my hourglass figure. The black flowers going up the side of it made the dress incredibly unique, no one else would have a dress like it, I am almost sure of it. 

My hair is put up halfway, showing off my neck and cleavage. It didn't help that the dress is extremely low cut, but I’m honestly not complaining. I feel beautiful, my slightly slimmer figure than I had a year ago seems to be giving me confidence I never knew I had. Maybe it’s not just the slim figure, but it’s maybe because I also feel more powerful, I know all the work that was put into this shape. I know what I can do with it as well. 

A knock sounds at the bedroom door and I turn away from the long mirror in front of me. 

‘Come in.”  I say. Roman opens the door quickly, I don’t even think I finished telling him to enter. As soon as he walks in my heart stops at the sight of him. His dark grey suit jacket hugged his muscles and arms tightly, while just a peak of his tattooed chest slivered from the couple buttons left undone. He combed his usually messy hair straight back, telling me he really was trying to look the part for this occasion. I am so caught up in my own stare that I didn’t notice his staring. 

“It’s a good thing everyone will think you are mine. You are going to draw a lot of attention tonight….” He suddenly says breaking me out of my stunned silence. He says it so seriously like he's merely stating a fact, and not a compliment. I look away from his lingering gaze all over my body, it’s making me flustered. 

He glances at his watch, and then quickly puts attention back on me.. 

“I think we better go. Are you ready?” He asks me as he sticks out his arm for me to take. I find myself giving him a genuine smile and accepting his unspoken offer, and let him lead me down the hall, and to the stairs. 

“Jamie,” he says my name quietly as we walk down the steps where his men were all lined up at the bottom waiting for him, Roman really is a king, and he really made me feel like a princess. 

“Yes?” I ask as one of his men tries to help me put on my coat but Roman snatches it from him making him immediately go back to his place. He slowly slips the fur coat over my shoulders, and then leans his mouth down to my ear. 

“Don’t leave my side, stay with me no matter what.”  He says in warning. I scowl at him in response, aggravated that he still looks at me as helpless even though I pulled his own gun on him.

“Don’t look at me like that. Just do as I say princess, I need to keep you safe.” 

He opens the door to a gust of cold air hitting us, I shiver in response. A limo waits for us in the driveway, wearing heels in this kind of weather is not a good idea, but I’m sure sneakers wouldn’t have been appropriate.  

All of his men follow behind us, most of them get in the parked SUV’s that are behind the limo, except Ivan, he gets in the limo’s driver seat, not before opening the door for us, and letting me slide in first.

“So where are we going? “ I ask Roman when he settles himself into the car. 

“It’s one of my country clubs  I own, I rented it out for the occasion. There will be  dinner, and dancing, and live music, you might actually have fun. Although this dinner is held for business purposes, the end of the night usually turns into quite the party.” I lighten my mood a little bit at the idea of letting loose, but then my best friend pops back into my head. The fact that she is somewhere out there being held against her will while I'm partying makes me sick. 

“What's wrong princess?” He asks brushing a loose hair out of my distraught face. 

“I want to know what's going on with my friend Roman….I shouldn’t even be here right now. I should be trying to save her.” I hug my arms to my chest trying to make the anxiety go away. 

“Don’t worry. I have everything under control okay? My men are taking care of it.” He assures me. You would think he would be able to give me more detail than that considering his men are probably giving him reports on everything. I should call my brother when I get a free moment tonight. He won’t keep me in the dark, he knows how much Alley means to me. 

I’m not even going to bother to ask Roman, I know he won’t tell me, and I don’t want to be lied to anymore for my own “protection”. 

“Yeah...sure…” I answered him back. 

We finally seem to be in some sort of city because of all the street lights, and buildings we are now passing. I can’t see much because there’s not as many lights you would think a city is supposed to have. 

We finally pull into a full parking lot where there is a man standing guard in a shack. He’s strapped from head to toe in weapons, the most noticeable being a  large machine gun at his side. That man doesn’t  look like someone you want to mess with.. Ivan rolls down the window and the man immediately waves him through, without even a second thought. 

“Will my father be meeting us somewhere? It looks like a lot of people are here.” I say observing the many shiny expensive cars parked, and all the Limos parked against the sidewalk of where the entrance to the building is located. 

“He will find us. Don’t worry.” He says when the car comes to a stop 

“If you’re the one hosting this shouldn’t we have been the first ones here to greet all your guests?” I ask him, genuinely curious. 

“No that’s not my style. Besides, I want everyone to see you on my arm when we walk in. I don’t want there to be any confusion on who you belong to tonight.” I don’t know why him saying that gives me chills. Maybe it’s the way he says it, or maybe it’s because I haven’t been touched in a year, and I am just eating away at the attention he gives me. But regardless he makes me feel something, although it’s probably lust. 

Roman doesn’t wait for Ivan to open the door for us, he’s at my side in a second, already ushering the door open and lending me his hand once again. I can’t help but find myself happy, and even amused at  the fuss seems to make over me. No one has ever treated me with such decency, and it makes me feel like a million dollars. 

“You look so beautiful, especially when you smile like that.” Roman says as he hooks my arm with his, and leans into me a bit. I hear footsteps come up behind me, and, and it makes me stiffen, I try to turn around but Roman doesn’t let go of me. 

“It’s okay. It’s just my men, they will be watching within the crowd all night. You don’t have anything to worry about. I won’t let anything happen to you.” He assures me as he continues to lead me into the fancy glass doors, where we immediately enter a room full of men and women, in expensive dresses and suits waiting to be seated in the private dining area. There is a large stage where a pianist is playing what seems to be a very melancholy tune. 

Everyone is mingling, and laughing away, drinking champagne, and passing up the time. I spot my father in the crowd immediately, talking to a group of men. He looked serious, and in a deep conversation, too deep for him to notice us. 

“Roman, there’s my father.” I say wanting to pull away and go to him, but Roman’s grip tightens. 

“Not yet. Remember, you have to stay with me.” He reminds me with a stern look on his face. 

“We have to make our way through the crowd. Just be patient, and try to have a good time.” He says to me, making me sigh in response. 

As we walk through the cluster of people,I noticed a lot of them staring at us with curiosity, and some women looked at me with hatred in their eyes. There’s always  that one group of women that just absolutely hates me at these kind of things. A man with an Irish accent stops Roman, and I, and starts to strike up a conversatn. Roman introduces me but after that I seem to get quite lost in people watching

There’s a woman wearing her silver hair high on top of her head, and wearing so much jewelry you could hardly see her pale white skin underneath all of the metal and diamonds. You can tell she enjoyed the finer things in life, and didn’t mind showing off that she had access to them. She is definitely older but tries to hide it with her obvious botox injections. Is this how the mafia wives get past all the horrible things their husbands do? Money? Or do most of them not even really know what their husbands do for a living. I honestly don’t know how you could be so ignorant to that though.   

\ 

I scan the crowd more, and realize that I don’t see my father anymore. How could he have not seen me by now? Doesn’t he want to say hi to his own daughter? I haven’t seen him in a month, and I have to find out from Roman that he had planned marrying me off like some whore. Maybe he’s avoiding that  conversation with me, but if that’s true then that makes him a coward. 

I start frantically looking around the room for him, , I’m not going to let him hide from me. I look everywhere, but my father’s towering figure is nowhere to be seen. And then my eyes finally stop at a man with black hair with his back turned to me, and hands held behind him. At first I think it could be my father but then I realize it’s definitely not because the skin on his hands is a very familiar tan color. I got my father's Olive skin tone, and I know very well his skin is not that dark.

There’s something so familiar about this man though, I can’t take my eyes away from him…

“Jamie…” I hear Roman say my name, my gaze is practically dragged away from the man's direction. 

“Yes.?” I answer back.

“I’ve said your name like five times. What has made you so distracted?” Roman asks, his voice filled with agitation. 

“I’m sorry, I was looking for my father, and thought I saw…” I trail off not sure who I was going to say. 

“You thought you saw..?” He questions raising that eyebrow of his. 

“Never mind. I don’t know what I thought I saw. I do think I need to go to the ladies room though.” He looks at me unsure, and antsy, as if he doesn’t know if he should let me go to the bathroom on my own, which is ridiculous. 

“I will come with you, and wait right outside the door.” He says to me, making me roll my eyes. 

“No, your men are watching from afar right? I can go to the bathroom on my own, I am a grown woman.” He huffs and puffs at my answer but I know he’s going to give in. 

“I will wait right here, so come straight back.” He says,  but before I go, he pulls me into him, taking me by surprise, and kissing me deeply, not giving a damn about the public display of affection he is showing. His lips are so smooth and inviting, I don’t try to pull away because I like him kissing me. 

He finally lets me go, stroking my face a little, and then nodding me on to do my business. I am guessing he did that to send a clear message to everyone who I am to him. He really wasn’t kidding when he said he wanted people to think this is real, because that kiss is as real as it gets. 

I try to stroll through the crowd of people with grace, but I end up tripping on my feet a couple times, making me hate myself, because some snickering girls just happen to witness it. 

Way to embarrass yourself somehow Jamie, if there's a way you will find it.

I shake off their laughter, and retreat to the bathroom quickly away from my female cynics. I will probably over think that moment for the rest of my life, just another emabarrassing memory to come back to me at a random time in the nearby future, and to make me feel completely stupid. 

I finish my business quickly, taking a little longer than usual because of the tight dress, and small stall. Once I get myself situated, I open the door, and go to wash my hands. Goosebumps run down my arms from the cold water splashing on me.

As I take one of the plush fancy towels folded in the bathroom to dry my hands, I hear the bathroom door entrance open, and unusually slow footsteps.. Not the usual fast clicking high heels of a woman, just slow footsteps, the sound getting louder as it gets closer, but then suddenly stopping as if right behind me. 

I am frozen, and I don’t dare to look in the mirror, I don’t think I want to know who is behind me. I think deep down I already know who it is. And then it's confirmed when I hear his voice. 

“Mia Cara, I told you I would always find you.” I quickly turn around in shock, my breath goes fast at the sight of him, his tall, dark, and handsome self, in his all black suit towering over me like the shadow of death. The glare of his golden brown eyes, the hatred in them, will haunt me for the rest of my life. He has bags under his eyes, and just the look of someone who’s health is deteriorating. He didn’t even look like he was eating, with his frame being so much smaller than I remember. . 

I have no words, I just stare at him in fear, but at the same time longing. Longing to run into his arms, and an ache to tell him the declaration that I came to a year ago, that I love him. I want to comfort him, and question why he looks so sickly. But the monstrous look in his eyes tells me that he will laugh at my love for him, and the rejection will tear at the seams of my soul. 

He walks closer to me, and that’s when I notice the knife he clutches in his hand.

It reminds me so much of  my dreams, maybe this is a dream? No….no this is much too real. 

“So you’re going to kill me?” I control the sound of my voice, trying to keep my fear hidden.

“Now is not the place, and time for that, I am actually here to deliver a message to you.” His voice is filled with scorn, and frustration, as if he is dying to drive that blade into me now. Why not do it now? If he can get past the guards that Roman had watching me, then he can surely get away with killing me. 

How did Roman not know he would be here? 

He closes in on me, bringing his body at such close proximity I might collapse from all the heat, and friction his adjacency brings.

He begins to trail the knife down my chest, and around the chasm of my breasts, while taking his other hand and placing it on the wall behind me. My heart is racing, and I have so many confusing emotions running through me, placing me in a turmoil that is never ending. My distress grows tenfold when he brings his face close, his nose almost touching mine.

“So is it true?” Marcel asks me, trailing the knife up towards my neck. 

“What are you talking about?” I ask trying to look away, and trying to hold back my emotions. I can’t be weak right now, I can’t let him see how he affects me. 

“You know what the fuck I’m talking about!  Don’t play stupid with me!” He says now pressing the knife into my neck. 

“Are you marrying him?” He raises his voice at me while slamming his free fist on the wall when I don’t answer.

He never loved me, he only ever wanted to possess me, and now all he has is pure hatred for me. He wants to kill me, and who knows what he will want to do to me once I tell him he can no longer claim me as his stolen property. I don’t think I really give a shit what he will do though, because I think I have forgotten who the hell I have become.

“Yes.We are getting married. A contract my father had agreed to a long time ago that I have to honor.” I tell him with added hatred to my own tone, hopefully making him feel as horrid as he makes me feel.

“That lying son of a bitch….” He says to himself, confusing me.

“Who? My father? What the hell are you talking about?” I ask him trying to push him off of me, but even in all the things I have learned, the one thing I still don't have a lot of is strength. The only thing I can do is try to take him by surprise. 

He presses his knife back into my neck making me grimace at the feeling of the sharp blade. 

“Keep your mouth shut. I have a message to deliver and that's what I intend on doing.  Dio, ti voglio così fottutamente male, sei così fottutamente bello con quel vestito.” God I want you so fucking bad, you look so fucking good in that dress. 

My eyes widen at what he says to me in Italian, and I just love that he thinks that I don’t understand him. I think it’s the perfect time to surprise him now. 

“Scusami italiano, ora appartengo ai russi.” Sorry Italian, I belong to the Russians now. I make sure to say the perfect words, words that I know will make his ego go mad. And by the dumbfounded look of rage on his face I have succeeded. 

He seems to be frozen in his moment of astonishment and I realize this is my chance. The feeling of the blade against my neck has loosened giving me the leeway that I need. Ripping my dress in the process, I hike my knee up straight into his groin, and this time, the right way! He drops the knife, and screams out in pain! 

“Fuck!” He yells. I quickly pick up the knife before he can get to it, feeling triumphant. I should run, but I want answers, and I will leave no more unfinished business behind.

“Now Marcel, you’ve gone and made me tear my dress! I really liked that dress. What a waste!” I mockingly tell him, glad that I have been given the opportunity to show him I am no longer the weak girl that he once knew.

“Obviously, you’ve been training.” He says in ragged breaths while bent over, still recovering from my blow. He’s giving me a look that I swear could kill.

“Obviously! Now tell me why the hell you’re here, and make it fast. I highly doubt you had time to kill my guards, and I am sure Roman is wondering where I’ve gone off to.” I say holding the knife out at him trying to make him stay back, especially now that he knows not to underestimate me. I no longer have the element of surprise, so he will be one hundred times harder to take down if need be.

“I am surprised your Roman hasn't already told you. I mean surely he must know that your brother has been captured by now.” He straightened himself up, and doesn’t seem to be able to look me in the eye when he says it. Almost like he can’t face me anymore, he can’t even look at me. 

“What are you talking about? What have you done to my brother? Is Alley okay?” I ask him, hoping this is just a sick joke. I start to shake, and am losing my focus. If I can't keep myself together, then I am done for. 

“We have them. We have them both.” He taunts me with his voice, and all I  can think of doing is lunging at him, and demanding that he give me back my friend, and brother back. But I know that won’t work, and I know exactly why he has done this.  

Suddenly the door to the bathroom burst open, and my father, and Roman come running in. Marcel looks over at them but doesn’t seem at all fazed that they are here. Which means he has several men somewhere ready to back him up when he calls. Marcel doesn’t do anything without planning it, he’s not an idiot. 

Roman rushes over to me, buzzing past Marcel , gun in hand, to look me over and make sure that I’m okay. He tilts my head up at the large cut on my neck, examining it to make sure it's not too deep. He has now made me aware that it's bleeding pretty bad, and it’s running like a faucet leak down my chest.

He looks over at Marcel, and his expression completely changes into a canvas of hatred, my father holds him at gunpoint giving him that same loathing  look on his face. Marcel doesn’t take his eyes off Roman, doesn’t even care that a gun is being pointed at his head. 

“You dare to touch what's mine!” Roman is seething as he speaks to Marcel.

“She is not yours!” Marcel says, seeming to lose his usual blank expression, he is struggling to hide his anger, and that’s hard for me to watch. He’s always so controlled.

“I am through with this nonsense! Let’s get rid of him now!” My father roars at Roman. He doesn’t even look my way. 

“I’m not afraid of death. Do it! Just keep in mind my men are surrounding this building, armed and waiting, all I have to do is say the word.” Marcel answers my father but does not look away from Roman and I. 

“Marcel! Please! Just leave! You said what you came here to say!” I beg him, I don’t want him to die, no matter how much he prays for my death, I could never wish the same for him.

“That’s right! I have, and it's a good thing I did because your dear fiance would never have told you! You seem to be surrounded by nothing but liars. Your father looked me in the eye and told me that you deserved a choice, and now look! He didn't care about your choices Jamie, he only cared about the choice he already made for you!” Marcel takes everyone by surprise pulling his own gun from his waste, and then pointing it back at my father. 

“Get that fucking gun out of my face before I blow your fathers brains over all these walls.” 

“Marcel! Please! It’s me that you're angry with! It’s me that you want dead! Just go! I’ve gotten your message, and I know what I must do.” He holds his gun up a bit longer, but then lowers it in defeat., and then turns back toward me. 

“It’s time for you to leave! She is marrying me, there is no changing that!” Roman says, seeming to get impatient as he stares Marcel down.

Surprisingly Marcel walks toward me, and Roman immediately stands at alert.  I look at Roman, shaking my head at him, telling him to stand down. Marcel isn’t going to hurt me, not yet. He pulls me toward him, and then takes my chin in his hand, staring directly into my eyes. He doesn’t do this in a gentle way, his hand is gripping my chin so tightly I just know it’s going to bruze. I try to look over at Roman, but he doesnt let me. 

“Don’t look at him! Look at me! You know I have your brother, and your friend. You know that I will make good on my promises, and my promise is that if you don’t do what needs to be they will die.” I suddenly feel paper being slipped into my free hand. Once he thinks it’s securely in my palm, he squeezes my hand closed tightly. I feel a small tear escape from my eye as he releases his grasp on me. I look over at a fuming Roman, and before I know it Roman is pushing me back from him, and grabbing Marcel by the shirt. 

“Do you think you can disrespect me like that, and just get away with it.” Marcel shakes him off, and gives him a daring smile. 

“Keep your hands off of me! You have no idea what I’m going to do to you do you! I want you to enjoy every touch you lay on her, because you just never know when it just might be your last. You’re so young and naive to think that you can over power me, you’re in for a rude awakening.” Roman’s temper is flaring at Marcel's threat. I am afraid to even go near him, I've never seen him this angry. 

“Jamie...you know what you have to do. I will be waiting. And Night! You’ve chosen the wrong man for your daughter, and you will swim in your sad attempts to make sure she's safe when you're lying in a pool of her blood. Till next time.” He says and then nods his head one more time at me, and walks gracefully out of the bathroom. I can hear the faint music of the party in the background when he opens the door, and it latches shut behind him.

“We're going home.” My father says to me, finally looking at me. I look down and realize that I still have Marcel’s knife in my hand. 

“Yes, we're going home now!” Roman says grabbing  me by my arm hard. He drags me down the hall and passes the room where the party is going on, doesn’t even bother to stop and get my coat. 

As I am dragged out into the freezing weather, and pushed into the car with the door slammed shut I observe Romans loose cannon behavior that I witnessed so long ago come out to play. And I realize I have to find a way to get back home, no matter what fate has in store for me there. 

As he gets in the car, he doesn’t even acknowledge me, he just gets on his phone and starts yelling in Russian as the car drives off. When he’s not paying attention I open the folded paper, and find a note waiting for me. 

You have one chance to save your brother, and friend. Tomorrow at 2 pm, a car will be waiting for you. Your job is to get to the car without being noticed, it will just be down the road from you. It will take you to my jet, and will fly you  directly home.

Safe travels mia cara, I will be seeing you soon

My hands are shaking with the note still held in my hand, I look over at Roman still yelling on the phone, infuriated. He hasn’t even asked me how I’m doing after all that. He’s not even explained himself for lying to me about my brother, and Alley. 

Marcel is right. I know what  I have to do.