61. Alessia
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
ALESSIA
“ F iglia , you both can ride in with us,” my father says as we grab our coats.
I look at Astor and he nods. “Sure, Papa.”
“Let me get security straightened out here and then we’ll leave.”
“You doubled it?”
“Tripled. Your mom and Astrid have been getting some texts. I’m sure from Miles. Just taking the precautions.” I frown at him and he glances at a tooth-grinding Astor.
“Did you know?” I ask in a whisper. He shakes his head and turns for the front door.
“Ast...”
“Give me a second, Lessia. Give me a fucking second.” He pulls open the door and slams it shut, causing me to jump at the sound.
“What’s his problem?” Teagan asks Mikhail. Jay and Justin’s attention are on the door and I know it’s only a few minutes before they all file out after him.
“Miles has been threatening our moms, he didn’t know.”
“Mothers are off limits, those are the rules,” Teagan says.
“I guess he doesn’t follow them. I don’t know.” I look at the door and sigh. “I’ll go check on him.” He grabs my hand and shakes his head.
“Give him a second. Let us go, we got him.” I give a small smile and nod, heading over to my girlfriends.
“Ok, so we’re going to this meeting. Then you can have your men back until the New Year party.”
“ Our men? I’m the only one in actual relationship with a man. They’re all just crushing,” Caroline says. I laugh and Tess rolls her eyes.
“Whatever. Mikhail will cave soon, I can feel it.”
“I think you’re confusing hate with him actually liking you,” Elsi says. I smile at her finally joining the conversation. She’d been missing a lot of the night. I know she’s been battling with how to be around me since I figured everything out.
“You’ll see.” She winks and we all burst out in laughter. The door swings open and Astor appears, standing in the doorway as he watches me.
“Is he just going to stare at you?” Briar asks.
Caroline rolls her eyes. “It’s like his thing…he just stares at her.”
“Justin does it to you, too, bitch,” I remind her.
“Aww, does he really?” I smack her and she laughs.
“Love you, I’ll text later.” I give each of them kisses on their cheeks before walking over to my eye candy of a husband.
“It should be illegal for you to stare at me like that in public.” His stare doesn’t change. If anything, it intensifies.
“And it should be illegal for you to look as delicious as you do in public, little devil.”
He dips down and plants a soft, quick kiss on my lips.
“Son, Alessia, you all set?” Xavier asks. I nod and Astor signals his friends as we all head towards the car.
The entire drive there, I force myself not to pull my fingers. I force myself not to show how nervous I am. I want to show them my strength, that I can handle this life.
Finding out that Miles’ been texting my mother fuels me even more. It’s clear that he’s becoming desperate if he’s willing to go against rules the mafia has set. Mothers are off limits. It’s a rule they enforce years ago when one of the mafia’s boss’ wives were murdered and left two small children.
Astor is next to me and I know he can feel how anxious I am, but I’m grateful that he doesn’t make it obvious. Instead, he places my hand in his and mindlessly runs his thumb across my hand until we reach the house where the meeting will be.
“There won’t be many women there, the ones who are there are powerful. But you’re one of those, so walk in there and own your shit. You’re a fucking Pavlov, top of the food chain. They worship at your feet. Don’t forget that,” Xavier turns around and says to me. Astor looks down and smirks.
“I’m ready.”
“Good, we’re here.”
When we walk in, it’s exactly how they said. They aren’t many women, but the ones who are there are well known mafia queens and princesses who don’t fuck around. But yet, they all still stare at me. No one’s eyes have left mine since the doors opened and I stepped in with the men behind me. I feel empowered, I feel protected, and I feel in charge.
“Alessia, or should I say, Mrs. Pavlov. So glad you made it to this one. It’s pertinent that you hear this information,” the man says as I go to take my seat. He’s sitting at the head of the table, and I can’t for the life of me remember his name.
“That’s Russ,” Astor whispers into my ear as he sits next to me. I nod, and as he starts to speak, the room goes quiet as they all turn their attention to Russ.
“First and foremost, congratulations to Astor and Alessia on their recent nuptials. A Pavlov and Ballerini married is a lethal formation. We all wish you both the best.”
I smile and Astor gives a nod of gratitude.
“With that being said, in light of the unfortunate information that has come out regarding the Raz family, I’ve given the Ballerini and Pavlov family all resources needed to get rid of this issue quietly.” He turns to me and clears his throat. “I assume the friend—Javi, I believe—was your doing?”
“Yes, sir, it was.”
“Very well, I’d like you to put your plans on hold for after New Years.”
“I can’t do that.” I feel all eyes turn to me, but I refuse to back down. I hold my head up high and wait as he watches me. My father and Xavier are both staring at me, but it’s not in shock, it’s with pride. I don’t break my eye contact, but I know Astor is probably staring at Russ, too.
“I’m sorry? Explain, please.”
“I’m going after his entire family, I don’t give a fuck that it’s the holidays. I’ll save any plans for him until you tell me it’s ok. But his family I can’t wait on. I want him to experience the first of something without them, just like he made my family do after he raped me.”
He tilts his head at me, his finger tapping, and I can tell he’s thinking. But the truth of the matter is, it truly doesn’t matter what he says. My classes start and I plan on going to them without the fact that I have to kill an entire family on my mind.
“His mother?” he questions.
“He’s been sending threatening messages to our mothers. He leaves them alone; I’ll leave his alone.”
He turns to my father. “Ander, you ok with this? It’ll start a war.” Astor clears his throat and leans up, placing his elbows on the table.
“With all due respect, Russ, she’s my wife and what Ander is ok with is fucking irrelevant. She wants his family gone? Then his family is gone. End of discussion.”
Ander nods at Russ who smirks.
“How are you planning to do this? My only request is you do it quietly. The police obviously protect us, but I’d hate for the others to know there’s a war happening between us. My suggestion is a gas leak.”
“Not as bloody as I’d like, but I’ll oblige.”
Russ laughs, and I mean full on laughs .
“You are definitely living up to the Pavlov/Ballerini name. The establishment is at your disposal. You tell me when and we’ll have you the teams you need should things go left.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Please, call me Russ. We’re friends. after all. You’re no longer little, sweet Alessia and I don’t ever want to be on your bad side.”
“No, Russ, you don’t,” I say as I stand up and we all file out of the building.
With the blessing of the establishment to exile Miles and his entire family, I feel relieved. And when I become relieved, I realize how tired I am. I’ve been going nonstop, my brain constantly going to figure out who’s next and when. But with the gas leak idea from Russ, I can take them all out together. Miles isn’t stupid enough to stay in a house with his family when all of this shit is happening. But the trick will be making sure he’s mother isn’t exposed. I make myself forget about it as Astor drives us into the gate of our house. He rounds the car, opening my door and scooping me into his arms.
“Baby, I can walk,” I mumble as he kisses my cheek.
“I want to carry you.” I snuggle into his arms, inhaling his scent. I love his scent; it’s something that I could smell every day. He carries me effortlessly into the house and up the stairs.
The way he takes care of me makes me wonder how I could’ve ever forgotten a time where he loved me openly.
Never again.