Chapter 12 #2
I look in Luca’s direction, and his eyes are on me.
I know I have to say goodbye, so I walk toward him.
I see Paolo make a gesture, leading all the guards toward the exit.
I follow Luca until he stops at the entrance hall.
There’s no security around, and he pulls my body toward him.
I rest my head on his chest and listen to his slow heartbeat; his perfume drowns my senses, and I feel at peace.
“We won’t be able to see each other for the next few days. Things are complicated, and I’ll have to take some actions to make sure everything is safe for the engagement day.”
“The Camorra people, they…”
“The problem comes from outside, not from the Camorra.” Luca pushes my face slightly away from his chest and pulls my chin so that I’m looking at him. “Don’t worry about the engagement; I’ll make sure everyone behaves and respects you. Nothing will happen.”
His lips meet mine, and our bodies are glued together; as soon as we separate, Luca leaves without another word, just with the promise that I’ll be fine.
I stand at the door and watch the cars disappear down the street.
I take a deep breath, and it’s strange not to have Luca’s soldiers around; it’s strange how something I vehemently refused at the beginning has become like a routine, and now I miss it; I close the door and take light steps toward the living room.
Everyone is talking and smiling; the house seems full of joy, just like my childhood.
I sit between my two brothers and lean my head on Lorenzo’s shoulder, watching him discuss something with the rest of the family. I close my eyes and absorb the conversations and laughter that fill the room. I feel a smile form on my lips, and Irealize how good it is to finally be home.
The days pass quickly, and my anxiety increases by the second; I look at everyone around me, and no one seems really nervous, but why would they be?
After all, I’m the only one being assessed by members of a criminal organization.
The afternoon at the spa doesn’t relax me at all; it just makes me more restless.
I look in the mirror and examine my perfectly drawn eyeliner; I take my red lipstick and outline my lips, leaving them blood-colored.
My hair is loose with wide waves, and a ruby tiara pulls my hair back slightly.
I wonder if it’s too much when the ruby earrings that Grandma designed for me are placed in front of me.
“You look so beautiful, my love!” I look at Mom and Grandma through the mirror, still holding the earrings.
“All red… I wonder if it’s not too much. Maybe I should wear a white dress…”
I can’t finish the sentence, Grannie comes over and takes the earrings off my hand, putting them in my ears. “No, red is the perfect color, your color. It makes you look like the strong woman I know you are!”
“Also, let’s make them remember the last color they’ll see if they disrespect you.” I look at my mom, surprised by her words, by the allusion to violence in them. I see the determination on her face, and I know she’s ready to fight if necessary.
I get up from the chair and let the robe slide down my body; my mother hands me the dress and helps me into it.
I put on my high heels and look at myself in the mirror.
The red dress hugs my upper body, leaving my back bare; it opens slightly at my waist and forms a train that covers part of the floor; the ruby tiara makes my hair look like gold; the whole outfit looks like something out of a princess book.
I walk down the stairs and see my father and brothers at the bottom of the stairs, Aurora and Leticia gradually approaching them, giving me approving smiles.
“You look stunning, Principessa!” The smile on my dad’s face makes my body relax a little, and I smile with gratitude. Lorenzo offers me his hand, which I gladly accept, and I walk with him to the car. I feel my hands shaking a little, and from the look he gives me, I know he has noticed.
“I’m here, always!” His hand squeezes mine.
“I know!” I see him nod in satisfaction, helping me put the tail of my dress into the car.
The drive to the Di Santi villa is short, and as soon as the car passes through the gates, I feel my hands shaking; I clasp them together, trying to contain the tremors.
The mansion looks majestic, clearly inspired by the old historical palazzos, taking a big part of the land, seemingly adding four wings, a large marble fountain in front with water coming out of various places, andthe lighting meticulously placed, making it look even more grand.
As the car pulls over, the valets ran toward it, opening the car doors for us to get out.
My door is opened, and a hand is extended toward me; I accept it and get out of the car, feeling several glances in my direction. I hold my head high even though I don’t feel confident to face them. Wear your mask, you’ll need it, Grandma said just before we left the house, she was right.
I look straight ahead, trying to ignore the stares. My body relaxes as I see Luca walk out of the door and down the small staircase toward me. I quickly release my hand, as if I had burned it, his gaze fixed on me, almost burning, refusing to look away, even though his expression shows no emotion.
I feel his body next to mine as his arm is stretched out toward me to link it with mine.
I look at him, but his gaze is focused on the group of people staring at us; they don’t seem happy with my presence, and their gazes make my legs tremble.
When he senses this small reaction from my body, he turns his eyes to me.
“You look stunning, Chiara!” I feel my cheeks burning, and I fight the urge to lower my head. I can’t show weakness.
“They don’t seem too happy to see me!”
“They’ll get used to it. Otherwise, the red they’ll see won’t be from your dress.” I let out a small laugh and cover my lips with my hand, trying to hide it. Luca looks at me with an arched eyebrow, and I wonder if he thinks I doubt his word.
“My mom said something similar!”
“A wise woman, I can tell you.”
I’m guided inside the mansion, getting a glimpse of how exuberant it is, ice statues are scattered around the room, waiters serve caviar and champagne non-stop, everything looks incredibly wonderful and luxurious.
We stop in front of Don Henrico and Lady Milena, who smiles at me, trying to calm me down a little.
Don Henrico takes my hand and kisses it.
“You look like a real mafia princess!” I smile without really understanding what he means. When I look around, it seems like I stand out from all the girls my age.
“Darling, I don’t think your comparison is quite right.
You do look like a beautiful princess, Chiara, but much bolder than the ones in the mafia.
” When I hear these words, I try to ignore the urge to run and change, knowing that after today, I’ll probably never be able to mix with these people.
It’s wonderful, a real symbol of change, of the future.
I look at Luca’s mother, not knowing if this is actually a good thing.
She touches my face and gives me a fond smile, clearly trying to put my mind at ease.
“The symbol of a new beginning, a new generation, a new Capo!”
“The future Capo and Queen of the Camorra!” Don Henrico’s voice comes out loud and proud, causing several people to look in our direction.
“Not a future queen, a Queen…” Luca says, placing his hand at the end of my bare back, sending a shiver through my entire body at the contact.
Lady Milena looks at us with a fond smile.
“I don’t think Chiara has met Bella yet.
What do you think about accompanying me upstairs to meet her?
” I nod before looking at Luca, who offers me a small gesture to follow his mother.
“Bella never wants to take part in these kinds of parties, so don’t take it personally. ”
“Luca told me that few people know her!” I say, watching Lady Milena stop and gesture for us to walk side by side.
“She’s quite introverted. At first, it was mainly for safety measures, but now she really prefers not to participate.”
“I understand…” Lady Milena looks at me like she’s reading my soul, smiling, before knocking on a door and opening it.
When the door opens, I catch a glimpse of Bella sitting on her bed with a Chow Chow at her feet, reading a book.
She seems so lost in it that she doesn’t notice us.
I smile, knowing well the feeling. She looks like Luca, with long, straight coal-black hair, big watery blue eyes, andslightly tanned skin, which is complemented by soft, beautiful features and naturally red lips.
“Bella… Bella…” when her eyes finally lift from the pages that hold her, I marvel at the blue of her eyes. “This is Chiara; you said you’d like to meet her.”
“Hello, it’s nice to finally meet you!” Bella examines me from head to toe before flashing me a smile.
“It’s nice to finally meet my brother’s future wife.” She stands up calmly, making the dog raise its head before deciding to ignore us and lie down again. “Luca was right, the perfect queen for the Camorra!”
I’m not sure what to say or think; I don’t know her, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t read her expression or intention. “I don’t know…”
“It’s good to see someone different, someone who can bring change to this archaic organization.” Her words make me widen my eyes in surprise, and she laughs, noticing my reaction.
“I hope I’m up to the task, I guess…”
“Oh, you are; Luca would never marry you if you weren’t!
” Her words hit me like a punch; maybe I’m just a means to an end, something that can incite change, nothing more.
“Although you’re pretty enough to marry just for looks, something tells me there’s more to it, and that’s the real reason for the wedding. ”
“Okay, Bella, enough rambling and supposition. I didn’t bring Chiara to meet you to fill her with your theories…”