Chapter 6 #2
"I suppose I should be grateful, at least Niccolò doesn't make me want to gouge my eyeballs out when I look at him the way Mathias does.
" I looked from her to my dress and fingered the lace draped over me.
The fabric was soft, delicate. I was over this discussion, and I wanted her gone.
Her presence was suffocating, bringing back all the old patterns.
"Mother, where are my things? They were supposed to be here hours ago."
"Your father has decided not to send them. He purchased them, and they rightfully belong to him." She looked at her nails, as if she did not worry about the world. Like she hadn't just told me I'd been stripped of everything I owned.
"What do you mean he's refusing to send them? I need clothes and my personal belongings." I couldn't move for fear of being impaled by a bazillion pins. Letty had me standing on a platform, fabric draped around me like a sculpture.
"You'll have to take it up with your father; it's none of my concern."
"I assure you, Mrs. Carmiantti, it is your concern, because if you don't have my fiancé's belongings sent over before nightfall, I’ll personally come over and collect them.
" He was inches from my mother's face, hands clenched so hard his knuckles were white, and I briefly forgot I hated him.
The fury radiating off him was palpable, filling the room with tension.
He glanced over at me, and our eyes locked on one another. Biting the corner of my mouth, I noticed something shift in him. He tensed up and redirected his focus to my mother. "It's time for you to go."
"We haven't finished with the dress." She settled back into the chair, making him aware she wasn't going anywhere. Stubborn until the end.
"I don't think your opinion is required." He snapped his fingers, and the men at the door stood waiting for my mother and sisters to gather their belongings.
"You can't treat us like this, you're not her husband yet." My mother's voice rose, indignant.
"This is a formality, and I expect you to show respect to my fiancé in my home, or you won't be part of our wedding." Her face blanched, the color draining away, and I knew he didn't mean she'd be uninvited; she'd be six feet under. The threat was clear, unmistakable.
Watching my mother grab the things she looked at, my sisters and I both looked toward me, fear and uncertainty in our eyes. I nodded confidently, and they left her behind. I tried to communicate with that nod that they would be okay, that I would figure this out.
"Letty, why don't you take a quick break.
I'm sure my cook has a fresh pot of coffee on, and I know there's fresh cannoli.
" He didn't look at the seamstress; his eyes were locked on me.
One of the guards closed the door, and I was once again alone with Niccolò, this time draped in fabric and nothing else.
Vulnerable in a way I'd never been before.
"Are you okay?" His voice was soft, and the entire feeling in the room changed. The anger drained away, replaced by something I couldn't identify.
"I'm fine. Par for the course, I'm afraid.
" I gave him a forced smile and looked down at the floor.
So much for not showing emotion, trying to make him realize I'm not a woman to be messed with.
"Could you send Letty back in here? I'd like to get this done.
Now that the others are gone, it should go much faster.
" Squaring my shoulders, I kept looking at the lace in my hands.
I didn't like the feeling that was bubbling in my chest. He kidnapped me, locked me up, was forcing me to marry him, and was a general asshole.
But he stood up for me. I had no idea why.
I'd always suffered at the hands of my family, never belonging, never valued.
That moment with my mother wasn't anything different.
This stranger, my enemy, made my thoughts collide.
One minute, I was a pawn in his little game against my family.
The next, it was as if he…respected me? Saw me as something more than just a bargaining chip or a mistake.
I couldn't figure out what else I needed to do. Kill him with my bare hands or accept the situation for what it was. I had to figure out how to gain back control of the Carminatti empire and end Niccolò Venosa.
"Are you alright, Emi?" Letty's quiet voice asked as she walked back into the room. She carried a small plate with cannoli and a fresh cup of coffee.
"I'm fine." My words were short and angry. I tried to smile, but I knew it didn't fool her. "I'm sorry. Nobody's ever asked if I was okay before, and in the space of five minutes, you and Niccolò both have. It unnerved me a little." The confession came out before I could stop it.
"Are you okay here? I've known Nico my entire life." I didn't like the familiarity of how she'd said his name. The nickname felt intimate, personal. I was fighting the urge to remind her he was my fiancé. "He's well, he's umm," her voice trails off.
"An asshole, a bastard, way too intense, a lot to deal with? Stop me when I hit one that's wrong." I couldn't stop the bubble of laughter that escaped, and before I knew it, Letty was laughing and nodding her head.
"All of the above plus a lot you missed." It felt good to laugh. "But he's a good man. Good, it’s relative to his occupation." She raised her eyebrow and smirked.
Letty, thank you, and yes, I'm doing okay here. I've never had anyone I could talk to like this before, and I know I probably shouldn't because I don't really know you, but it feels really nice," I sighed as Letty focused on her pins again.
"You don't have any girlfriends?" She asked as she took a step back, looking at the section of the dress she'd just worked on.
"No, friends weren't encouraged in my family." How did I tell her I couldn't have friends because of who my father was? Because he hit me so often, I was afraid someone would see the bruises. Because isolation was easier than explaining why I flinched at loud noises.
"Look, I shouldn't be saying this, but I'm going to.
I know who you are and who your family is; mine's the same.
My father has worked for the Venosa family since he was a teenager.
" She leaned slightly closer to me. "He's a made man.
Anything you say is between you and me. My loyalty is to The Venosa, and that now includes you.
So, what I'm trying to say is if you want a friend, you've got one.
" She smiled at me, genuine and warm, and something in my chest loosened.