4. Emiliana

                        Wedding dress.

I've tried to figure out what that means since Valerio passed me the note but I haven't been able to decipher the message. What did he mean by wedding dress? I asked for poison. Something deadly and untraceable. Something that could make Romeo's death pass off as a heart attack or kidney failure or even dick failure. There have been cases where people took too much viagra and died. Maybe I should slip that in his drink during reception. Let everyone see how fast Mia can suck him off to relieve the tension. That plan puts a smile on my face. Anything that will end up making Romeo suffer makes me happy. And I can come up with different ways to torture his perverted ass but I don't have that luxury because I'm running out of time. So where the fuck is my poison? I've convinced myself that the only way I can go through with this is if I know for sure that man will die.

Only a week is left before the wedding. Money ensures that my father or soon to be husband can plan a grand wedding in just a few weeks. Mother has been handling the preparations since I still refuse to talk to her. She was exasperated with me when she tried asking what flowers I wanted or if we should include bridesmaids and groomsmen as if this is a normal wedding. Although, aren't all weddings in Cosa nostra like this? Men decide and women accept. Every feminist bone in my body knew this was my future and I had come to terms with it a long time ago. It's the husband I can't accept. If Romeo has a son I'll take him. Or his nephews. Even an underboss, enforcer, soldier. Anyone but him. Preferably age twenty five to thirty years old. I could learn to live with them. Romeo? Over my dead body. Which was why I'd left all the wedding planning to my mother after telling her off.

"Emilia, can you stop fighting me on this? We need to finalize the details"

"Okay" I'd agreed just to get her off my back.

"I was thinking your bouquet could have plum and blush flowers. What do you think?"

"Okay" never once did I think her voice could be irritating. Plum and blush? Shouldn't she be angry that I'm marrying someone who's forty years older than me?

"And the bridesmaids could go with burgundy dresses. Let them pick whatever designs they want"

"Okay"

"For men, navy blue suits, with burgundy ties to match the maids"

"Okay"

"What kind of dress do you want? I made an appointment with a local designer but if you have something else in mind, I suggest you speak up sooner. So we'll have room for adjustments, should there be any"

"Okay"

"Emilia!"

She'd snapped loosing her patience which was unlike her. She is soft spoken and rarely raises her voice. I wished she'd lost her cool with my father even once. He's always saying this bullshit about what a bad idea it is to piss her off but at the end of the day, she always listens to him. He says jump, she asks how high. When I was young, I used to think it was love. But as I got older, I realized it was submission. She was expected to be a submissive wife and never have any opinions or if she did, she kept them to herself. I hated that. I thought I would be different when I got married. I just didn't know how different.

"Do whatever you want, mom. It's not like I'm over the moon about this wedding"

"No one is, baby"

"Could have fooled me. You know once upon a time I used to look up at you. I wanted to have what you and dad had. Like an idiot, I believed you two were in love and I kept myself pure for my husband. If I'd known this was my future, I would have slept with every Tom, Dick and Harry and let everyone in Cosa nostra know what a whore I was. Maybe then that bastard wouldn't look at me twice" she's shaking her head, her eyes glassy but I don't care. I want them to hurt the way I'm hurting. I want everyone to feel the way I do. Because after this wedding, whether I succeed or not, I will not be the same person "Don't bother asking for my opinion again. Do whatever you want and know that the moment I walk down that aisle, you're all dead to me"

~~~~~

The first thing I learned from my father was that one should always have a plan B and C and basically the rest of the alphabet. Since 'wedding dress' isn't working, I go online and order a bottle of viagra. Together with a few pieces of lingerie as cover. That is plan D or F. B is a knife or a gun. I could hide it on my thigh or between my breasts but it's not a solid plan. What if he has his people check me for weapons before entering his house? That's something my father does all the time. Leaving your enemy defenseless is a power move. I am his enemy's daughter. But I will also be his wife by then so... Nothing. That doesn't change anything. Fuck, this is driving me insane. Either way I see it, poison is my best bet. I can hide a piece of paper anywhere. Even in my hair-

My hair.

I jump up at that idea. Why hadn't I thought of it? Quickly, I call Elena. Luckily, I was grounded but my father didn't take away my phone.

"Hello?"

"My house. Now!" I bark then hang up. Sitting at my desk, I take out a pen and paper and start drawing. Before I know it, my door bursts open and Elena rushes in.

"Where's the fire?"

"I need you to handle something for me"

"What is it?"

I show her my sketchbook "Get someone to make this for me"

"What am I looking at?"

"Jewelry. Find someone skilled and have them make me that piece. I don't care how it comes out as long as it's sharp and can be used as a weapon" she looks at me as if I've lost my mind "What?"

"Are you shitting me? There's only a few days left before the wedding"

"A week"

"A few days. How do you expect me to find someone who can make this?" She slaps the book on the desk and leans down until our noses almost touch. At least today I know her flushed skin is from running here. I hate how free she is. How by just being the daughter of an underboss, she doesn't have to go through what I'm going through "Stop worrying. Valerio will come through. If there's anyone who doesn't want this wedding to happen more than you do, it's him"

That's something else I don't understand. All this time, I thought he had a crush on Elena. Since when did he start liking me? I've thought about it and honestly, I wouldn't mind marrying him. He's young, handsome and part of Vernetti organization. I don't know his rank but it doesn't matter. As long as I'll still have my freedom, then anyone can do. I'm not a princess who can't live without flashy cars and jewelry. Yes, I grew up swimming in money but I can also live an average life. With a young husband. Not someone old enough to be my grandfather.

"But I can't put all my hopes in him. This is my wedding, Elena. My future. There's no way I'm taking any chances"

"Fine. I'll get you a 22 but if you get caught, you're on your own"

"I want a gun, a knife, a fork, paperclips, anything that can kill"

"You have to be careful. It doesn't matter how old Romeo Vernetti is. He's still a mob boss"

She doesn't need to remind me that. I know he's killed more men than I can ever imagine. He's merciless and I can bet his heart is the blackest in this world but at the end of the day, he's a man. If I play my cards right, he'll end up right where I want him. It occurs to me that I might have to seduce him. Touch him, kiss him and even blow him. Fuck. Shit. Is it too late to change my mind? I can threaten my father with my life... As if. He doesn't care. If he did, I wouldn't be in this position to begin with. For his sake, I hope he changes his mind last minute because once he hands me over to that bastard, I will sever all ties with him.

"Please tell me this is going to work, Elena. Tell me he'll die or that I'll find another way out"

"That shouldn't even be your worry" she says planting her ass on the desk, beside me "Have you thought about what you'll do after he's dead? You will be Mrs. Vernetti by then. You're nineteen, Emilia. Aside from being widowed, what will you do with the organization?"

"Fuck, I hadn't thought of that"

"He doesn't have a son and I've never heard anything about a heir which is strange. Who will inherit Barnacle Bay once he's dead?"

"I... I... Can we cross that bridge when we get there?" I can't think about anything else right now.

But long after she's gone, I can't help but wonder what I'm getting myself into. What will be the consequences of killing Romeo? If I succeed, where will I go after that? What will I do?

If I keep overworking my brain, I won't make it to the wedding. So in the evening, I decide to take a shower and watch a movie. Anything to keep my mind off the wedding. I just finished taking a shower and freeze at the door, noticing the window is open. I'm pretty sure it was closed when I went to the bathroom. I've never had a reason to be afraid. Despite all the men that live in this compound, no one has ever been disrespectful. They've never tried anything because my father made it clear that anyone who looks at me the wrong way will die. But this also the same father who is marrying me off to Romeo fucking Vernetti. Grabbing the lamp on the nightstand, I start looking around. If someone snuck in, I won't go down without a fight.

Thirty minutes later, I realize there's no one in my room and sigh in relief. But I also know that window didn't open itself. So being the paranoid bitch that I am, I start looking for something out of the ordinary. My desk remains the way I left it. The book on my nightstand hasn't moved an inch. I would know if it did. But my pillows... One of them is askew. I'm the kind of person who pays attention to detail. When I made my bed this morning, I made sure to arrange the pillows neatly. Elena calls it OCD. I call it being organized. Picking it up, I'm not shocked to see a white envelope under it.

Someone was in my room.

I pick up the envelope and tear it to find a piece of paper. A message. There's no name to indicate the sender.

(Sneak out of the mansion without getting caught and come to this address. In return, I will kill your fiance for you)

Holy shit!

Like for real?  

*****************************************