Chapter 4

~VITTORIA~

Three, two, one.

The door opened. Then immediately got shut in my face. "Go away." Yara, my cousin said from the other side of the door.

"Always a pleasure to see you, Yara," I replied to her, sarcasm dripping from my tone.

The door came open and she stood in front of me, eyeing me in disgust. "With the way you come often to this house, someone might think we share the same father."

"I would wish that. Except being your sister is my worst nightmare."

"Touche." She commented, turning backwards to strut into the house while I followed.

"Where's uncle?" I asked watching her go to sit on the counter at their house bar. Some paper files were beside her and there was a laptop on as well.

She rolled her eyes. "At his office obviously. Where else would he be?"

"At least you're helpful," I said turning to go in the direction of his office.

"Screw yourself, Lilith." She called from behind and I clenched my Jaws together, flipping her off. She knew how much I hated to be called that but of course if something pissed me off, she was sure as hell to do it.

I got to Uncle Quinto's office and gestured to one of his men who stood at the door.

He stepped away and I then knocked, waited a short while for him to ask me to come in before I did. He usually hated when people barged into his office.

"Vittoria." He said in a lightened tone, his face beaming with a smile immediately he saw me.

I smiled back, hugging him briefly. "Hi, uncle. Been a while."

He leaned back into his seat studying my face. "Tiziano at it again?"

I laughed a little. He knew me so well. I nodded, sighing. "He's marrying me off to the Argentero don."

Uncle Quinto didn't look surprised at what I had just said. And I didn't expect him to be either. I mean, they must have had a meeting about it behind my back.

"Those people killed Isabelle." I spat out bitterly. "He is being selfish."

"I'm sorry I have no say in this, Vittoria. I can't do anything. You know that much."

"I know," I huffed. "I'm not making the mistake of letting him kill another innocent man just because I love him. I'm just annoyed at the whole thing."

"I understand, Vittoria."

"What if it's a whole trap and they end up killing us all at the dinner tomorrow?"

"That won't happen. Hopefully. It's Tiziano's choice, we just have to follow his orders." Uncle Quinto replied, leaning back into his seat with a huge sigh.

"I hate my life." I hissed letting out a frustrated sigh.

I mean Uncle Quinto was right. Opposing Tiziano in this was going to be a useless attempt. And I best knew that when it came to the Costa Nostra, marrying because of love was almost a fairytale. So the earlier I started to accept what was to come, the better for me.

So what else was there to do, other than accept my miserable fate?

* *

"You look perfect, Ma'am," Nicola said as I examined my black midi gown that hugged my curves and was the same shade of black as my shoes. My makeup was on the dark side and red bottom heeled shoes were practically the only coloured thing in my whole attire.

It was almost as if I was going to a funeral. And if I was being honest. Wasn't I?

"Hmm," I replied to her before smacking my lips and grabbing my clutch bag off the dresser. A knock came on my door and I knew Tiziano's impatient ass was already getting even more impatient.

"Don't come banging on the door, tell him I'll be out soon!" I hissed and the person behind the door replied before walking off.

I strode to the living room with Nicola behind me to see Uncle Quinto and Yara already there. Robert, my perverted uncle was there as well with an unfamiliar woman - or girl who looked like she was fresh from high school and I guessed she was his new mistress. I saw three of Tiziano's soldatos were there as well.

Tiziano walked out with his wingman a second later as I was exchanging pleasantries with Uncle Quinto. His eyes studied my outfit and he walked out of the house without a word. Even if he disapproved, he knew I wasn't going to change it. He hated when dresses I wore failed to hide my large breasts well and I wore this particular black dress to piss him off.

I rode with him in the minivan while the rest of the family occupied other cars. The ride to the Argentero's house was quiet and immediately we stepped into their territory, I noticed Tiziano clench his fist a little.

We were at their doorstep now and one of Tiziano's Soldatos rang the doorbell. I took a deep breath as the door opened almost immediately. We were greeted by the tatted twin I had seen at the nightclub.

"Nice evening to you all. Come on in." He said with a smile. One which looked like he was feigning it badly.

Or so I guessed.

We walked in and the house already had a little crowd in it. A crowd filled with Argenteros.

It fell silent immediately after our presence was noticed and tension graced the atmosphere. Their stares drifted from Tiziano to me and probably Yara since she stood beside me and then they studied us as we stood facing them.

I understood them because who would have thought that the Bellucis and Argenteros would be seen in the same room and the topic of discussion would be marriage?

I was paranoid about coming here and it made me feel weird and suspicious like we had been tricked into coming here so they would kill us or something. And not to say, their little crowd was twice our family that had come.

My hand went down slowly to my clutch purse, ready to take out the knife which was in there in case we were set up and my eyes signalled to Nicola to get her gun ready in case of anything. I was already calculating my next moves when Simon Argentero appeared from behind the little crowd.

The devil I despised. After Roman that is.

"Oh, Tiziano! You are here already. Welcome Amico." He said with a peal of dry laughter. The non-tatted twin was behind him with another dude who looked a bit like Roman Argentero.

"Thank you," Tiziano replied. "This is Vittoria." He introduced and I smiled at him, shaking hands with him.

"You are as beautiful as Tiziano said." He laughed, patting my arm.

I scoffed internally as if I wasn't a mere business deal to both of them. I couldn't see anything beyond Simone's act but I knew for sure that he was just a good actor.

"I am sorry my wife Arabella cannot join this tonight. But my son will be here soon." Simone said to us and I nodded with a smile again. "I apologise for his lateness."

That was when I actually noticed that he hadn't even bothered to spare the courtesy of coming early.

Asshole.

"What is with the tension? We will be family soon huh? Give a little life to the atmosphere." Simone announced loudly and immediately, the tension was reduced a bit and there were some little smiles around. "Come on in, let's drink and eat."

Tiziano threatened me to be on my best behaviour in a low tone then walked off with Simone, Uncle Quinto and Robert.

"I'm North." The guy who looked like Roman Argentero said, putting his hand forward for a handshake. "Roman's younger brother."

That explained it.

I shook his hand, not bothering to break a smile at him. The twins came around too and I got to know the tatted one was called Cleto while the other was Diego. Two women came forward and complimented my hair, swarming about how beautiful it looked.

But apart from that, nobody else came forward. I looked to see Yara giggling at something two guys said and I rolled my eyes at her before walking to the bar to get myself a drink.

I went back to sit on the sofa, ignoring the stares I got from all angles and the little pathway spotlight that I got as I walked to and from the bar.

I glanced up to see Yara once again talking with another set of dudes which made me roll my eyes. Of course, she was the 'billionaire celebrity angel Belluci' who had guys swarming around her all day.

Immediately, the door opened and I snapped my head in the direction. Roman Argentero walked in, dressed in a perfectly styled black suit with a black shirt underneath. He had that smirk on his perfectly structured face, the same smirk I remembered from years ago the first time I saw him. And I was embarrassed to admit I had liked it that very night meanwhile it was what I detested the most now.

He greeted some aunties and men who were around before his eyes locked with mine and I rolled my eyes at him making sure he noticed.

He started to make way where I sat, his eyes still on me and when he got to where I was, he leaned into the seat, trapping both of my sides with his arm. His cologne filled my nose and I bit my lower lips from how close we were and how uncomfortable it felt for me.

Someone must have definitely forgotten to teach this man about personal spaces.

His eyes peered into mine and he smirked.

"You look beautiful, babydoll." He said, amusement in his eyes. "This reminds me of that night. You know, the night we -"

"Shut your mouth, Argentero," I said, glaring at him.

This made him chuckle softly. "If you're so shy about people finding out, sure I would." He replied with a wink."

He leaned in nearer as if the space between us was still a whole lot. "I can't wait for us to get married, babydoll." He added.

And for some reason, that sounded more like a threat than a joyful statement.