Chapter-3

Aaron was standing at the corner, thinking about that mannerless girl when His secretary-cum-right hand man came there.

"What?" He snapped at him. Marcus swallowed in fear and cleared his throat before speaking. "The streets are whispering about the bond between Flavio and De Lucas consliegier's daughter. The soldiers of many important cities are talking about Flavio being pure…"

Aaron's icy glare stopped Marcus from speaking further. "Is this the general opinion of the soldiers?"

Marcus shook his head. "No. But the words are making circles. No one is speaking openly but they liked how Flavio still respected the traditions of Cosa Nostra. He could have married anyone but he remained loyal to his roots and married an Italian Woman. The words of mutiny are strong in your uncle and Flavio's cities the most. But your uncle is not waving in favour of them. Unlike Flavio he is loyal to Our Capo and you."

"Flavio…" Aaron gritted. "Tell the other cities' underbosses to keep their soldiers in line," He ordered Marcus and clenched his fist tightly.

Aaron looked around and forced himself to smile coldly as He watched Flavio's mother smiling at his newly wedded son and his wife.

"I hate these snakes!"

Aaron sighed tiredly when He heard his mother Olivia's voice as she walked to him.

"Everyone is a snake in this place, Mother," He commented. Olivia rested her hand on Aaron's shoulder.

"Aaron, Think about Rosalina. She is a safe bet. I know you don't like her but sometimes we have to sacrifice our happiness for bigger things," she said recalling the time when she sacrificed her happiness for the Throne of Cosa Nostra but her father Giovanni tricked her and handed the chair to her husband Ethan. She still couldn't forget the pain she felt by her father and husband's treachery.

Aaron understood his mother's statement and patted her hand. "I won't sacrifice anything, Mother. Not my happiness nor my Cosa Nostra. I won't be like you," He stated and removed her hand from his forearm.

Olivia squinted her gaze. "I don't want history to repeat itself, Aaron. I love Riccardo like a brother but Cosa Nostra was my birthright and now it's yours. Not Flavio's."

"And it will be mine soon. I won't allow anyone to take away my birthright. I will be The Capo dei Capi of Cosa Nostra, King of the Underworld of New York City." He gave a curt nod to his mother and headed to his brother without another word.

Aaron went to the bar area. All this marriage talk left a bad taste in his mouth which He needed to wash with a strong drink. Asher smirked seeing his brother there. "Bad mood Eldy, are you going to kill someone."

Aaron glared at him and Asher looked down, understanding that Aaron was angry about something Asher knew better than to provoke him when he is this angry. His eyes went to a blonde who was staring at him. Asher smirked and went to her leaving his brother alone.

“Quite enjoying my reception huh, dear cousin?” Flavio jumped into the bar seeing Aaron and commented.

Aaron gritted his jaw. He took a sip of whiskey and kept the glass loosely in his hold. He forced his anger to bow its rearing head. Aaron raised his brows.

"Enjoying what? This Drama?" He roamed his eyes around to gesture at the wedding reception.

"Now you are being mean, Aaron. We are cousins and you should be happy for me. I did what you couldn't, I strengthened our famiglia's status and power by marrying into a strong Italian family. De Luca's are strong."

Aaron didn't give any reaction except for staring at Flavio's face. "She is pure Italian but of course you won't understand the meaning of this, right Cousin?"

Flavio was goading him but Aaron's calm features were making him mad.

“De Lucas will stand beside me now…"

The unspoken threat made Aaron put the glass on the counter and smiled coldly. "A dog needs an army to look strong. A lion doesn't, Flavio. He doesn't need to look strong because He knows about his power and status. A Lion is a born king just like Me," He stood up and stepped forward.

"I don't need to marry a girl to gain respect because I have earned it. People call me Velenoso for a reason, dear cousin. Remember what it meant," He warned Flavio with a smile and patted his cheek in warning, making Flavio jerk back in dismay.

Aaron chuckled before walking to Asher who was flirting with the blonde. “Where is Mother?” He asked Asher who shrugged his shoulders not knowing. He resumed his talk with the blonde.

Rosalina spotted them and walked into their direction with a smirk. Aaron didn't pay any attention to her but Rosalina's eyes were fixed on Aaron only. “My father arranged the dinner next week for this beautiful couple. I hope to see you both there to have some fun.” She said, turning her gaze at Asher who raised his eyebrow at her.

“Well, I don't fancy Italian food much.” He sweetly smiled at her. Rosalina twisted her lips but managed to smile tightly at his direct insult. Aaron didn't need to even answer her. He was calling his father’s number. He wanted to leave from that fucked up reception party to utilise his previous time in his work. But before that He needed to inform his parents for the sake of their reputation.

“Well, we will have other cuisines too.” She said not wanting to be provoked and gestured to the waitress for the drink. The waitress came in their direction and offered them a tray of different beverages.

Asher winked at the beautiful waitress who only blinked at him but cursed him in her mind. She was none other than Bella Ferrari.

Rosalina grabbed her red wine after Asher and his blondie. Aaron was typing something on the phone so He didn't care much. But as a formality, Bella had to ask him so that she could walk out of there as soon as possible.

“Sir, would you like to have a drink?” she asked politely while standing in front of him. That's when Aaron raised his eyes, He was about to deny her but seeing her doe-like eyes waiting for his reply He stood still. She was the girl who cursed him openly but not loudly, she was the girl who dared to look into his eyes with hostility.

In the split second, Aaron's eyes narrowed at her face, the innocent face but He knew better.

On the other hand, Bella was awestruck seeing the man in front of her. That was not some ordinary man. His attractive, sharp and hard face features, perfect model-like physique fitted in a black tuxedo, appreciable height and his dark and intimidating Aura made her understood that He is from some high authority. But his odd intense stare at her made Bella uneasy. When He didn't answer She instantly scanned his look. His brown blonde hair, square and chiselled jaws with light stubble on it, firm lips, straight nose and his intense grey eyes framed by dark and thick lashes were looking straight into her soul.

Grey eyes!

And that's when it hit her like a thunderbolt. The pervert!

Bella slightly widened her eyes but kept a straight face. He was the jerk who was sneakily peeking at her when she was changing into her uniform. Rosalina observed their staring session and wondered. Aaron never looked at her like this non stop and He was staring at this low class waitress like He knew her for ages. It bruised her already swollen ego even more. She wanted nothing but snatch the eyes of that cheap waitress.

“Will you stand here like a clown?” Rosalina snapped, pulling her out of her thoughts. Bella flushed in embarrassment at her insult. As soon as Aaron grabbed the glass of drink, she ran off like her ass was on fire. Asher chuckled at her behaviour.

“Do you know her?” Rosalina asked Aaron who didn't give a damn to her interrogation but looked in the direction of Bella where she disappeared in the audience. He had this urge to confront her but Bella didn't want to do anything with him. Apparently, she didn't want to mess with these high-class people in her life.

Rosaline flared her nose silently when He didn't answer her.

Bella was fanning herself, walking to the corner, she was feeling too hot. That man was sending chills to her body, she felt like He was killing her with his grey eyeballs silently.

“Bella, what the hell are you doing here? serve the guests there.” Her captain, Peter snapped when he watched her cooling herself in the corner.

Bella startled and nodded her head like crazy. She cursed herself for being caught again. She filled her tray with the drinks again and walked to the side where she was in no mood to walk.

The group of wolves, The groom and his army. She walked to them professionally with a polite smile and served them the drinks.

“Quite a nice chick!” one of the men commented seeing her up and down. No doubt, Bella was a beauty and she knew it. That's why she merely wears makeup not to attract useless attention from those hungry wolves. But she didn't know that even her bare face without any makeup looks like an angel. Her crystal clear glowing skin made the man attracted to her but she had turned many men down.

The group of men chuckled seeing her getting uncomfortable. Bella didn't say anything, she was waiting for them to either get the drinks or deny her. Flavio was looking at her with hungry eyes.

“What's your name, beautiful?” One blonde man, a friend of Flavio, asked her.

Bella blinked her eyes not understanding if to answer them or not. She contemplated it.

“Are you mute?” Flavio asked with narrowed eyes. He didn't like women being hard to get. He was one impatient bastard.

“Bella. It's Bella, Sir.” She replied not mentioning her surnames. She didn't want to lose her job and moreover they seemed dangerous to her with those tattoos on their bodies. She wanted to get over with serving and leave the place.

“Indeed, a beautiful name for a beautiful girl.” that cousin smirked again.

“Would you mind spending a passionate night with me tonight, you won't be disappointed, girl.” He asked shamelessly. Bella wanted to smash his head to the glass table but kept her calm.

“I'm sorry, Sir but I'm married.” That's the reply she always gives to fly them away. But they laughed.

“So what ? It doesn't stop you having fun. Look at our groom, He got married today, if his lifestyle changes just because of getting an extra piece on his list?” He gestured towards Flavio who smirked. And Bella felt pity for the bride. These bastards can never change. She was not interested in the talk so she decided to walk away.

“Perception matters, Sir. I will take my leave in case I need to serve others too.” Bella kept her politeness.

“Why so eager, Baby girl?” and that's when Bella felt a spank on her butt. It cracked her patience. She clenched her face and pinched her eyes. To hell with this job where you lose your only important thing. Your self-respect!

Bella sucked in a deep breath and turned around to look at the bastard who indecently touched her but when she looked into the sharp Grey eyes, her fury turned tenfold. So He wanted to humiliate her. That pervert bastard!

And Without thinking even a second, she raised her hand and slapped his face, Hard and rebuked him with a similar hard word. “Bastard!"