I glare at him as he keeps staring at my tits"hey!, my eyes are up here "
"I'm aware of that" he says looking up at me with a smirk, his face looks oddly familiar but I can't put my finger on it .
I glare at him and our altercation is suddenly interrupted as someone fires a bullet at us ,we both dodge as we turn around to see some guys coming out of a black car.
"Attacking me in broad daylight?" he chuckles. "That's a new level of stupidity."
I glance at our attackers and spot the tattoo on their necks,a black eight-pointed star
A symbol I know all too well.
The Russian Mafia.
"Of course it's those bastards"I mutter under my breath
"Remember he wants her alive"one of them says in Russian as they started running at me putting their guns back in their pockets
"Shit not again"I say, bringing out my gun from my boot as I start firing at them,so does the hot asshole as we shoot and fight against them.
Just as I'm firing at them ,someone tries to attack me from behind. I bend slightly and kick him in the stomach as the guy grabs his abdomen,I hit him with my gun and he passes out.
"Weak"I say as I shoot him,I then turn to see hot asshole fighting against them with so much ease as he kills them all and I hate to admit it but his moves are impressive.
He swept the man's legs out from under him, the dagger flashing in his hand before the guy even hit the ground, with one swift swipe cutting open his neck, he pulled back to avoid blood splatting on him.
As I watch him another guy grabs me from behind ,"You're coming with me","Yeah no thanks "I say as I use my dagger and stab him right in the balls.
He shrieks in pain and immediately passes out .
'yeah I'm pretty sure he's dead'
When we're done I turn to the hot asshole and he just shrugs and starts to walk away.
"Hey get back here we're not done yet hot assho- "I pause when he turns around and smirks.
"ugh why did I say that now he thinks I think he's hot… But I do think that- ughh not the point!!"
"You do know you said that out loud right" he states in amusement as he raises an eyebrow at me .
"Fuck...um of course I know that why wouldn't I know that " ,he just scrunches his brows and rolls his eyes and goes into his expensive car.
"Hey you little shit you haven't explained why you shot at me,don't just walk away from me" I yell at him ,"I'm not walking away amore I'm driving" he says as he drives off speedily .
"Tch bitch" I fumed as I got on my motorcycle and drove off.
_______
I park outside Zoey's apartment complex ,a sleek high-rise in the middle of the city. The kind with tinted windows, security guards who look bored, and rent that could feed a small country.
"She's a Free-range assassin,so of course she can afford something like this," I mutter, climbing off my motorcycle.
The doorman nods like he's seen me a thousand times before. He probably has. I head up to the top floor, because of course she lives in the damn penthouse and the front door's wide open.
"This bitch is gonna die someday," I mutter, stepping inside.
And of course the first thing I see, is Zoey completely buck naked.
"Heyy girrlll you made it " Zoey smiles, reaching for a hug and I move away.
"Aww, I thought you loved hugs," she pouts when I dodge her.
"Yeah I do ....when the person I'm hugging is FULLY CLOTHED Go put some damn clothes on!! "I shake my head in disapproval," she shrugs and goes into her closet.
I look at my ripped shirt "And get me a top too while you're at it"
_____
After a few minutes we walk out of her house and go to a cafe nearby to chill
"So how's it going with your love life,you got a boyfriend yet ?" Zoey asks, sipping her boba tea, wiggling her eyebrows obviously knowing the answer to her own question.
"Yeah I do....his name is Barney and he lives in a place called our imagination,... ooh and guess what he's a dinosaur "I grin as she gives me an unamused look.
"Oh haha very funny,Well unlike your lonely ass I'm talking to someone new"she says proudly as she stuffs a cupcake in her mouth.
"Yeah and how long is that gonna last"I smirk at Zoey as I take a bite out of my cookie.
"Oh piss off at least I'm getting laid that's all that matters even though he's a dick, he's just lucky he has a pretty face and gives decent head although if you ask me it's not all that worth it "
She leans in and whispers "He has a feet kink" Zoey gags and I burst into laughter
"You sure know how to pick em Zoe" She rolls her eyes.
"Can you believe he got upset at me for flirting with the waitress at our last date when he was staring at her ass first,It's not my fault I have more game and i was nice enough not to ask for her number"She snorts and I throw my head back in laughter
'No surprise there, Zoe's a freaking chick magnet'
Back in college she'd flirt with any girl that caught her eye,especially at parties and bring her back to our dorm,I had to invest in earmuffs because of how loud the girls she brought back were.
But after college she started hooking up with dudes more often even though most of the guys she's been sleeping with are assholes,but then again aren't we all.
"So you're telling me that you really haven't met any guys lately?"She questions again.
"Nope. I'm not really interested in men unless it involves combat… although I did meet this hot asshole today."
"ohhh did I hear hot"she wiggles her eyebrows and stares into my eyes
grinning,indicating I better start talking.
I already know I'm in for a lot ,I groan internally facepalming myself ,I should've just shut up.
_________
I finish telling Zoey everything as she looks at me like I'm a complete idiot.
"Bro, what are you stupid ?, I'm convinced you have the brain of a six year old "she says in a matter of fact tone as she shakes her head.
"What ,he deserved it, he was a dick"I shot back.
"girll you could've had the most amazing romantic story ever,but you just had to cuss him out, the man literally fought off the Russians with you,doesn't that click what normal man would fight off the Russians with you he could've ran away"She groans
"He's obviously special,you should've flirted with him"She pokes my forehead
"I'm sorry, are we forgetting the part where he almost blew my brains out?!"I exclaim and the customer sitting beside us looks at me weirdly and I shoot them a glare and they turn away.
"Yeah almost but he didn't,he probably did it to get your attention"she winks at me ,just as I'm about to call Zoey a lunatic, my phone starts to ring I look at the caller id.
'FATHER'
A frown clouds my face as I pick up the call "hello"I say flatly,there is a little silence over the phone before he says "Get home now" And he hangs up.
I immediately get up and tell Zoey I got to go. She nods as I see that pitiful look she always has when my dad is involved.
I get out of the cafe and drive off.
______
I park my motorcycle ,walk towards the front door with a cold exterior on my face as I enter the house .
I get in to see the man I hate so much that I am forced to call my father sitting on the high chair exuding power and demand of respect by his presence. I look at him with no emotions in my eyes trying my very best to hide my hatred for this man.
I then greet him with a nod "father" ,he nods back as he looks at me with the same cold look as always.
"Cecilia we have an important discussion follow me"He says as he gets up and leads me to his main office in the house.
He sits on his chair and I see a black folder ,he grabs it, opens the content which looks like a contract and chuckles .
I look confused when he passes it to me and he nods for me to look at it.
I open it up and see in bold title
ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE ITALIAN MAFIA AND AMERICAN MAFIA BY MARRIAGE.
"What the hell?!" I snap.
My father glares at me and I instantly get a hold of myself.
"I can't sign this. This is insane… marriage isn't what I want right now." I clasp my hands together, avoiding his gaze.
"It's what the mafia needs. That's really all that matters here." He straightens in his chair, pushing the contract in my direction.
"The wedding is in two months. It will be announced at the annual party tonight."
He slides a pen across the desk.
"End of story. Now sign."
"tch fine"I sign the contract and walk out.
______
I drop on my bed "What the actual hell. I'm twenty-four,I can't be getting married! And to the Italian mafia, of all people "I rub my temple.
"And father didn't bother to run it with me before striking this deal ,of course typical tch, it was always what's best for him and the mafia" I close my eyes trying to remain calm,I groan.
I head into the bathroom and take a bath and when I come back ,I see a dress on the bed .I remove the bag it's in and put it on
'at least the dress is cute'
A red spaghetti-strap dress with a thigh slit. I slip it on, pair it with matching heels that I just knew were going to be a pain walking in, and apply some light makeup,a bold red lip to finish it off.
"Come on Cecilia what's done is done there's no going back the contract has already been signed let's just deal with it, Like we always do "My eyes droop coldly as I look away from the mirror
I turn, and step out only to be blocked by a walking piece of garbage.
Oops. I mean Sophie.
'Same difference really'
She looks at me with that same innocent look she gives her mum and my father.
"Sister I heard you're getting married,I just came to congratulate you even though-"
I cut her off
" You can cut the crap now my father and Nicole aren't here"I cut her off
She drops the act and rolls her eyes.
"Whatever. Just know this,getting married to Lorenzo Ricci doesn't make you special. You're not really part of his family. It's just an alliance. He'll probably divorce you after two years."
'Oh shit I'm getting married to Lorenzo Ricci ,I thought it'd be some small member in the Italian mafia...this is gonna be a shit show'.
"Listen, sweetheart, let's get two things clear: one, I am better than you. And two, not everyone is so desperate to be recognised as family,quit projecting and screw off."I pause to take a look at her already pissed face.
"You really need to learn your place. Why are you walking around with this wave of importance when Father doesn't even let you attend mafia events… or handle anything regarding the family business?"
"You hold no significant role in this house,need I remind you?" My gaze pierces hers. She stays calm, but I can see the tight fists. My words hit.
"That is true, isn't it? I do hold no significant role." She lowers her head as she walks past me, the faint click of her heels echoing like a metronome. "But that is only temporary."
"Oh, and CeCe…" Her voice drops to a whisper, sharp enough to cut through the air.
She pauses, tilts her head slightly, a shadow of a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "Remember… This isn't just a marriage. It's an alliance between two families."
Confusion strikes me sharply, but I brush it off. Probably just another attempt to unsettle me. Still… her eyes lingered a fraction too long. Something about it feels… strange.
________
Outside, I step into the waiting limo.
The driver shuts the door behind me, and we drive off toward whatever hell this night has planned.