His Vixen Mafia Princess

Chapter One-His Arrival

I can feel my resolve and this stupid facade that I have on starting to slip. His eyes are electric blue and I remember all the days and nights I spent getting lost in them. I don't know how long I've been standing here staring at him but it must have been awhile because I see his beautiful lips curl up in a smirk as he starts to tease me, "Vixen, if you take a photo it'll last longer." He chuckles as I feel the heat flush my cheeks and I quickly divert my gaze. I'm all too interested in the dozen black roses all of a sudden. "I remember they were your favorite, but clearly I'm the only person who knows that little fact of information," he continues to taunt me as he gestures to the pale pink roses Ari had given me just a few hours earlier.

"The gardener brought those in Angelico, why don't you just keep your comments to yourself until my father arrives so we can put an end to this miserable meeting," obviously he can tell I'm full of sh*t about the gardener because he simply rolls his eyes. I don't know why I feel the need to defend Ari to Angel, I don't know why I feel the need to explain anything to Angel period yet here I am doing so. Thankfully my father chooses this precise moment to come bounding down the staircase and wraps me in a hug. "My daughter, I've missed you beautiful! I hope your birthday was perfect!"

"Thanks Papa, I had a wonderful evening with Ari! I love the shoes you sent for me as well. What has brought you home so early though? Is everything okay?" I just want to get to the point so I can get away from Angel's intoxicating presence before I crumble like I did three years ago. I see Papa's eyes slightly roll at the mention of Ari's name, he would prefer that I find a mafia man to date and marry so I have someone to help me run the business. He doesn't like the fact that Ari would simply prefer to keep his hands clean and leave the shady dealings to me. I don't mind though, one less overbearing male I have to deal with is a win in my book.

Papa begins to speak and I see Angel begin to fidget, is he nervous? Angelico Ricci never gets nervous. "My sweet daughter, business is well. Amazing in fact. I simply needed to return home for the evening to welcome our guests into the home and get everything with their arrival squared away." It doesn't escape my attention that he said guests, plural. I wonder if Angel's siblings are also in town. I also want to know why they can't just stay in one of the many luxurious hotels we have in town, far the hell away from me.

Angel clearly sees my agitation so he finally speaks up and says the most earth shattering thing I could have ever thought I would hear, "I apologize if my arrival causes you any type of discomfort Emi. My fiance and I are in town for wedding preparations and we needed somewhere with a bit more security than just the hotels." It's as if he's reading my mind, conceited as*. Did he just say fiance? Surely I misheard him. Angel, my Angel, is engaged? I decide quickly that all of a sudden I need to use the restroom and mutter out a simple "okay" before turning on my heels and racing upstairs to my bedroom.

I throw myself into the bathroom that connects my bedroom to one of our guestrooms and slam the door shut behind me without thinking to lock it. I slide down in front of the sink and sit on the cold floor with my back to the cabinets. I vaguely hear my sweet Papa knock and I manage to choke out that I'm fine, I am just tired and would like to take a bath before continuing the discussion. He retreats out of my room and I hear him slowly climb down the steps back towards the man who has once again left me speechless. I must have been sitting here for quite some time because now someone is opening the bathroom door. Why didn't I think to lock the da*n thing? I don't even have the courage to lift my face, I just continue to stare at the same spot on the wall in a state of shock. I haven't cried, which I suppose is a good thing. I'm just numb and tired.

Angel slides down on his knees in front of me and attempts to grab my hands. I harshly pull out of his grasp and finally break my staring contest with the wall as I snap my head up to look at him. I mentally hype myself up to be strong and steady myself and my voice before I speak. The words that come next were carefully calculated and strong as steel, "Angelico Ricci, please do not ever enter into my personal space without the simplest courtesy of knocking beforehand. As I told my father, I am exhausted. I would like to bathe and then we can finalize the arrangements for your stay in my humble abode. Until I am ready to do so, kindly escort yourself out of my quarters and wait in the living area, I assume you still remember where that is?" Pride, that is what I'm feeling. Then I see the pain flash across his face briefly. He lingers for a minute, obviously unsure of what his next move should be. He must have heard of the reputation I have built for myself so surely he knows not to test my patience. He breathes out a quick "I'm so sorry my precious Vixen." and then stands and walks out.

Sorry? That is exactly what you are Angel, I think to myself as I climb up off the floor. I opt for a quick shower instead and mentally prepare myself while I'm rinsing off the day's events. I jump out, shoot a quick text to Ari to let him know it'll be a late meeting and not to wait up on me, then I head to my walk in to find an outfit. Typical scorned woman style, I grab my newest red lace short set and throw it on. I check the mirror, enough coverage to appease my Papa but enough showing to torture Angel. Red was always his favorite color on me, that's how I earned his little pet name, Vixen.

I begin the walk through the house to find the men seated in the living area. Good boy, I muse, at least you know how to follow directions. "Papa, Angelico I'm so sorry to keep you waiting! Shall we continue our earlier conversation?" Both men turn their gaze towards me and I hear a slight growl come from Angel's chest when he takes in my appearance. I smirk smugly and take a seat on the settee, carefully crossing my long slender legs over one another. James ushers in with a scotch for me and I steal a glance at Ange;'s face to see that my outfit choice did just the trick. His face is flushed and his lips are smashed into a hard, thin line as if he's trying to bite back words. "Yes, my sweet. As I was saying, Angelico and his fiance, Miss Giana Moretti will be staying here for the next two weeks in order to finalize their wedding preparations. The future bride and groom wish not to sleep together until the night of their wedding so we will need to arrange two rooms. Angelico prefers he sleep in his old room from when you were children and I propose we put Miss Moretti in the downstairs guest room, the one with the door to the gardens. Angelico informs me that his fiance has insomnia so I thought maybe some late night fresh air would help ease her nerves."

I bite back a snide remark and slip a smile on my face, looking up at my father I sweetly say, "Of course Papa. I will do my best to make our guests feel welcome and have servants turn down both rooms for them." It doesn't escape my notice that the room Angel has requested is the room connected to my bathroom, the one he "used" when we were dating. I also know Giana Moretti is also from another mafia family, one we have strong ties with so I have to be on my best behavior. I just don't understand why he would be marrying her, of all people. She's mafia, yes but she is just a pretty face that likes to spend daddy's money. She would not make a good co leader like Angel has always wanted. Then again, what do I know about what he wants. I barely know who he is anymore, I cut all ties with him and his family whenever he walked out of my home that day. We still do business with his family but his father is still the head and I leave my personal affairs at the door whenever I have to meet with Ricci Sr.

The discussion is wrapped up fairly quickly after that, I remain in total control of my emotions throughout the evening much to my surprise. Angel doesn't say much, in fact he doesn't say anything to me directly at all. My father kisses my forehead and tells me he is scheduled to fly back out to Sicily early in the morning. That pretty much adjourns the meeting. I swiftly exit the living area and climb the stairs back to the security of my room. I notice James and the other butler, Carisi, moving all of Angel's luggage to the adjoining suite. Giana won't make her appearance for a few more days, she apparently had quite a few dress shopping trips to attend before meeting her fiance here. Once in my room I close and lock the door and slide into my comfortable bed. Making a mental note to have one of the handy men around here come put a lock on my side of the bathroom door so I won't be unnecessarily disturbed by any unwanted guests. Then I do what every nineteen year old female does, I text my best friend.

Lara has been by my side since we were four, our mothers were like sisters. Her mom, Gia, stepped up to be the mother figure in my life after it became clear that one, my father had no idea what to do with a little girl and two, when everyone realized he was simply not going to remarry. Lara was there through the heartbreak that followed Angel's disappearing act. In fact, she was the one who finally managed to drag me out of bed and to the downtown strip. Which is, surprisingly, where I met Ari only a few months later. He was meeting new business associates and I was belligerently drunk. Lara and I had ended up in one of my father's downtown clubs one night and I managed to fall, yes fall, directly into Ari's lap spilling my cocktail all down his white button up. He was kind enough to help me to the bathroom, where I proceeded to vomit while he held my hair back and then very uncomfortably allowed me to use his wallet to finish off my last little bit of snow I had tucked away. From that point forward Lara deemed him my knight in shining armor and made it a point to accidentally bump into him on our nights out. She is fire and I am ice. She is loud and outgoing whereas I am more collected and level headed. We compliment each other and she's never failed me. So naturally I had to inform her of the absolute sh*t show that is now going down at my home.

Me: He's back.

Lara: Your father called mom, I've been waiting on you to call. How is it?

Me: Awkward. I mean, he's getting married. I haven't seen him in three years and holy hell, he still manages to melt me. I don't know if I can keep up this brave face for two whole weeks. Especially once his bimbo wife arrives.

Lara: OMG! Your dad did NOT disclose all the dirty details! Whose the sk*nk?

Me: Giana Moretti (cue my dramatic eye roll) The girl probably can't even tie her own shoe, much less be married to a mafia head.

Lara: Oh honey...I'm so sorry. You're so much better than she is. But if you ask me, you're a million times better than him so just go about your life and he'll be gone shortly.

I know...so why does it feel like he's going to rip my heart out all over again when he does finally leave? I shoot back an I love you with a heart emoji and lay my phone on the bedside table. I have to get ahold of my feelings, I'm with Ari and he's about to marry Giana. I shouldn't feel like this about him and I definitely shouldn't be silently hoping that it's all just some sick joke he's playing. I snuggle into my warm blankets and try to get some sleep, knowing tomorrow I'm going to have to face him all by myself without my father there to run interference. As I'm finally dozing off I faintly hear the bathroom knob turning but I'm already asleep before I can even decide whether I'm dreaming or if it was really happening.