My Mafia Madness 4

Chapter 35 - Radiance & Reassurance

Dante could hardly hold himself upright at the sight of his beauty Alexa as she came strolling out into the main foyer with her long golden hair swaying healthily behind her head and a dazzling smile upon her face.

She looked beyond radiant.

And she was wearing the cocktail dress that Dante had specially made for her, in honour of this special event for her.

The dress was demure enough to have all important areas covered from view, while also showing off her long legs and part of her cleavage.

Made of what looked like black silk, it had a plunging neckline that came down to slightly above her bellybutton, and her long lantern sleeves showed off parts of her shoulders and arms.

The dress gave the illusion of showing off more flesh without actually doing so.

And it had Dante about ready to blow at that very moment as he stood staring at her. His mouth open in astonishment.

He swallowed with uncertainty, unable to tear his eyes away from her as she came to approach him, one step after the other.

To add to it, she was wearing a pair of six-inch black sequin heels which extenuated her legs perfectly.

In Dante’s eyes, she looked like a goddess walking the Earth.

Of course, he had hoped she would look nice in it, but he hadn’t quite expected her to look this good!

With her dressed in such a way he was now about ready to march her back up to their bedroom right then and there.

Her family be damned!

“Well?” came her angelic voice as she tilted her head off to the side, still smiling happily.

“How does the dress look?”

“The dress?” Dante replied before he could stop himself.

Immediately frowning at how foolish he had just come across, and in front of his men no less, the Don shook away his sudden daze and cleared his throat before going on to answer her.

“Incredibly, amore mio.”

Holding out his hand for her, she too reached out to take it as he pulled her into his chest.

As soon as he had her in his arms he couldn’t resist kissing her and leaned in, claiming her luscious lips with his own.

But Alexa quickly slid both hands in, pressing against his chest as she pulled away frowning.

“Hey, let's try to keep things PG here, hmm?”

She quirked at their public display of affection, glancing around at Dante’s henchmen who were all standing around waiting patiently with their Don to depart.

“Let’s not make a scene, alright?”

Dante let out an animalistic growl, deep and primal as he leaned in and reclaimed her lips once more.

This startled Alexa at first, but she soon melted into his embrace, allowing their passion to run wild.

As they eventually pulled apart, her lips were red and raw, her eyes glazed over as she opened them and stared into his.

His eyes were almost glowing with dominance as he stared back at her.

“f**k you’re beautiful.” he proclaimed proudly.

Her cheeks instantly reddened with embarrassment as she shyly turned her head away from him and his compliment.

“I truly am the luckiest man in the entire world.”

Chewing on her bottom lip for a moment, Alexa was about to say something in response when the sound of an all-too familiar voice spoke up from where they were entering the foyer.

“Oh my God! Girl, you look fabulous!”

Willow cried out with excitement as she came trotting over towards her best friend Alexa.

“Wow, that dress is super sexy! Where the hell did you get it?”

“Actually, Dante got it for me.”

Alexa beamed happily, turning to face him for a second.

“As a gift.”

“Of course, he did...” Willow replied knowingly, giving the Don a sharp glance and a wink before turning to see Roberto stepping into the foyer after her.

“Have fun you two. We’ll hold up the fort until your return.” Roberto, the taller Romano brother announced as he came to stand beside his red head girlfriend.

“Good luck with meeting the family, Alexa.”

Alexa smiled at his comment.

“How are you feeling about it?” Willow enquired cautiously.

“Nervous?”

“Yeah.” Alexa admitted openly, nodding her head.

“Honestly, I am very nervous. I mean, I don’t know any of them. And my mother, I’ve not seen her in like almost ten years.”

Willow reached out, grasping at Alexa’s exposed arm with a comforting grip as she spoke to reassure her bestie.

“Don’t worry. You’ve got this big lug here with you for support.”

She gestured with a nod of her chin at Dante as she spoke.

“If they’re anything like you, I’m sure they’ll be lovely.”

“Shake those nerves off, Lex. You’ve got this. You’re gonna have a great time, just wait and see.” Roberto joined in with reassuring her.

Letting out a long exhale, Alexa nodded her head and smiled.

“You’re both right. They’re family, there’s nothing to worry about.” she admitted aloud.

“Well, wish me luck…”

With that, Dante held out his hand for Alexa and the couple walked together outside to where the pristine black limousine was parked and waiting for them.

It was time for her to meet her estranged family. A family she never even knew had existed until only recently, thanks to Dante’s research and limitless connections worldwide.

This should be a happy moment for her…

Shouldn't it?

-

Across from the city Don Liam Levine sat in his private office with a visitor. One he had been expecting to arrive anytime that morning.

A visitor that had come with a proposition for him.

The two powerful men were each seated in their own armchairs around a glass coffee table which had been positioned between them.

And while Liam sat proudly with power in his own home, his guest too sat with an aura of overconfidence and a sinister grin spread wide across his face.

“I trust I can count on your irrefutable allegiance in this shared matter of ours, Don Levine?”

The visitor began to query, pressing both hands together in front of him as he stared his host down with obvious caution.

Leaning back into his seat, Liam looked as if he were possibly considering the rather generous offer which had just been given to him.

His expression showed just how seriously he was taking the matter at hand as he remained silent in thought.

When he did eventually speak his reply, Liam made sure to keep his face void of expression.

“I must say… you present me with an incredibly tempting offer, Don Moroni.” Liam admitted, using his fingers to brush his chin.

“However, you must also understand the difficult position it would place me in should I accept your offer. As I understand, my granddaughter Alexa already shares a child with Don Romano. Not to mention that they obviously care for one another a great deal. Enough to even have a child in the first place.”

Vincenzo scoffed, waving his hand dismissively in the air as he spoke to counter the claims.

“How the two feel for one another means nothing in the dark world we live in, Don Levine. You know this all too well. And as head of a Mafia Family, you and I both know what it means to sacrifice what is the most important to us for the greater good of our family and their secure future, correct?”

From his current facial expression, Liam appeared to take this on board as Vincenzo went on.

“There are times where we as leaders must make the harder decisions. Decisions that ensure the stability and prosperity of our families for the many generations to come. Alexa may not like the idea now, true, but by joining our two great families through marriage we can ensure the sturdiness of our united households for many years to come.”

“Hmm… I see.” Liam spoke, still stroking his chin.

“And regarding their illegitimate child… that little issue can be corrected with merely the snap of my fingers. I have my ways, you see.” Vincenzo added.

Glancing down at the polished hardwood floors beneath his expensive shoes, Liam looked solemn. As if he were hurting inside. Hurting for what he was considering doing.

Noticing that he appeared to have won over his hosting Don, Vincenzo spoke one last thing, with hopes of nailing the lid on Dante’s coffin.

“Side with me, Don Levine. With your granddaughter by my side not only will I provide you with many future heirs to continue carrying on the powerful Levine name for generations to come…”

Vincenzo paused, coming to stand up from his seat and assert his power within this glorious moment of triumph.

“…but together we will be unstoppable in the eyes of all who dwell in the criminal underworld. No more having to answer to others who hold more power than us. No more senseless boundaries or rules to abide by. As one, our two great families will become an unbreakable power unlike anything the world has ever seen.”

Liam had to hand it to Don Moroni, he certainly knew the right things to say to convince him.

“And the Reaper?” Liam asked, purely out of curiosity on the matter.

Vincenzo shrugged carelessly.

“What about him?”

“Come now, Don Moroni. I seriously hope you do not think me a fool. We’ve all heard the rumours of just how dangerous the Reaper can be when cornered by his enemies.”

Liam reminded aloud as he too stood up from his seat and continued.

“He has a terrible reputation and good reason. In fact, from what I’ve seen and heard, he’s a rather worthy adversary to challenge in the first place.”

Vincenzo narrowed his eyes at his host.

“Just what are you insinuating, Don Levine?” he queried.

It was Liam’s turn to shrug now before he spoke in response.

“Just that you should never underestimate your opponent. In the end, killing a man like Dante Romano may not be as easy as you believe it to be.”

What happened next had Liam completely stunned as he stood by watching it happen before his very eyes. He hadn’t expected it, that was for sure!

Vincenzo began to laugh.

Not just any old laugh, but a deep-bellied and sinister laugh, one that a villain would do in a movie scene. As if what Liam had just told him held no merit whatsoever within his mind.

And when he did eventually cease his laughter, Vincenzo glanced at his host with a villainous expression.

“You just do your part in our little plan, Don Levine. Leave Dante to me. It’s all been arranged.” he proclaimed confidently.

“In a couple of hours, the infamous Reaper of New York City will be but a distant memory. And nothing more.”

-

The trip into Castle Levine took what felt like forever for a highly anxious Alexa as she sat fidgeting with the material of her skirt for the entirety of the trip.

Something that Dante who was seated beside her quickly picked up on.

Sliding in closer towards her, so that their behinds were touching up against one another, Dante leaned in to speak into her ear.

His hot breath fanned out across her ear and neck as she listened to his soothing voice.

“Relax, bella… you’re gonna do great today. Trust me on this.”

Her shoulders slumped forwards as she let out a long hard sigh.

“What if…”

She suddenly paused, unable to speak the last part of her question aloud to him for some unknown reason.

But as he reached out his hand, placing it on top of hers and giving it a squeeze to reassure her, she went on to finish her question with new confidence.

“What if... they don’t like me?”

This earned her a frown of disbelief from Dante in return.

“Don’t like you? Alexa, you’re a brilliant, beautiful, loving and caring person. You’re funny, witty and full of fire.”

He leaned in even closer now, so that their lips were mere inches apart.

“They're gonna love you as much as I do.”

Looking away from him in disbelief, Alexa’s frown deepened.

“It’s just… it’s been so long. Why didn’t any of them ever come looking for me after all this time? Why did my mother disappear after I left? I have so many questions that are still without answers…”

Suddenly, Alexa felt her breathing begin to quicken with each passing second and her heart thudded loudly within her chest, beating irregularly as if it were trying to burst out from within her chest.

It was as if she had forgotten how to breathe… and within seconds she knew what was happening to her…

She was having a panic attack!

Reaching out, she clutched at Dante’s suit jacket, grasping at his arm and squeezing as she fought desperately to breathe. To suck any air that she could deep into her needy lungs.

But it wasn’t working!

“D…Dante…”

She panted, her eyes widening with fear as she met his.

The Don’s eyes were full of worry for her and it took mere seconds before he realised what was wrong with her.

“Alexa, you're having a panic attack, amore. You need to focus on breathing normally…”

The Don began coaching her through it, as he had so very long ago when they first met in that company elevator by chance.

“Slow your breathing, remember? Deep breaths… in… and out…”

Fighting against her inner fears, Alexa nodded her head as she looked deeply into his mesmerising eyes and listened to his voice. To what he was telling her to do.

“In… and out… in… and out…” he continued to guide her.

And within mere seconds he had helped her to calm back down again. Her breathing returned to normal, and she felt rather silly for what had just happened.

“See, that’s better, no?” Dante mused with a kind smile.

He always looked so incredibly handsome whenever he smiled like that.

“Thank you.” she spoke softly, timidly like a mouse.

“I’ll always be here for you, bella. No matter what we face in our lives, I will always remain by your side. To love and protect you.”

Dante reassured her before lifting her hand up towards his waiting lips and kissing it tenderly.

“Always.”