A Mafia Daughter 1

Part 8

Viviana heard a soft knock on her door. She had been sitting at her for almost two days, refusing to answer calls or go out.

"Yes?" She asked, expecting to hear the housekeeper.

"Viviana, it's me. May I come in?" Viviana jumped and ran to the door, pulling it open in an instant. She looked at her father for a minute before letting him pull her into his arms.

"Figlia mia." He said, holding her tightly. Viviana had never been so happy to have her father home. She had been terrified, feeling so alone over the last couple of days. When she was younger and in school, she had always wished for a life in a big city where she could get lost in the crowds of people. She hoped she might have her own apartment someday, a space she wouldn’t have to share but at this moment, she couldn’t fathom it.

"I'm so sorry this happened." He said, the housekeeper was pouring them coffee downstairs. "It is my fault, to have let you stay away so long."

Viviana shrugged, she did not want to say that it was his fault for ever getting involved with the Mafia in the first place… even if it was the truth.

"If you had been here, you would have been more prepared but... ayy What am I talking about? You are a woman and you need someone to protect you." He said. Viviana stood and walked towards some very large, very beautiful flowers on a side table in the kitchen. There were several more in the house.

She was angry with her father and did not want him to notice.

"Those are some very beautiful flowers." He said, noting Viviana's face growing softer as she played with them.

"I think so." She said, a weak smile forming on her face.  She grazed them with her fingers, adjusting one, maybe another, but gently… almost reverently.

"Who are they from?" He asked, raising a brow.

"Matteo." she said, simply, walking into the kitchen and back with a fresh vase and water.

"He was with you?" He asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yes." Viviana said simply. She was thankful he was. He had saved her, he had protected her and over the last two days she couldn't stop thinking about him. She saw his fury that day, she knew he had fired shots in return and she had seen his anger. But he had saved her, and now she found herself fighting the feelings she felt for him. Feelings she was afraid to admit were emerging.

The phone in the hall began to ring, and as Viviana made no move away from her flowers, he stood and went over to answer it.

Viviana finished rearranging the flower in the vase. She made a mental note that tomorrow she would go down to the office and thank Matteo for that day... and for her flowers.

Of one thing she was certain, she hated this world, she hated it. But, she would never, ever forget what had happened and she would stop blaming Matteo for the world he, just like she, was born into.

"Viviana, that was a call from the Don. He asked for your health." Her father said.

"That was kind of him, please tell him I am well... just tired. " She said, sitting down and staring at the vase.

"He has asked me to come to him tonight." Her father said. Viviana turned to look at him wide eyed.

"But you just got back... I thought you would be here with me." She protested. Her father walked over to his daughter and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"I'm sorry but don't you worry. It is only for a couple of hours. I will be back tonight." He said. Viviana pouted like a child.

"Then should I wait for you for dinner?" She asked.

"No, you go ahead. I may be late." He said as he left the room.

Viviana sat quietly for a few minutes, debating whether she should call one of her sisters. It was terrible that her father had just returned and now he was being called in to work. Yes, he was the best cleaner, but her father was getting older and his family needed him too. If only the Don would let him retire.

Viviana sighed, wondering how much longer it would be before he was given his reprieve and then it hit her.  Matteo.

Viviana would plead with Matteo. Matteo had already proved to be much more sensible than she thought- the way her took care of her and everyone else proved it. Maybe she could plant the seed- her father's time was done.

Would her listen to her? She was after all, just a woman. But Matteo wanted her- she knew he desired her as a woman. She wondered frantically if maybe he would listen to her. He seemed eager to please her… would it hurt to try? It was settled.

Tomorrow she would head to the office to see Matteo- she would thank him first and foremost and then she would speak to him about her father.

---------

Felipe Aliotta entered The Don's office after he was announced. He entered and immediately went to the Don's side, kissing his hand as was customary.

The Don was seated behind his desk, his son, Matteo, was standing at the window smoking a cigar.  After he greeted Matteo, he took the seat that was offered him, as well as a cigar from Matteo.

"I am glad to see you back safely, my friend. " the Don began.

"It is always a pleasure to do business for you." Felipe said.

"I have to say, I am very sorry about the scare your darling Viviana had." The Don continued, "it is a terrible mess and we are working to resolve it."

"I trust that you will take care of things." Felipe replied.

"We are all in agreement that you have to work, but it is no good to leave such a young girl without the protection of a man." The Don said.

"It is lamentable she does not have any brothers." The Don continued after some silence. "You and I have been friends for a long time. We played as children in the 60s, and you were at my side, as was your father at my father's side, during the hardest of times. I love you like I love my brothers."

"It is an honor." Felipe said, "And I have the highest esteem and respect for you."

"I am glad, that we share this mutual love. My son, Matteo, My only boy came to me the other day, with an idea that I think you will love. It is his request, and mine on his behalf and I hope that you will be happy to accept." The Don said, as always in his colorful words.  Felipe sat back in his chair, he knew where this was heading. He had suspected this for days now and if he was right, then he would be more than happy to comply.

"Whatever I can do for your family, Please consider it done." Felipe said, waiting for the words to be spoken.

Matteo smiled and patted Felipe on the back.

"Then I ask you, most humbly, to give me your blessing. I wish to be the person that will care for and protect Viviana. If you accept- then I would like to make her my wife."

---------------

Viviana had taken special care in how she dressed today, pinning her hair up in place and choosing a simple but nice dress. It was strange how nervous she was about going to see him- the first time she didn't feel completely antagonistic towards him. It was a strange feeling that grew in the pit of her stomach. She was nervous but she was also anxious. She wanted to see him but she was afraid of herself for it.

She knew who he was, she knew they were criminals and she knew for certain she wanted no part of this world, but she also knew that as the Don's son, he might be able to help her. Of course, he wouldn't be able to get her out of the mafia, that was understood, but he could maybe help her get her father retired.

Besides, her face softened when she thought about it, he really had saved her that day. 

It seemed bizarre to her to be walking around in broad day light after what happened. The entire drive, all she could think about was how many men were on every corner, watching... waiting.

As she crossed the street, she practically ran into the building. It was silly maybe, but being outside was still hard.  After she caught her breath, she walked over to security desk, trying to be as casual as possible.

She looked down the hall, her father's door was shut and then a voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Ms. Aliotta, Hi! I'm afraid your father is out at the moment." It was the guard who sat at the sign in desk.

"Actually, I'm looking for Mr. Matteo." She said as she wrote her name.

"Oh, well, Mr. Matteo's office is the very last one on the right but he's in a meeting. Would you like to wait?" He asked.

"Yes. I'm going to the Lady's room but if you see Mr. Matteo, please let him know I'm here." She said, heading towards the bathroom.

"Will do." The guard said, looking back down at the papers on his desk.

Viviana looked herself over in the mirror. She should have worn pants, she thought with a frown. Matteo might get the wrong impression if she showed up this flirty. But the real question was whether her feelings for Matteo were really the same? Viviana shook her head. It didn't matter. The last thing she wanted was to get more involved than she was with the Mafia.

Viviana stepped out of the lady's room and was about to turn the corner back into the waiting room when she overheard two men speaking. Maybe it was instinct, but she stepped back into the shadows so as not to be seen.

"He's a dead man. It's obvious he talked..." One said to the other.

"Matteo isn't known for his patience." The other remarked.  Viviana gulped, thinking she couldn't have heard right.

She stepped into the hall, noting from this point she was out of sight of the guard, and tip toed backwards, wanting to see what it was they were speaking about.

As she grew closer to Matteo's door, which was slightly ajar, she overheard a man grunt.  Squatting close to the floor, she peeked in.

Matteo was leaning against his desk, rolling up his sleeves.

"Tell me, Stevie, How much did they say they would pay you to betray us?" Matteo asked with a laugh but there was no humor in his voice. Viviana looked to the man, who could not respond because he was bound and gagged to a chair.

"that's too bad- i would have liked to have heard your side of the story..." Matteo said, picking up a gun from the desk behind him.

Viviana stared wide eyed as Matteo slapped the man across the face with his gun, an expression 100 times darker than what she had seen previously.

"Get rid of him." Matteo said, throwing his gun back on the desk.

Viviana quickly scrambled to her feet, running out of the hall and out the building, ignoring the cries of the guard as she did so.

Matteo stepped out of his office just a few minutes later, deciding he would take a short walk. As he made his way to the front, the guard signaled for him.

"Mr. Matteo" He said. Matteo was in a foul mood.

"What is it?" He asked.

"I thought you would like to know that Ms. Viviana Aliotta was here to see you." The guard said. Matteo suddenly felt lighter.

"She did, what time?" He asked, looking at the sign in sheet.

"Just right now, but she left quickly and said nothing. She looked upset."

Matteo noted her sign in time and realized angrily that she must have seen something she didn't like.