Married To The Mafia

7. What Did She Do?

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|| ANIKA KING ||

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"What did you do all day, love?" I looked up at my husband. His eyes were trained on our three year old. Of course, he was talking to our daughter. He never talked to me. I was nothing but his namesake wife and the mother of his child. There was nothing else between us and I doubt there ever will be.

Not that I am complaining. I am happy with the life I get to live as long as my daughter is safe and happy and I get to be a part of her life.

"I played dress-up!" She clapped. "With Mommy and Aunties."

"Is that so?" Gregory pinched her nose while she scrunched it up, annoyed.

"Hmm.. Ava got a new favorite Auntie and I am a teeny tiny bit jealous." Daniella chirped. She sounded so sweet if you didn't know her reality, you would think she really was a sweet goodie two shoes.

"Who?" Rubina asked, looking from her plate.

"Aunt Joey!" Ava squealed. Her face lit up at the very mention of the weird girl. I guess that though she could be pretty immature for a grown woman, children liked how she was.

Rubina quirked an eyebrow. I could see she was a bit too interested in that woman from that dinner.

"Ava, are you done eating?" Daniella asked. Uh oh. I think I know why she want my baby off the dinner table. Can't this woman just take a break from preying on me? One peaceful dinner is all I ask.

She nodded, an angelic smile on her beautiful face. My beautiful angel.

"Use your words." Xander looked at her sternly.

She bit her lips, eyes watering but nevertheless choked out, "Yes Uncle Xander, I am done eating."

"Reema, get her washed up and in bed." Daniella said, eyeing me.

Reema came forward and helped Ava out of the seat. I stood up to follow them.

"Did I ask you to leave?" She said in a mocking tone.

I shook my head and sat down.

Everyone were looking between me and Daniella now.

"What did she do?" Rubina sound mad.

"Why don't you ask her yourself, grandma?" Daniella spat.

Gregory glared at me while Leon raised an eyebrow, concern evident on his face.

"I didn't do anything." I blurted out.

"No?" Daniella c****d her head. "What exactly were you doing talking to that Olivia?"

I looked down while I could feel four set of eyes glaring at me.

"Wouldn't it be suspicious or insulting if she didn't?" Leon tried to defend me.

"Well, I would have agreed if it wasn't for the look on her face which screamed 'rat'." Daniella glowered.

"Anika, tell me exactly what you said to her." Rubina said impassively but I knew the devil that lurked behind her emotionless façade.

"I just said that our family is a bit orthodox and that's why the marriage is happening this quick." I squeaked. Technically, I was telling the truth.

"Our family? This is not your family." Daniella sneered at me.

I clenched my jaw. This woman really is what they called the two-faced b***h. She is all nice and funny and cute in front of the world but is like this in real.

I feel so sorry for Stella. She is going to walk in thinking this is some beautiful lovely family and she is going to suffer.

And I can't even do anything about it.

That woman, Olivia, seemed a bit doubtful. I hope she pokes around and find some flaw in their façade.

Stella was blindly in bliss right now. And the other girl was too freaking stupid and immature.

Only Olivia could save her friend now.

"You are family to me, sis in law." I looked up to see Leon smiling at me. I gave him a weak smile and didn't dare look at the others who were definitely glaring at me.

"That Joanne is such a drama queen. She wants all the attention to herself." Daniella said after a while.

I looked down so that no one sees me rolling my eyes. She was ass-kissing her the whole day. I think that's the right word.

Though she does have a point. Joanne was too.. eccentric.

"What did she do?" Rubina put her fork down, folding her hands.

Of course, she wanted to know all about that character.

"She was throwing a tantrum over not wanting to be a bridesmaid or wearing peach colored clothes." Daniella explained.

"She seems fun to me." Leon said.

"That's why we say you have no skill at reading people." Xander responded.

Leon just held his hands up in surrender and returned to his food.

"She's interesting." Rubina remarked. And we all looked at her.

She looked at Leon.

"Since you like her so much, can't you make her a part of our family?"

I face palmed internally. Is she crazy? And I thought she was good at reading people. Isn't it obvious Leon likes Olivia?

Oh wait, how is she going to notice that when all she stares at is Joanne.

I am not allowed to talk much (read: at all) when there are guests. So I had all the time observing people.

Anthony and Stella were in love.

Leon was attracted to Olivia but she seemed indifferent. I found out later that it was because she already had a boyfriend, Jake or something.

Leon just gave her his signature 'Are you serious!?' look and resumed his dinner. Finally, the topic was about something random and not gossip and I was totally forgotten. Phew, now I can have my dinner in peace.

These people were always plotting and planning. I have no idea what they gain from doing it all the time. I got that they were a Mafia family and like any other, they wanted to get to the top of the food chain, but I honestly don't see why they have to make everything so freaking complicated.

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I combed my dark brown hair, tying it up in a top knot.

I massaged a bit of moisturizer below my eyes hoping my dark circles would just go away. I suffered from insomnia and it made me so tired having to run behind Ava all the time without getting any rest.

But I smiled to myself.

Ava is the best thing that happened to me.

Though this family treated me like s**t and Gregory didn't accept me as his wife though we are married, it was all fine as long as Ava was with me. And one more pro to living here was they didn't beat me up, like my brother did in my house.

I sighed. From hell to lesser hell. Heaven or at least nothing was not in my fate. And I had accepted that.

I saw Gregory walk out of the bathroom through the vanity mirror. He was wearing nothing but black boxers. And he stood there, drying his hair, showing off his abs and muscles.

Aroused? Definitely.

Make a move? Over my dead body.

I shook my head and put away my stuff. I quickly got to bed, covering myself with my blanket. (Yeah, we had different blankets.)

Gregory put away his towel and turned to me. I was facing away from him but I could see him through the mirror and man, did he look mad!

I decided to shut my eyes and pretend to be asleep so that I don't have to face his wrath. He was probably going to shout at me for trying to rat them out. And I was not in the mood for that.

I peeked through one eye and saw that he had given up on glaring at me and was now typing furiously on his phone. Thank heavens my husband didn't know I always pretended to sleep and I am actually an insomniac.

Suddenly there was loud banging on the door. I quickly sat up.

Gregory looked at me and then at the door, his hand reaching out for the pistol hidden under the cushion of the couch.

"Greg! Open up!"

I blew out the breath I didn't know I was holding when I heard Leon's voice.

Gregory quickly made his way to the door while I threw my blanket off of me and stood up.

"What's going on?"

"Olivia just called me. Their apartment got trashed. Their dog was stabbed. And Stella and Anthony are not picking their phones."

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I walked into the veterinary hospital with Daniella and Rubina. The men had left to their apartment to handle the situation there.

Stella and Anthony were at one of the family beach houses. The reception there was practically non-existent so Leon had contacted them by the landline.

They should be here in an hour or so.

"Olivia... Joanne..." Daniella called out as soon as we turned the corner to the Operating room.

Olivia stood up but Joanne still sat there, her face in her hands.

"Are you kids okay?" Rubina showed her fake sympathy.

"Yeah. They had left by the time we reached there." Olivia croaked out.

I gave her a small smile which she returned.

"Joanne, look at me." Daniella had knelt down before her. Oh please. She and her drama!

"It's just a dog, Joanne." Daniella said. "We will just get another one if it dies."

Olivia visibly flinched while Joanne tensed.

She looked Daniella dead in the eye. "Spew anymore s**t out of your mouth and no surgery will be able to fix it."

Daniella blinked, shocked. She clenched her fist but quickly relaxed.

"I didn't mean it that way." She said in a sweet voice.

"He's my son." Joanne said. "I don't care what you were thinking when you said that, never repeat it."

Daniella nodded and got up. She was clenching her teeth but controlling herself. But.. Olivia was watching her intently. Please catch on.. Please! It's all just an act!

Rubina sat down away from the drama and just stared ahead. She was here just to play the concerned family part.

I chewed my lower lip and then decided to do what my mind told me to.

I sat down next to Joanne and held her hand.

"I know what it feels like. I can't see a scratch on Ava so I know exactly how you feel with your baby in the OR."

She took a deep breath and turned to me, giving me a forced smile.

I looked up to see Daniella glowering at me.

Whatever.

The doctor came out after a while. Joanne rushed to her feet and approached him.

"The operation is over. He lost a kidney and we had to remove a part of his intestine. Otherwise he's fine." He explained.

Joanne took a step back and heaved a sigh of relief.

"You have to pay extra attention to his diet though. I will brief you on that. Let him stay here for two days then you can take him home."

Joanne nodded furiously as Olivia thanked him.

"Oh and sterilizing the wounds and duct taping it, smart move." He commended and walked away.

Olivia hugged Joanne and the duo cried their hearts out. They really loved their dog. More than how much the Kings love humans.

I stole a glance at the Devilish Duo and saw them looking at the exchange bored.

I wanted to roll my eyes at their insensitivity.

"I am sorry about what I said, Daniella." Joanne said and Daniella shook her head scolding her for apologizing to family.

"We should get going." Daniella said. "Grandma shouldn't stay up this late."

"I will stay." I said. I widened my eyes at my own guts to say it.

"No darling. Ava might wake up in the night and ask for you." Rubina said sweetly but her eyes were glaring at me.

I gulped and nodded and after saying goodbye, we made our way out of the hospital.

They were going to investigate who did this. And I hoped that even if they didn't find out who, they find out why someone had done this.

And I think I knew why.

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