Under his protection

Chapter 14

Aria

It’s been two days since I’ve been here, and those two days have been the worst. Alice has made it her life’s mission to make my life a living hell. No matter how much I try to avoid her, she always finds new and improved ways to torture me. Fortunately, the bruise on my face was starting to fade, the angry purple had been replaced with a dull yellow, but that was just about the only good thing going for me.

Dante hadn’t replied to any of my messages. I figured he was busy or maybe he had more important things to do but that didn’t stop the annoyance I felt every time I checked my phone.

I was almost done getting ready for the day when I heard a soft knock on the door.

“Come in,” I called out.

Gemma walks in fully dressed and slumps on the bed.

I laughed. “It’s not even 8 yet and you seem already tired.”
Gemma and I have grown real close in the last couple of days.

“Ughhhh,” she groaned. “Everyone is so tense, since the Don is coming today apparently.”

I froze.

We hadn’t seen each other since that night, and the fact that he hadn’t even spoken or said anything made me feel like I imagined it.

“...than usual,” Gemma finished.

“Wait, what?”

“I said Alice is more icy than usual.” She looked at me funny. “Are you okay?” Concern seeping into her voice.

“Yh, I am,” I replied, adjusting my hair. “Just a little nervous.”

I sat beside her on the bed.

“You don’t have to be, I don’t think the Don will be bothered with housekeeping.” She smiled. “Besides, Alice won’t let anything go wrong, trust me.”

“So the Don… what’s he like?”

Gemma shrugged.“I couldn’t say if I wanted to. He’d been here for like three months before his wife disappeared, and he left to his private residence.”

“He doesn’t interact much with anyone except Greta, Tommaso and sometimes Alice, but like all mafia men, he would definitely be dark and ruthless, so I would advise you stay away from him.”

“I plan on keeping my head down, don’t worry.”

She snorted. “It’s not as easy as you think, we’ve had some ladies doing some stupid things, just to get his attention.”

I couldn’t help laughing. “Seriously?”

“Don’t worry, you’ll understand when you see him.”
If only she knew.

“Anyway, it’s his wife you have to be worried about, and luckily for us, she’s still missing,” she continued.

“What’s the deal with that anyway?” I tried to sound unbothered.

“No one knows, she just got up and disappeared.” Lowering her voice, she continued, “Rumor had it, he killed her and dumped her body.”

A cold feeling of fear settled in my chest.

Gemma immediately burst out laughing.

“Relax, I don’t think he did it. I mean, the backlash he is currently receiving from his missing mafia queen is way worse than what he would’ve gained if he killed her, even if he wanted to.”

I released a breath.

“Besides,” she continued, “he’s been actively searching. I don’t expect him to be putting himself through so much stress if he actually killed her.”

Disappointment settled over me. I could not explain it.

“We better leave before Alice sends one of the guards for us.” Gemma said, getting up.

I rolled my eyes.

“Great, back to housekeeping duties.”

“At least that nasty bruise is starting to fade,” she said, walking towards the door.

I followed behind her. Today is going to be a long day.

The day went by quickly.

Faster than I expected.

There was a shift in the air.

Tension.

Without being told, I could sense it.

The Don had arrived.

My stomach tightened with excitement, but I didn’t react. I just kept my head down and continued what I was assigned to do.

It was still a couple of minutes to dinner when Greta found me.

“Aria,” she spoke loudly, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Yes,” I replied.

“Go clean the library.” Her tone was firm and even.
“And... take your time.”

I didn’t understand what she meant, but I turned to leave anyway.

Pulling me by my arm, she whispered,

“I’ll let the Don know you are there.”

Oh.

I nodded, walking away quickly before she could notice the rush of nerves on my face.

The library was almost like I imagined. It was grand, quiet and perfect. Nothing was out of place. Shelves stretched from floor to ceiling. The air smelled of paper, taking back to my own library

I stood there for a second, taking it all in before I got to work.

There wasn’t a lot to do.

The place was spotless, but I still cleaned each surface.

Anything to distract myself.

Anything to keep myself from glancing at the door

I couldn’t help it, every few seconds my eyes flickered to it.

Nothing.

I felt stupid m.

Minutes turned into an hour, then two.

He wasn’t going to show up.

Maybe he had other things to do.

Maybe he just didn’t care and I wasn’t going to wait for him anymore

Squaring my shoulders. I left the library ready to retire to my room, but I didn’t get far.

“Aria,” it was Alice who called.

I turned around.

“Since you clearly have nothing better to do,” she said flatly, “you can help out after dinner.”

I kept my expression blank, careful not to roll my eyes.

“I was assigned to—”

“I really don’t care,” she cut in, her voice sharp. “Get in there, serve, and when they are done, clear up and try not to break something this time.”

I held her gaze longer than necessary

Then nodded simply.

The dining room was well lit. Dinner had already been served, and nothing seemed out of place.

Dante, Adriano and two other men sat at the table. They were all in deep conversation.

Adriano gave me a subtle nod, but Dante,

He didn’t even look in my direction.

Not once.

I had spent the last two days looking forward to seeing him and hoping we could have the conversation about…

I pushed the thought away, intending to focus on what I was supposed to do.

I moved carefully, picking up plates from the other two men seated across the table.

Alice stood by the corner, watching with a smug expression on her faces.

I could feel it.

Then I turned to leave, but she walked forward.

“Pick those up as well,” she gestured to the plates in front of Dante.

My fingers tightened around the ones I was already holding.

Of course.

Practically holding my breath, I moved to the spot beside him, looking everywhere but at him as I picked up the plate.

But I couldn’t help it.

Maybe just one peek.

I turned and froze.

Dante was already looking at me.

Not a casual glance, not absentmindedly.

He was staring, eyes locked onto mine, sharp and unmoving, like he had watched me the whole time.

Slowly, the air shifted.

His gaze dropped to my cheek before snapping up to my eyes again.

His jaw clenched and his expression darkened.

The conversation at the table slowed, then stopped.

The entire room went still then,

“What the f**k happened to your face”