The Mafia's Own

Chapter 3

Sophie's Pov

“Sophie!" Clara appeared out of nowhere, her smile spreading wide as she walked toward me. I heard her voice shout.

“Clara!" Not caring that I spilled a bit in the process, I immediately returned my drink to Ethan and shrieked to match her joy. Then, I embraced her while walking as rapidly as I could in my heels. I gave her a firm hug, encircling her in my arms. We were like two inseparable sisters, so it really sucked that I hadn't seen her in such a long time.

"Oh my goodness, you have been really missed. Without you, it truly isn't the same." She embraced me more firmly within her petite form.

I laughed, "I know."

"I've missed you too!" I took a few steps back and held her hands in mine while observing her closely.

“Clara, you look amazing,so so pretty!" I was in awe of the stunning dress she was wearing. It was a long, flowing, exquisite antique rose-colored strapless gown with a silver-patterned corset-like top that hugged her waist and accentuated her already-prominent breasts. Her perfect makeup complemented her hazel eyes, and her pitch-black hair was styled in an updo with a few stray strands around her face.

She had a wonderful appearance.

"Mom went above and above with this garment. It surpasses my expectations beyond measure." I gasped at the revelation as she gave me a cheeky wink.

"I didn't know you asked mom to make you a dress!" I squinted in her direction. As a designer, my mother created breathtakingly beautiful garments. She first launched a little business when we moved, but it quickly became popular, requiring us to expand, and today it is a well-known high-end boutique named Natalie.

Yes, she did choose to launch the brand under her own name.

"Yeah, well, I didn't want you to know because I wanted it to be a surprise, and -" Squeezing my hand with her other hand, Clara raised her hand to her chest.

"I love you so much, but you f*****g suck at keeping something like that a secret." She smiled innocently at me and said that.

She was right, so I opened my mouth to say something, then shut it again. I used to be the kind of person who would buy you a gift and then say, "guess what, I just got you," a few minutes later. She was aware of what I had gotten her for her engagement, after all. I instantly snapped a photo of the champagne glasses and texted her, saying, "OMG, these are so adorable!" I sent her the photo and am getting them for you.

I said, "Fair enough."

"But wow, what a sight! On you, that dress looks amazing. Who are you pulling out your teeth for, really?" With her fists on her hips, Clara raised an eyebrow at me. It's typical of Clara to constantly have her head in the clouds.

"No one." I rolled my eyes.

"Unlike you, my titties are covered up." I made a point.

"True, but I have a man now that I need to impress so he knows what awaits him, if you know what I mean." She winked, bringing me to laughter.

I looked around to make sure no one was in hearing distance and muttered, "Speaking of man..."

“Clara, are you positive this is what you want to do? You could always, you know, just run away? You may be sure I'll accompany you. I told her while wearing a serious look. I would leave everything and follow her if she decided to flee to another nation. Other than my mother, she was the only member of my family, thus I would stop at nothing to ensure her safety.

"I know I'm not capable of it. If I ever consider going away, he will find me and kill me for sure." She smiled sadly at me.

"Besides..." Clara went on.

"Anything will be preferable to sharing a home with him. All I have to do is leave. I must take a breath." She let out a sigh. It was true, as much as I hated to say it. To put it mildly, her father was an awful monster and abuser. He would touch her if she did something that he felt was improper. Once upon a time, her father returned from who knows where drunk on cocaine and alcohol, and he nearly killed her if he didn't regain some small sense of awareness.

Haha, I kind of thought someone would treat him the same way eventually.

Indeed.

"This is my way out of here." She assured me.

"As long as you're happy, I'm happy." I smiled a little and pulled her into a second embrace.

"Just remember, no matter what happen, he has been there and done that." Clara withdrew and gave me a lifeless, expressionless stare.

"I swear, Sophie if you say that one more time, I will beat you up and make you eat your phone." I smiled and poked my tongue out at her. I think I may have lightened the mood a bit too often with that sentence.(Should you have known)

How do I put it? Memes are essential to existence.

Have you finished making up? I feel so alone and alone here." Ethan pursed his lips and put his arm around my shoulder.

"Isn't this fantastic? The group has at last got back together." He exclaimed, and I simply shook my head and took his arm off of my shoulders.

"I did not spend that much time getting ready for you to get my hair into a tangled mess" .

He whispered, "whatever."

"Come, let me introduce you to my soon-to-be husband." She motioned toward a huddle of men who were standing, smoking cigars and sipping whatever poison they had chosen. I was not prepared for the fact that they were staring at us already.

There is really nothing scary about that.

No, not at all

"Have fun with that." Ethan mumbled, his blank impression still fixed on the men he could already see.

Are you unable to accompany us? Did you not just remark that you felt alone when you were by yourself? I shot him a sidelong glance.

"Yeah, but I'm not that lonely." He gave me a downcast smile.

"See ya!" Before any of us could speak, he remarked as he started to move in the other direction.

"Let's go." Clara grabbed my hand and we walked toward the men who were standing there watching us all move.

And it felt risky, for some reason.