Page 3 of Doll's Eye
Now, here we are, once again, making an attempt to cement the bond between the two families through another marriage proposal. It could be Tullio and Sarita again, but I doubt Tullio would sound so chipper on the phone if that were the case. Which still leaves quite a few more options.
Based on age and availability, we have me marrying Ezzo, the younger of the two De Luca brothers. Or it could be either Paolo or Santino paired with Sarita or the youngest of their clan, Vita. But my guess is Ezzo and me. Why else would they be calling me in?
No matter how hard I try to prove myself, I’m still only seen as a female. Change has been impossible to make in terms of tradition and status in the life of the mafia. The world around us continues to evolve, yet we’re still trying to come out of the Golden Age. Women are most important for their bloodline and dowry. Not to mention a fruitful uterus.
But I was born to prove them all wrong. Once I secure my place next to a man in power, they will see exactly what I, as a female, am capable of.
Thoughts of Ezzo being the one chosen for me stampede through my head as I pull up to the estate. I can actually consider myself lucky if that’s my fate. It could certainly be worse. He’s a good-looking Italian known for being charismatic and a lady’s-man. Too many women in my position are arranged from the moment of birth and bound to a much, much older man who is not only ugly with a gut but cruel too.
He’s seven years older than me, from what I recall, though that’s still a boy to me. Men don’t even begin to grow up until their thirties. I’ll definitely have my work cut out for me, but I’ll make a man out of him in no time.
I’m greeted by a couple of our men, who open my door and escort me inside the large estate where I reside. Only Armando moved out when he got married, and the rest of us most likelywon’t leave until we get married ourselves. Except for Tullio, since he will eventually take over as head of the family. Some of us have a small condo in the city to escape to sometimes, but this is home for all of us.
The estate was built by my great-grandfather and handed down to my grandfather and then my father. We’re the first generation to reside solely in the States. We have property and family in Italy, which we visit quite often, but this is where we were born and raised.
“Mmm.” I inhale deeply as I smell some of Mamma’s home cooking. I didn’t have much of a dinner before heading to the club, and her food was calling my name. I know that when I enter one of the rooms where Father tends to entertain, there will be some hors d’oeuvres made by Mamma for me to devour.
When I turn the corner, I take a deep breath and run my hands down my dress. My palms are already clammy, and my heart is racing with nerves. I’ve been prepared for chosen marriage for years, but it’s hard to believe the moment might already be here at twenty-one.
The double doors to the room are wide open as both of our families mingle. Every head in the room turns when I enter, and it’s all the confirmation I need. They were waiting on the bride-to-be.
Thankfully, I’m wearing something somewhat tasteful. My dress, adorned with rose gold pearls and jewels, is short with a small slit on one thigh, but I don’t have any cleavage showing, and the cream-colored, slouchy cardigan covers me up. Add in the rose gold luxury brand emblem buckle on my white belt, and you have a sexy yet classy ensemble. It's something acceptable by mafia royalty standards.
However, Angelo De Luca and his oldest son, Massimo, don’t seem to approve. Angelo looks at me with disdain, and Massimo looks at me with indifference.Aw, well, I can’t win them all.
Ezzo seems to like what he sees, and I guess that’s all that really matters. His eyes practically absorb every inch of my body, a little heat behind his gaze. It doesn’t do much for me, but still feels good to be admired.
As I traipse around the room to kiss ass and make nice with our guests, I feel a heavy presence weighing on my backside. Feigning oblivion, I continue to move about, but the curiosity chips away at my fortitude. Especially when I finally meet the invader head-on and learn that Ezzo’s gaze isn’t penetrating right through me.
Massimo De Luca blatantly stares at me and does not flinch when I catch him. His eyes remain impassive, and his face remains stony. He’s again trying to intimidate me, like he did years ago at the gala.
He rattled me then, and he rattles me now. But I was always taught to face my demons and never run from them.
With my shoulders back, I go to him, never letting my eyes waver from his. “Massimo.” I give him a kiss on his cheeks. Each move with confidence. “Nice to see you again. It’s been years, hasn’t it?”
His hazel eyes are much lighter than I remember. He’s also much taller. Even with my four-inch heels, he towers over me, which isn’t hard to do since I’m barely over five feet tall. But he is massive in height and fills his suit with solid muscle. The strength of this man…
“It’s been quite a few, Alessia. They’ve been good to you.” My skin lights up with goosebumps from the same baritone in his voice I can still remember so clearly. One corner of his mouth ticks as if he notices.
“Piccolina.”Little one. My father approaches me and places a kiss on my cheek and a hand on my lower back. “We’d like to have a private discussion with you.” Angelo comes to join our small group sipping on a glass of dark liquid and still looking atme with disapproval. Tullio isn’t far behind him, looking grave.Oh, shit. I glance around and quickly discover that Ezzo is not joining us, which means…I turn my gaze back to Massimo, and he’s still watching me with an empty stare.
“Right.” I gulp. “Lead the way,Babbo.” Tullio replaces my father at my side as we head out of the room and down to my father’s office. I can tell he wants to wrap an arm around me for comfort but knows I will give him shit for it later. I don’t need these pompous pricks thinking I’m at all diffident.
I know I can opt out of this arrangement or choose not to agree to it, but I promised my father that I would do whatever is necessary for the good of the family and the empire the several generations before us built.
If that is marrying Massimo De Luca, then that is my sealed fate.
Chapter two
Alessia
We all file into father’s office, the doors closing as we take our seats.
Tullio stands at my father’s side as he takes his rightful place behind his desk, and Massimo stands stoically at his father’s side as he takes the seat next to me. The room grows eerily quiet, and the tension thickens as we all mentally prepare ourselves for the forthcoming business transaction.
I haven’t felt so uncomfortable in my father’s office since I was caught smoking weed when I was thirteen. Other than that, I’ve always loved being in here. Visiting my father while he worked tirelessly day in and day out to continue our family’s legacy. I’d bring him lunch from Mamma and come pull him out to join us for dinner each evening. Sometimes, I sit on the worn loveseat with a book just to listen to his voice as he conducts business. It’s always been hard for him to find a lot of spare time for us, so I’d make time for him.
Many conversations surface my mind as I drift off momentarily.
