Chapter 116
Lucky
It doesn’t take long before I realize how bored I actually am. Nico has only been gone a few hours and it is the afternoon. The spar was relaxing and I enjoyed ever minute of being pampered after the ordeal I have just been through. The masseuse was firm but not too firm. I followed it on with a pedicure and a manicure, now I’m sporting coral nails which make me feel uplifted. Somewhat.
In Nico’s large library I could almost feel like I’m in a version of Beauty and The Beast. Not that Nico is a beast, leastways not to me anymore. The ceilings are high and beamed, the walls all adorned with shelves upon shelves of books. Some new, some original. Who’d know that Nico would have this passion for books, yet even the New York property has a library.
“Madam, can I get you anything?” the butler asks me. Madam? That makes me sound old and I’m only in my twenties still. Although, having the experiences of life I’ve already had, I feel that I’m in my forties. What I need is to surround myself with new friends, go out to clubs and let my hair down. But that isn’t my life anymore. I am engaged to one of the most powerful mafia men in the world, thus I have to act accordingly. But the longing to go out and lose myself pulls at me.
The days when I was younger and would skip out without my father knowing were fun, dangerous and okay maybe stupid too, since I would dodge my protection and escape without anyone knowing.
“I’m fine thank you,” I tell him as I hold an original Shakespeare in my hand. It feels surreal that I have this is my hand.
“Can you have someone retrieve my mobile please? I’d like to make a call to my parents,” I tell him. He nods politely and leaves me in the library. I place the book back carefully and walk across the room over the Persian rugs and look out of the floor to ceiling windows at the mass of land that Nico owns.
Moments later, a maid appears and hands me the mobile. I thank her then take a seat on one of the love seats in the library and dial my mother’s number. Having lost Mia as my best friend seems to have placed a gaping hole in my chest. How could she turn on me like that? And where did she go? Is she safe? Should I even care? Nico will no doubt be on it. What I don’t understand is the connection between Mia and Yelena.
The phone rings at the other end, I wait for my mother to pick up. “Hello,” I hear her say in her Italian accent.
“Momma, it’s me. Lucky.” I need to hold the phone away from my ear as she screeches down the phone at me. It makes me smile.
“You are safe, oh, Lucky we were so worried about you.”
“Yes, Momma I am safe. Back here with Nico in Atlanta.“
“Good, we are so relieved. I prayed every night for you, Lucky. Your father and I haven’t slept. We have been waiting to speak with you,” she tells me, making me feel awful that my parents were not the first people I called once I got back to safety. No, instead I spent a wild night of passion with my fiancé. I had to have some headspace before I could face talking to my parents.
“Thank you, Momma. Everything is fine now. They have Yelena and will be questioning her. What happens to her afterwards is not something we need to concern ourselves with. Are you and Pappa, okay?”
“We are okay, looking forward to being able to see you again soon. Nico has spoken to your father. Apparently, he is moving everyone down to Atlanta so you and I daughter can prepare for the wedding.”
My smile broadens on my face. I turn and gaze out of the window as my mother talks about wedding stuff. “You know, Momma,” I say interrupting her. “It will be a small wedding. We are not inviting everyone. It will be only Nico and myself and our closest family. We have to keep the numbers down for safety reasons. He has too many enemies and we do not want extended family, Momma.”
She lets out a little sigh. “I understand. It was the same for your father and I. We had to have a small wedding because your grandfather Gianluca was at war with the Shapiro family back then. Awful business and everyone was scared.”
I could not ever imagine my grandfather or my father being scared of anyone. Aside from Nico, they are the fiercest men I know. Perhaps my mother refers to herself and her sisters.
“Lucky, I have some designs I’d like you to look at. I’ll send the images over,” she tells me.
“How about you create a Pinterest board, Momma and I will take a look.” My mother is addicted to Pinterest. It always makes me want to chuckle that the wife of a Don has such an interest in such things.
“Good idea, I’ll start it shortly. Is Nico there can we say hello?”
“Ah, he is in Vegas,” I tell her. There are a few seconds of silence. I’m expecting her to come bag with her disappointment that Nico has already left me after merely one night together.
“Vegas? What the hell is he doing in Vegas? You are only just home. What is wrong with that man?” I can hear the irritation in her voice. I knew it was coming.
“It’s fine, Momma. He had to go because of Dario.”
“That boy, he needs to be given some responsibility instead of having a free reign to do whatever he likes. In my day…” she doesn’t get to finish as I hear my father’s voice now on the line.
“Lucky, darling. We are flying in a few days to see you. Never mind your mother. After all these years in the business she still doesn’t get that business has to be taken care of and that Dario brother of his, is a wayward one.”
“Pappa, you are okay?” I turn back to face the room and admire the rows of books.
“Yes, yes, All fine. Nothing for you to worry about. Remember child, when you become the Mafia Queen, you will have responsibilities. Your husband must always come first. You will have to give up your life to support him.”
Hmpf, not sure I’m going to give up my life entirely. I fully intend to be active in Nico’s business.
He just doesn’t know it yet!