Chapter 5 Chapter :5
The ballroom doors open for them, and the very first thing Lydia's eyes noticed were the crystal chandeliers, velvet grapes and tall windows everywhere. Men dressed in dark suit and women covered in diamonds.
Mafia's lords surrounding the place, all very important people, terrible people see thought. However, there were a few judges, businessmen, models, actors. Billionaires who made Empires on blood. Every monster present here.
The moment Lydia and Arthur stepped into the mansion, everyone went quiet. All eyes on Arthur Romero and his "wife". The air shifted and head turned. Some nodded in pure respect while others looked away from fear of Arthur.
Although, Lydia acknowledged all of it, she observed everything. Her hands holding his arms and his hand on hers. the grip was tight. Her husband made everyone fear him, obey him.
She couldn't help but think what worst things Arthur had done to them, or was their life the same as hers?. Had he trapped most of them as well.
But their smiles, and confidence made her think otherwise.
Lydia held onto Arthur's arm tight, unconsciously. But Arthur noticed it, looking down, he saw Lydia's nails digging into him but he didn't flinch. Rather he rubbed her hand softly. Again, this was something out of character for him as well.
However, whoever looked at them, they were shocked to see this side of Arthur Romero.
"Why are they looking at me?" She asked. A frown gaining on her.
Arthur slightly bent down to her level.
"You are my wife Lydia. A very powerful woman here tonight. That means more than you understand. This is your life now. Hold your head up, don't let them see your weakness." He said, surprisingly sounding just like his mother.
Lydia huffed, she was about to roll her eyes but stopped herself.
"Please don't pretend like you care about me. You just don't want me to embarrass you." Lydia corrected him and Arthur simple pulled her closer to him. His eyes sharp.
"If I didn't care, you wouldn't be here at all. Monster's feel when they want to." He whispered, reminding her the reality.
"Are you trying to threaten me?" Lydia asked.
"I wouldn't say that." He said almost immediately, his eyes glancing throughout her every feature on her face.
"You are going red." He whispered, surprising her.
"Huh.." She muttered, stunned. But Arthur immediately looked away, guiding her through the place. Lydia was uneasy, mad, frustrated, but she could only trust Arthur. That angered her even more.
Before she could say anything to Arthur, a man approached them.
"Arthur. Right on time." The man said, warmly extending his hand. He was younger, with broad shoulders and the same height as the mafia king. However, the air between them still felt dangerous.
"Matteo." Arthur said, giving him a firm hand shake.
"It's been too long." Matteo said laughing, happy in Arthur's presence.
"Matteo. You've gotten reckless away from my absence. Italy hasn't made you soft, has it?" The King asked, smirking.
"Hardly." Matteo said in a wolfish grin. That's when his eyes went to the lady.
"This must be the wife we have all heard about." These words made Lydia forced very polite smile And before she could even decide anything to say to him, Arthur pulled her closer to his side. Almost if he was protecting her.
However, his grip was not very strong, rather firm.
"This is Lydia Romero." Arthur introduced her and his tone coming of like steel.
"And Lydia, this is Matteo Matin, a friends. One of the few that I would trust with my life." Arthur muttered. She was stunned to hear that Arthur Romero had a friend. that word wasn't lost on her.
"Pleasure." She whispered, putting a lot of force in her words.
Matteo smirked, she was curious about her.
"She is very brave Arthur. Most men and women in this room cannot even look and meet your eyes." Matteo said never looking away from Lydia, but he wasn't taunting her.
"She is not as fragile. " Arthur said simply. And there was a kind of pride in his voice, and Lydia only huffed.
"I can see that. Come on, there are a lot of people anxious to talk to you. Mostly about business." Matteo said.
All three of them continued to move deeper into the mansion. While Lydia's heartbeat was getting even faster as they moved into the crowd. Immediately her eyes landed on an older man, sitting like a king on a very large, carved chair, near a fire placed.
He had silver hair and a cane resting across his knees.
"Don Salvatore." Arthur said, with some kind of rare deference.
"It's an honor Arthur. I have been waiting for you." Don immediate stood up, but his eyes quickly went to Lydia as well.
"And this must be the women who dared to marry you. That's a Queen quality for sure." Don said with pride.
"Dared?" Lydia emphasized on that, frowning. Don Salvatore lips started to curve faintly.
"It takes courage to chain yourself to a wolf Arthur." The old man said and Lydia's cheeks went red, but before Lydia could answer, Arthur spoke up.
"She is not change Don. She is walking beside me." the King spoke up, and something in his words gave Don softness in his eyes.
"Good, then perhaps you are wiser than I thought, and your wife is more powerful than anyone standing here." Don said and the tension still rising between them.
"Can we leave?" Lydia muttered and that was enough for Arthur. he simply took her away from there. As they stepped away, she got closer to Arthur. Her voice a little too sharp.
"Can you not act like you care about what happens to me?" Lydia said, sounding irritated.
"You said it yourself, you only want me a live, not be happy." Lydia reminded him as they continued on walking, but Arthur stopped right there and then, turning his head to look at her.
"Do you think those things are the same thing alive and happy?" He asked, his voice rough.
"Of course not." His eyes lingered on hers, dark and intense.
"Then understand this, Lydia. I can keep you alive here and everywhere. The rest..." His voice lowered, almost intimate.
"The rest depends on you." Arthur said, his voice carving her chest.
Lydia opened her mouth to answer, when then the air shifted again.
The orchestra stop playing in the music at the same time be started at the same time people started a chat as well then that it's another broad man walked into the ballroom.
"August and Arthur in the same room." Someone said and Lydia's spine shivered. She had heard of August Moretti as well. He was a Mafia as well, powerful but not as much as Arthur. But they were rival, their fear ran wild, and both their anger as well.
Arthur's grip on her got tight this time. More like it was hurting her.
Arthur didn't raise his voice when he said the name.
"August." It was barely a sound from him. This was more his breath than Arthur's words. however, Lydia felt it all the same. His voice was cold and precise and Lydia's fingers curled unconsciously tight in the fabric of Arthur suit.
It was a small and a betraying movement for her. Lydia couldn't help herself.
She too knew the name August. Everyone did.
August Moretti
The orchestra was still stunned to see these two powerful men together. A violin went off-key for a second before going back to it's original rhythm. But the music had completely lost all of its soul. It all sounded too hollow. Lydia could not miss any of it.
August, on the other hand, walked through the crowd and the man eyes only on the Arthur the entire time. He was tall, and immaculate, just like the King. His movements completely unhurried,, moreover like a predator in his calm state. And the truth was that, he was very just like Arthur. The same air surrounded them.
But people seemed to fear Arthur more. They simply feared the fact that they both were here together.
The smile that was now curving his mouth was slightly slow and also intimate. He was Dangerous.
"Arthur Romero" August said, while his voice came out smooth enough and all this to pass for charm. However, it was sharp enough to cut skin. Arthur was calm, and naturally. he didn't even flinch.
"You walk into a room Romero, and the room holds its breath, and yet. hmmm" August eyes looked around theatrically, his nature. "It feels like all of them here were waiting for me.. Could I be wrong?" He asked, smiling bright.
Men around them shifted and all their shoulders stiffened as well. A few women started to lean closer to their escorts for comfort. Or they simply wanted to leave. Instinctively most were seeking shelter while other found it entertaining.
Arthur did not move an inch.
He stood solid, while his one hand peacefully resting at Lydia's waist. Arthur 's face now unreadable, but his jaw clenched the entire time.
"Somethings don't change. Still talking too much." Arthur replied calmly. "And also, still confusing attention with importance. You still have too much to learn from this worth Mr. Moretti." Arthur finally spoke and the room listened to him.
Lydia's eyes on her husband who had no fear. Lydia could smell the power and anger on Arthur.
August, on the other hand, laughed it off, under his breath. "Ah right." he said fixing his suit.
"Same old Arthur Romero." He muttered, while his gaze drifted slow and deliberately, until they landed on Lydia.
Lydia froze and her finger unconciousely held onto Arthur jacket. Digging her nails into it.
Augusts eyes didn't rush around her. Rather he took his time and he traced her, immediately measuring her, claiming everything on Lydia's skin, and all this without touching it. It was invasive. More like his hands were sliding where it didn't belong.
Arthur felt red anger around him. His hands clenched. And Lydia's breathing shallowed almost immediately. Arthur felt it instantly. The hitch in her, and the tension in her body. The way Lydia completely went rigid beside him. Arthur's fingers tightened at her waist and this was not in anger, but in response. He was suddenly possessive.
A warning came through him.
"Don't." Arthur Romero's voice came through like fire. And that was once said and it was enough.
Just one word. Very low and final as well.
August's smile went all wide. "Careful, Romero. I was only admiring the beauty with you." He said putting his hands up, in defense.
"You were staring, at what doesn't belong to you" Arthur corrected him and his tone sharpened through out. "Look again and you won't leave this room standing." Everyone knew this was the truth of Arthur Romero
For a split second, something dark immediately flickered in August's eyes. He was Interested. And then he was amused. A smile creeping on him.
"So it is true." August murmured.
"The lone wolf has finally chained himself. I thought I heard it wrong." He said, tilting his head and at the same time studying Lydia. Like a flaw in Arthur's armor. And this made Arthur lose his mind.
There was only black in his eyes and noting more. "My wife. Lydia is my wife." he corrected August.
"Wife." August smirked as he whispered, and smiled kindly.
"How...human of you, finally Arthur." Arthur stepped forward and it wasn't dramatic. Just one measured step, but the entire air shifted with it. The threat became very much real this time..
"She is not a chain, August. She is the line you do not cross." he instructed and a ripple went through the room. People were murmuring and it was the unease for them.
Lydia could feel Arthur not just beside her, but around her. Like he was a shield, a wall to her. His thumb brushed once and firmly at her side. All because, Arthur felt Lydia's fear. He had registered it and something in Arthur had snapped into place. And all that just for her.
August's gaze flicked to that small gesture. He calculated everything.
"Is that so?" August said softly.
"Hmmm. Because from where I stand Arthur, you've finally have given me something you care about. And now the world knows" August said, while his eyes returned back to Lydia.
"Now you have something I can reach." The said while the room gasped around them.
Arthur did not hesitate.
He took Lydia's hand, forcing the entire room to witness the claim. He slowly pressed his lips to her knuckle and not tender, not gentle but absolute. This was a ceremony for all of them and his eyes never left August.
"You will never reach her. Not in this life."
For the first time, August's smile cracked. Just slightly. Meanwhile, Don Salvatore's cane struck to the marble and he was tired.
"Enough gentlemen." The sound echoed like a gunshot all around the place.
"This is a event, and your mother's place Arthur. I will have you both respect this land." The old man said loudly. His voice rough with authority the entire time.
"And, I will not have it turned into a testosterone fueled war zone. There are men here who don't belong to our world. You shame us all with this display." He said, stunned by both of them.
August inclined his head, and he was mockingly respectfully.
"My apologies, Don. I forgot myself It will not happen again."
His eyes sliding back to Arthur, cold now.
"I look forward to seeing how long that strength of yours lasts, Romero" he murmured.
"Enjoy your evening, happily married couple." he smirked, and walked away. And just like that, he was gone. Melting back into the crowd, but not entirely disappearing. Never disappearing, not August.
The room was breathing again but Arthur didn't.
Only when August was a safe distance away from all of them did Arthur turn slightly, angling his body to block Lydia from the view. His hand remained on her waist, even to this time. Anchoring her without a word.
Matteo appeared right back to him.
"He wanted a reaction out of you Arthur." He said quietly. "From you. From Lydia."
Arthur's jaw flexed. "He got nothing."
Matteo, on the other hand glanced at the new bride. And at her tightness in her posture, moreover, the way she hadn't moved since August arrived. "Are you sure?" He asked and Arthur didn't answer him.
Instead, his fingers tightened around her, just enough for her to feel him with her. Her eyes were simply on the fire right in front of her. She simply wanted to feel heat. But Arthur's grip did make her feel something warm.
His eyes never left her, and through his grip he made her feel like.
"I've got you."
And for the first time since the forced vows they both took from each other, since the cold commands and silent nights, Arthur Romero wasn't acting like a captor, he was speaking the truth.
He was a husband, guarding something the world had just been warned not to touch.