Chapter 79: Rags and Ritches 20

Aria

The dress I had to wear was short. Too short, like see my panties kind of short and I hated it. And the neck line was so plummeting I couldn’t wear a bra.

I hated that I either had to show my ass or my tits. It made me look like a call girl but cheaper. Like I had absolutely no self respect.

For about the millionth time since I had put it on, I tugged it down. And the edge of my nipple came into view. Grumbling, I fixed myself but not before I saw Dante grin out of the corner of my eye.

Asshole.

He was enjoying my discomfort. Knowing him he was the one who chose this monstrosity . He liked watching me squirm. In fact he liked dictating everything I did and thought, now I came to think about it. Dante had more power in the house than was usual. More than just being high up in the organisation.

Biting my lip, I frown. Why hadn’t I thought of that before? The fact that no one seemed to question him at all. It was more than just being liked and respected.

He had power.

I just wasn’t sure what kind of power yet. But I would figure it out. Just not tonight, tonight I just had to through the engagement dinner without flashing the world. And it was the world because I had spotted the paparazzi before we had pulled up in front of the most hip restaurant in town.

A restaurant. Not a private party like I had suspected. They wanted me seen now.

Damn, they were playing a game and I was an part of it. I just didn’t know what my part was.

Dante would be able to tell me. I opened my mouth to call him and snapped it shut again. Pushing the old man in his wheelchair in front of me. And looking every part the doting employee.

I rolled my eyes. And the academy award for best actor goes to- the thought scattered out of my mind as a flash went off in front of my eyes. Blinking rapidly I stumbled backwards. Right into the arms of a solid chest.  Crying out I span to lash out and looked up into a familiar and oh so welcome face.

“Judge.” I whispered.

For a second he looked confused. “Aria?” His dark eyebrows arching. “What are you doing here?”

I opened my mouth to answer him but nothing but a grunt escaped my whoreish painted mouth as Dante yanked me back.

The air between the two men crackled.

And I was caught right in the middle.

“Excuse us.” Dante’s voice dropped to a low growl. The words were polite the tone was definitely not.  “We have a prior engagement.”

The judge didn’t move. He had always been a hard man. The kind that didn’t have to fill his life with useless chatter and movement. He was like that now. Completely still.

“Is that so?” He finally said and moved an inch closer, it took me a second to realise he wasn’t coming to grab me. He had positioned himself in front of the pretty blonde next to him.

I eyed her. She smiled, a flash of genuine happiness but that look vanished when I opened my mouth to say something and was again cut off.

“Because I am sure,” the judges eyes darted down to my finger. Where a gaudy diamond had been forced on my finger earlier. Just another thing about this night that I hated. “If Aria was engaged there would have been invites sent out to her family?”

Dante didn’t miss a beat. “They must have lost in the mail. Excuse us. And a pleasure to meet you finally Taylor.” Dante flashed a predatory smile at the Judges wife.

Instantly the Judge stilled. His face slack. I knew that look. I had grown up with it. It meant he was about to do some real violence.

And he was out numbered and out gunned. He would probably beat Dante one on one. But Dante had back up and The Judge didn’t.

“It is.” I said in a bright breezy voice that I hoped would break the tension that was suddenly crackling.  Stepping between them I reached up and kissed The Judges cheek. “It’s great to see you again Christian.” I purposely used his given name. Hopefully he would get the message that he needed to back down. Right now he needed to be Christian and not the Judge. “I am sorry if your invite got lost in the mail. You know what it’s like but I hope you and my brother can come to the wedding.”

I lifted my eyes to him in a silent please.

Next I turned to the beautiful blonde. My eyes quickly scanning up and down her body. Sweet looking. I wouldn’t have pegged her for the judges type but he had changed a lot in the last decade since my fathers death. It was all the Savage sons fault. He’d grown a bit of hero complex after helping the one they called Havoc. He had softened in some ways and hardened in others.

Or maybe he had just matured.

Gripping the woman’s shoulders I pulled her into a hug. “It’s such an honour to meet you Taylor. I’ve heard so much about you.” Lie, I didn’t know shit about her. After a seconds hesitation she hugged me back.

“Help me.” I whispered in her ear, and tightened my arms for just a second before I stepped back and placed my hand on Dante’s arm. “Excuse us, have a wonderful evening.”

I didn’t dare look at him but I could feel his eyes on me.

“Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.” I muttered and let myself be lead away. Every step felt like I weighed ten tonnes . I wanted the judge to whip out his gun and kill them all. So I could be free. I knew he would if I asked him.

But I kept my mouth closed. He would get a message to my brother. Gio would come. Maybe I had matured as well.

“Who is that?” I heard Taylor hiss behind us.

“Aria. Gio’s little sister.”

There was a gasp. “What does this all mean Christian?”

“Trouble.” The judge sighed. “It means serious fucking trouble.”