MAFIA KING

3. L A R I E N E

“And this is your room, bambola.” Marissa ushered me inside the spacious well-decorated room while giving me that mocking look again.

“Thank you.” My feet dragged me inside the room to take a better look at it. It was neat and had everything in it. Also, there was a seating area in it in the far corner. And two doors, I am assuming one for the bathroom and another for a walk-in-closet. And, oh, the best part of the balcony that was at the end of the room. “What does bambola mean?” I couldn’t help but ask. Especially with that mocking look, her light blue eyes seem to hold every time she calls me by it.

Her read plumb lips curled up into a devilish smirk. “You really want to know?” Her accent was so thick that you could hardly catch the English words. And I have to admit her voice and looks were screaming sexy along with that confident aura following her. I just wish I was like her. I nodded. Starting toying with my fingers. She was making me nervous per usual. “Words, bambola. No soon-to-be mafia queen shy away like that.” I lifted my eyes to look at her with another nod. “Words!” She roared and I flinched at her tone.

“Yes, I understand.” God, She was so dominant.

“That’s better.” Her mesmerizing light blue eyes that added to her beauty were lit with something I couldn’t pin-point. “And bambola means doll.” 

“Doll?” I echoed. “Why doll?” How does she view me in those fascinating eyes?

Her tall manicured fingers ran through her long sunlight blonde locks while tilting her head to the side. She looked like those hot models you could see in a magazine. Rick told me she is twenty -a year older than me- though I feel like a child beside her with my boney figure and plain look. “Because you are so fragile and flinch from a feather.” Her hands rested on her slim waist where her black fitted dress hugged her toned form. I think I am crushing on her. But, what can I do, she is just so damn attractive! I want to be like her. Sexy, beautiful and confident. “Also, Rickardo treats you carefully as if you are something precious that would break if he held wrong.” Her eyes met mine and my breath hitched. The look she was shooting me made me feel like she knew something. Something about me that was supposed to not be known as her eyes took a pitiful turn for a split second before hardening once again. “e forse ha ragione.” Darn it! Again with the Italian. I need to learn this language to stop being hidden in the shadows. “Anyway, enjoy your new room or not, I don’t give a shit.” She shrugged as her heels started clicking and dragging her towards the door. “Also, mama bought you and Rickardo some clothes so take a look at them.” 

[trans: and maybe he is right.]

“Wait!” Does this mean what I think this means? “Am I..Are we…” I cleared my throat as her impatient eyes pushed me. “Is Rick-- I mean Rickardo and I sharing this room?” 

“Si.” She looked at me as if I was dumb. “You are dating, si?” At least I understand the word si. 

“Yes but--” 

She cut me off. “Not buts, bambola. This is not a damn hotel where everyone gets what they want. Suck it up and deal with it.” Then she was out of the door. 

Why is she so mean? Why she can’t understand that not all of us that confident with ourselves? I could feel tears stinging my eyes but I won’t let them fall. I don’t think I will be okay with sleeping in the same bed as a man. Even if that man was Rick. I just can’t be near a man like that. I mean we kissed and hugged but it never lasted. But now we will be sleeping together, in the same bed. Where he can see all my flaws and sick antics. I might flinch every time he nears me. Heck, to this day I flinch before I realize it’s just Rick and he would never hurt me. What about the nightmares I get? No! He will see me thrashing and shouting in my sleep. He will think of how crazy I am. He will dump me because he won’t be able with my crazy-self.

My thoughts didn’t go any further as my self-pity party was interrupted by a knock on the bedroom door. “C-come in.” Was that Rick already? I immediately wiped the unshed tears as the doorknob twisted and a blond head popped up.

“Ciao, donna .” A blonde girl with a bob haircut and the brightest smile ever strolled into the room. She looked like Rick and his family with her sunlight blonde hair and blue eyes that most of them share. Maybe she is another sister I wasn’t aware about? Not that I know anything of that matter. “I am Martina.” She extended her arm for me to shake. “Rickardo’s cousin and will be your personal entertainer.” A relative, it is then.

“H-hi.” I shook her firm hand as her bubbly aura wrapped around her. Are they all that strong in the Alfonsons Family? Oh, yes and hot as hell! “I am Lariene.”

“I know!” She exclaimed taking me by surprise. “I am so excited to have an Americana girl among us. I never went there.” God, she was so the opposite of Marissa. This girl was so bubbly and cheery making you feel comfortable immediately around her. Unlike Marissa who intimidated you constantly almost making you pee in yourself. “Is it as awesome as they say?” Her bright blue lively eyes looked at me in anticipation.

I nodded. “It has its ups and downs.”

Suddenly, she squealed making me jump from the sound. Damn, she is so loud and unpredictable. “I like your Americana accent!”

“Uhm, thank you?” I smiled hesitantly at her.

“So cute!” She squealed again. “By the way, I am nineteen the same as you so I hope we could be great friends.” She joined her arm with mine flashing me her bright smile.

“I hope so too.” Not that I will be able to make any friends in this terrifying house except for her anyway.

“Okay, now let me take you on a tour around the mansion so you won’t get lost.” She started dragging us out of the room. “Not like I still don’t get lost to this day after nineteen years of living here.” Cool. 

I didn’t notice when she was looking at me probably waiting for a reply or something so I let out a quick, “Okay.”

She smiled softly at me. A smile not as beaming and overwhelming as the previous ones. “Not much of a talker, non?”

I smiled or tried to while shaking my head. “No.”

“Alrighty then.” She clutched my arm tighter in hers. “Let’s start then.” We started walking as she started her tour. “So, this is the second floor where your room and Marissa’s and the twins’ are located along with the little cute girl you came with.” She pointed to each room until we reached Lily’s. We peeked through the door since I haven’t seen my little sunshine for a while to find a heart-warming scene. “Awh.”Martina gushed. “I knew he would fall in love with the little girl. He has always had a thing for kids. He is their favorite adult, you know.” I looked at the little pink bed where Lily was laid on curling between Leonardo’s arms. I never took Leonardo for a kids' person nor that he tolerated them seeming as all the mafia seem cruel and always angry. But then again since they appeared in our life and he has been stuck by Lily’s side making her laugh. Maybe because of the fact that he has a lot in common with Rick. “Let them rest and continue, si?” I nodded after closing the door gently. 

Later, Martina showed me the two floors above us where some of the Alfonsos family were at and that’s where Martina’s room located to. Also, if you are a family friend or one of the high ranked mafia members then you also get to have a room on one of these floors. Surprisingly there are still some empty rooms seeing as there are both west and east wings. 

“And that’s the roof.” We got off the elevator. Another surprising fact that there are two elevators on each wing. I actually feel that its more of a castle than a mansion. “The roof has this amazing swimming pool, seating areas with televisions and bar mainly for adults to chill here since the gardens are mostly for the kids' usage.” We got onto the elevator again after she showed me every corner as we passed some strangers who she greeted in Italian and gave me weird looks. 

“How many people are there exactly?” I mean its a big place and a lot of rooms the majority of them occupied.

Martina cracked at that even though I didn’t find it funny. “A lot, donna. A lot that you wouldn’t be even able to count.” 

“What is the meaning of donna?” I wanted to know. I was sick of not knowing. What if they are cursing me or something? “Also are they all family?”

The elevator dinged open and we got off on the first floor. “You full of questions, non?” Again she laughed. I don’t know from where does this chrippy mood come. “Donna means queen or woman but we mostly mean it as queen. You will hear it a lot by the way so you better get used to it, donna.” 

“So, if I was an Italian, I would have been named Donna instead of Lariene,” I mumbled.

She laughed so loud this time seeming as if I just said a good joke when I know for a fact I suck at them. “Maybe, Donna.” She calmed down. “Moving to the next question the answer would be no. Not all of the residents here are family. Some mafia members don’t have a place to stay at. And because mafia’s priority is family, we tend to take good care of our family no matter what.” The mood took a serious shift with the way her blazing blue eyes stared at me. There were no jokes or funny, bubbly Martina anymore. Now, it was Martina one of the dangerous mafia daughters. “I hope we can count on you, donna, the same that you will be able to count on us.” I nodded hesitantly. I didn’t know how to answer her. I would do anything for Rick even if it included something to do with the mafia and the family, I would do it in a heartbeat. Yet, I didn’t tell her that. I felt like it was too personal to share. She kept her calculating eyes on me for a while making me feel uneasy until she finally shifted them away from and continued with her tour. “First floor is mainly for the elders who are over forty.” Meaning that Rick’s parents are on that floor. Finally, she took me to the ground floor where I was earlier. I was so tired by then. It has been a long flight. Not to mention those past days after Damon’s death in Mia’s and Jason’s wedding went like a blur with the hectic atmosphere we were in. I really needed some rest. Alas, Martina showed me the kitchen and introduced me to the cook Greta who was an old lovely woman that kept talking in Italian while pinching my cheeks. “Oh and here is Bianca!” A girl with brown wavy hair that was tied on a high ponytail trailed into the enormous kitchen while holding some bags. “ Bianca is my best friend and Greta’s daughter who is 18 and goes to the same school as the twins and me.” Wow, that stunning girl is 18? Well, she isn’t as iconically beautiful as the Alfonsos but her vibrant green like grass eyes, tanned skin, and pouty lips did her justice. Are all Italians that good looking or just the mafia ones? Maybe because they work out a lot and take really good care of themselves to be able to live this dangerous life.

“You still go to school? Aren’t you the same age as me?” I asked.

“Si, I am. But I was sick for a year when I was young so I got a year behind.” I nodded absorbing this information. I knew there was no more college for me and my scholarship anyway had some complications so eventually, I was going to drop out due yo the lack of money to pay the fees. “Bianca, this is Lariene, la donna. Rickardo’s woman.” 

Bianca’s eyes got wide as she looked at me. “Oh veramente? è così carina ma sembra così innocente per questa vita.” [trans: Oh really? she is so pretty but she seems so innocent for this life.]

Martina nodded as her eyes glanced at me. “lei è, non è lei? ma alla fine ci arriverà.” [trans: she is, isn't she? but in the end, she will get there.]

I huffed, not liking this at all. I want to understand. I am pretty sure they are talking about me. “I need to learn this b****y language.” I crossed my arms over my chest as the two girls looked at me then burst out laughing. Why do they always laugh? I swear I am not even that funny.

“She is so cute.” Bianca gushed.

“I know, right? And funny.” Martina said. “Don’t worry, donna.” She circled her arm around my shoulder. “I will teach you Italian and make you as if you were one yourself.” Upon hearing that my mood immediately rocketed up as a smile took over my features. “Now, excuse us, Bianca but we have a tour to get to.” She ushered me towards the stairs this time.

“Have fun with that,” Bianca yelled after us with her Italian laced accent. “And good luck, Lariene.”

“Thanks,” I said even though I was sure she wouldn’t hear it as Martina was in a rush to show me our last stop. Finally!

“And that’s the underground floor where most of the meeting and training take place.” We passed by some men and women training and by training I mean beating each other. Also, there was a closed area where you could see some learning shooting. Among the shooters, I saw Roberto who seemed angry and kept blaring his g*n at the poor target thingy.

Basically, the place was so full of all the kinds of martial arts. “There are the dungeons there but you don’t have to see those now.” Dungeons? And she was talking this casually about them? “And finally, that’s the infirmary where the mafia’s doctor treat anyone and anything.” We got in and it was basically a clinic. It has rooms, white corridors, nurses and doctors. I swear this place is no ordinary space. “The--” Martina was going to say something when another voice drew our attention to it.

“Lariene?” I turned to the source and gasped.

“Oh my god, Rick what happened to you?” I ran to his side and examined his face. It was beaten up and swollen already but cleaned at the same time. “Who did that?” How could he get hurt among his family and mafia members? 

“Come with me, piccola.” This husky deep scary voice brought my attention to him. Now, I know why Rick got hurt. I am sure this heartless man has something to do with it. I glared at him in hopes he would burn by it for hurting my Rick. At this moment, I didn’t care that he was the big scary mafia king, I was mad at him for how he has been treating Rick. Yet, he seemed amused by my state. It was like he was holding back a smile while his eyes studied me. “To my office now.” His eyes were set on me meaning that he was talking to me. Why does he want me in his office? The once brave Lariene cowered away and out came the scared flinching one. I don’t like this. I don’t trust him.

“No!” Rick growled before I could say anything. He took a defensive stance in front of me while I clutched hard his arm. I only trust him in that place. “She isn’t going anywhere with you. You want something you tell me.” Yes, take that you scary bad man!

The man didn’t look fazed by Rick’s words. He seemed bored. “She is going to be the next donna. She has to understand it.”

“She doesn’t have to understand s**t at the moment.” He grabbed my hand. “Let’s go, Lariene.”

“I figured as much.” Alberto Alfonso said eerily calm. You could see the darkness looming in his light blue orbs. What was he up to? “Fallo!” Before we could go anywhere, we were surrounded. [trans: do it!]

“Uncle, please.” I heard Martina’s voice from behind.

“Go up, Martina.” There was a beat and no movements when he growled. “Now!” Then I saw Martina’s figure hurry away.

“lascia la ragazza, Rickardo.” a girl from those who were surrounding us with greyish blue hair said. She had that unsettling look in her eyes. I didn’t like her. And I didn’t like her more when she looked at Rick like that. [trans: leave the girl…]

“Sofia?” I could hear Rick’s shocked voice then I saw the look in his eyes and my heart cracked just before we were attacked.