Naitee
After Alessio and I had some fun in the secret room of his office he showed me around the massive estate. It's a beautiful house. All polished wood and shining stone. It must've cost a fortune to build back in the day although considering what I know about Alessio that should come as now suprise. Then Dean found us when it was time for dinner which was perfect because it was the only hall, not room hall, that we hadn't seen yet.
I walked inbetween the two brothers and it was a interesting feeling. The hate from Dean and the care from Alessio. It was like feeling pain and pleasure at the same time. We walked down one of the corridors that was lined with portraits of what I guessed was old family members. The amount of wealth portrayed was both impressing and creepy because there's only one way to get that much money.
Dinner was more akward then usual considering the anger that was basically wafting of Aria at the seating placement. I sat on Alessio's left side and Dean at his right. Ice was next to me and Gabriella next to Dean. Alone at the end of the table was Aria and she didn't look happy at all.
I gulped and pretended to yawn again. I needed an excuse to get out of here and thankfully I got it when Alessio leaned over and whispered in my ear that I could go. It was like winning an oscar but better. I might lo-- like Alessio but I'm not so fond of his family if I'm honest.
I barely got halfway down the corridoor before someone called out my name and made me and the woman-servant stop in our tracks.
"Naitee! Wait!" I turned around and found Dean jogging down the corridoor. He called out something in Italian and the woman beside me walked away without a word. I should really learn that language. Dean slowed down when he got close and walked the rest of the way to me.
"What it is?" His face was weird, he almost looked constipated. Like he was regretting doing this.
"I-- I just wanted to apoligize for earlier." I stared at him in mild shock.
"Uh-- Thank you." I paused, considering my next words. "But it was understandable. I don't expect you to understand me and your brothers relationship fully. I mean I barely do and it's all really complicated..." I trail off before I say something I'll regret. Dean nods slowly and then a smile stretches his mouth.
"It is not that. I- I mean-- I do not think you fully understand how much you changed my brother Naitee. He was a dead man walking a year ago, I have not seen him this alive since we were kids." Dean looked away from me and I saw a new vulnerability on his face.
"Thank you." I say and my voice wavers just a tiny, tiny bit. "He changed me too, for the better you know." Dean turned back to me and I can see his adams apple bob.
"He is good in that way, but it is you that woke that good in him again. It died years ago." Dean presses his lips together and I put a hand on his shoulder. In this moment I am reminded that he is barely even an adult and he's just lost his dad. I use my hand on his shoulder to pull him into a hug and he's stiff for a second before relaxing into me. It feels good to hug someone even if it's not something I usually do and from the slight shake in Deans shoulders he really needed it too.
"Thank you." He mutters into my shoulder and I feel more at home than I have in years.
Alessio
*a few minutes earlier*
Dinner was interesting. My Nonna and Gabi kept arguing the entire time but I did not have the energy to stop them. I wanted to spend time with Naitee and only her. Everything else was simply background noise. Even the burning glares from Aria.
Naitee kept yawning after half an hour of the dinner and I told her to go with the housekeeper, Giuila, to my room. I would need to leave soon anyway to have my meeting with Aria and it was better if Naitee was not there for that. Aria had been glaring at Naitee aswell for the duration of the dinner. I did not want her to experience the wrath of Aria. It is quite substantial.
Soon after Naitee left Dean also pushed his chair back and left with only a nod to me. My Nonna clicked her tungue and then said something that suprised me.
"It is good that you got her back son, I like her." Nonnas words made the entire table quiet. She had never before said that she liked anyone outside of the Familia. Not even Ice. She gave me an expectant look and her wrinkled face reminded me so much of my mother in that moment.
"Grazie, nonna." I said and she gave me a curt nod. Slowly everyone drops away from the table and when Gabi leaves I remind myself to find a new therapist for her. Her eyes are puffy and red.
In the end the only ones left are me, Ice and Aria.
"You can leave now Ice, me and Aria are going on a trip." Ice slapped me on the back on the way out I swear I could hear him chuckle when he leaves the dining hall.
"Really Alessio, a trip? Is that your way of handing me divorce papers?" Her voice was cold with anger and I simply stared at her.
"We both know this should have happened years ago Aria. We should never have married in the first place. It was a stupid mistake." Aria's eyes fill with tears and for a moment I feel bad but then I remind myself that this is the only way to end this. She starts to rise from her seat and I do the same. She tries to go back to her room but I gently, lead her back to the driveway.
The car that me and Naitee used earlier is still in the driveway and I push Aria lightly into the passenger seat and lock it so I can make my way to the driversseat. I know this town like my own pocket and I drive quickly to my favorite cafe. It is a small family owned cafe with the best canneloni in Italia.
Maria greets me at the door with a kiss on each cheeks and she talks rapidly as she kicks some people out of the cafe to free a table for me and Aria. We take the table in the corner, the one with the most privacy and the best view of the room.
I stare at Aria for a few seconds before I start speaking.
"We are going to divorce, I am going to give you a settlement for you to live on in exchange for you never going after me again or hurting anyone in my family. That includes Naitee and Ice..." I kept on telling her the conditions of our divorce. It was a long list and by the time I was finished our coffee had been refilled many times and Aria's tears had long ago dried.
"Well then Alessio. I guess this is the end then." She says and I nod slowly. A man moves in the edge of my peripheral and I move my hand to grip the my gun under the table.
"It sure is." The man moves closer to our table and I am so distracted by that that I do not notice the man coming up behind Aria. A click of a safety being taken off is what drags my gaze back to her and I stiffen at the tall blonde man standing behind her with his gun pressed to the bottom of her neck.
"Privet, motherfucker." I growl and the man smiles. I know him. He is the eldest son of the Bratva. Ruthless son of a bitch who I have been trying to get rid of for years.
"Good evening to you too Capo. If you do not mind. My Papa would like to have a talk with you." His smirk is infuriating as he drags Aria to her feet while still holding the gun to her neck. Aria's eyes were blown wide with fear but I do not focus my gaze on her. It would seem to weak.
The bastardo drags Aria to another table where he drags her down to sit with him. I give them a last glance before looking to the old man sitting down across from me.
"It is suprisingly hard to get a meeting with you Alessio." His use of my name is no accident and I grind my teeth.
"Well I have been busy." I respond and the old man chuckles.
"I have heard that but I have come here to discuss business. I am tired of our interests not aling and I have an idea to rectify that." I raise my eyebrows still too pissed to really care for any of his words.
"Do tell old man." I strike back and the man smiles a scary smile.
"I am aware that you have a younger brother..." He begins and a sense of dread seeps into me.
"And I propose that we marry him to my daughter. In that way we can work together and avoid any other incidents between our families." He stares at me after uttering those impossible words and I take them in. It is a risky plan, a stupid plan and a unfair one but the rewards could be enormous.
"I want my shipments back." I say instead of giving him a rightour answer. The old mans eyes thin and he stares at me without a single emotion in his cold blur orbs.
"That could be arranged if you make sure to train the new leaders since you disposed of the last ones." There is barely contained anger in his words and it makes me happy to know that mine and Ice's plan worked out perfectly.
"Sure. I want transport through Russia." I continued.
"Then I want my ships allowed past South Africa." He contered.
"If I get a percentage of the shipment." The old man holds out his hand but I am not gone. He need me more than I need him and if I am marrying off my brother I want more than that.
"I am not done old man." I say and a grin begins to pull at my lips. It is a fake one but he will not know that. If there is one thing I excell at, it is tricking selfish old men to give me much more than I deserve.