The following events flow by in a daze as we move to the hotel banquet rooms for our celebration. We are greeted and congratulated by more people than I can keep track of as they acknowledge me as now the wife of their Capo. Needing a break I quickly grab a glass of champagne off a waiters passing tray. Tilting it to my lips allowing the liquid to wet my dry throat. Once everyone has seemingly finished there respects music starts as Nico takes my glass of champagne from my hands. Setting it down on a table as he brings me to the center of the room. Once again to be the sole aspect of everyone's attention. Placing his hand over the dip on my lower back he draws me close to him as he leads me around the floor for our first dance. I’m a little surprised at how fluid and graceful he moves me to the music.
“You look beautiful Liliana.” I flush slightly at his compliment. “And now you are officially mine.” He leans closer to my ear. “Not that you weren’t already in every way.”
“And now your mine.” I challenge back to his possessive statement.
“I always was. From the moment I saw you, I was yours Liliana. I no longer had a choice in the matter.” My heart flips and tightens in my chest at his words. Breaking our steps slightly he bends down kissing me briefly before pulling back and spinning me out away from him. Pulling me back he settles me back against his body. A smirk pulls on the side of his lips at my shock over the move I hadn’t expected. The song comes to an end too soon and little did I know, the end to our dance was just the beginning of a long line of continual dances for me.
Men of all ages take turns asking me to dance. Though they are only asking me to be polite as every one of them had asked Nico for permission before coming to me. I start to lose count over the number of men I have danced with as I desperately grab another glass of champagne off a tray downing the contents in my thirst. Grabbing hold of one more I hold onto it, sipping lightly, closing my eyes as I will the dull ache in my feet to go away with each sip.
“Having to dance with all these men seems awful dreadful. I don’t know how you do it, I would have told them to fuck off about two songs in.”
My eyes shoot open at the sultry feminine voice in front of me. A beautiful woman stands before me, tall with sapphire blue eyes, and silvery blonde hair. I can’t help my eyes from traveling down her right arm holding up her champagne glass. It is covered in tattoos like Nicos, ending with her sharply pointed manicured nails wrapped around the base of the glass. It is startling to see as not many women of our statuses are allowed to do such things. Looking back at the tattoos that color her light and fair skin as they run down her arm ending over and on her hand, I am in awe at them. They don’t at all take from her appeal in the slightest, it only adds to it. They are stunning with splashes of color against the stark black ink embedded in her skin.
“I’ll be honest it's not high on my list of things to want to do.” I finally responded back to her, feeling rude for having ogled her so long.
“Ya I can’t imagine why it would be on anyones, these men are all boring and traditionalists. Horrible combination.” She looks around us drawing her nose up in disgust, before turning her attention back to me. Though I don’t know who she is, I like her honesty and hard attitude. She reminds me of Gianna with her ballsy attitude, though where most of Giannas threats are empty, something tells me this woman would gladly follow through on each one of hers.
“So you are the beautiful vixen that captivated my brother then huh?”
Brother? Ahh this must be Marina.
“Well I wouldn’t say I captivated him by any means.” I can start to see some of the resemblances I had missed at my first accession of her.
She laughs a light and musical sound before lifting her glass to her lips. “Don’t take yourself so lightly, you have that man practically wrapped around your finger. In fact I would wager he would do just about anything you asked of him. Which says a lot.”
“Marina.” Nico’s low voice floats over, greeting his sister as he comes up beside me. “You're not already making bets with my wife are you?”
“Well had you not rudely inserted yourself into our conversation we may have gotten to one.”
Turning to look at me he shakes his head. “Ya, don’t make bets with this one. She will hussle you out of your money as she has a knack for predicting the outcome of most situations.” Marina rolls her eyes at Nico.
“Speaking of bets, congratulations are in order brother. I will take my winnings in the form of cash this time I think. Though since it is your big day, I won’t impose by making you pay up right now.” She gives him a cunning smile.
“What bet did you win?” I ask her, curious at their banter.
A knowing smile grows on Marina’s face. “Oh well a few years back we had a wager that Ni.-”
“That I would never marry.” He interrupts her, cutting off the rest of her sentence. Though I am sure that isn't what she was going to say I accept it for now.
I’ll just ask her another time, she doesn’t seem afraid to piss off Nico.
Picking up on Nico’s clear hints she drinks the rest of
