Owning the Mafia Don

Proserpina

I was yet to see the rest of Lucien’s ‘crew’ as he called them drily. So I was thrilled to know they were finally going to be permitted to come and visit me that afternoon.

I was freshly bathed and the nurse had brushed out my hair, the long mahogany tresses finally feeling shiny and clean beamed the nurse, whose name was Camilla. Gently, carefully, she smoothed out the wild tangles.

She commented on my husband.

“Mr. Dello, he very much older than you?’ I smiled at her choice of expression, her curiosity and shook my head. Lucien was close to two decades older than me but in my eyes, he was all that I ever wanted.

Every time she called him Mr Dello, I had the desire to laugh.

My babies were in cots in the same room as I. Now they slept in identical postures, mouths puckered, eyes squeezed shut, small pink fists clenched, the small fluff of blonde hair on their little heads. My heart went out to them.

I had been shifted to a larger, VIP room, on the recommendation of Martinez, one of Lucien’s associates.

Lucien had glowered when Martinez had turned up in the morning, to meet me.

He was a tall, thin man with a fine black moustache that looked as though it had been pencilled on his upper lip. He fawned over me, kissing my hand effusively. I had smiled but pulled my hand away quickly. His eyes seemed to hover over my full breasts which were now straining against the thin gown. I did not like his lustful stare and was glad when he left.

But when the door opened and Aiyana was wheeled in on a chair, her arm in a sling, with Schwartz pushing her, I burst out laughing in joy. Danielle strolled in too, bringing up the rear. Beston poked his head around the door too to greet me. He came in to admire the little ones who were blissfully aware of the reactions of their enthralled audience. I beamed at all of them.

Schwartz parked Aiayana’s wheelchair beside the cribs and strode over to me, his handsome face split in a wide grin. I reached up and kissed his cheek but he turned his face and kissed me on my mouth, holding my head still. I blushed.

He was sometimes such a darn flirt!

“James!’ I laughed in protest. But his eyes were steady and serious as he gazed at me, tracing the fading bruise on my cheek.

“I killed the b*stard who hurt you.’ he said softly, and I took his hand in both of mine.

“Thank you, my dearest friend.’ I whispered.

A fleeting look of regret flitted across his face. We both became aware of Lucien’s smouldering gaze on us at the same time.

Schwartz turned around, getting off the bed, from his perch beside me. He grinned lazily and turned to the little ones in the cradles.

It was incredible, how when one of them felt hungry and stirred, the other two would immediately become restless. I had just fed them and they were lying now sleeping, faces puckered, mouths sometimes aping the sucking motion they made when they were at my breast.

Danielle came over and gave me a hug. It was unusual for her but I wrapped my arms around her and embraced her. She took my chin in her hands, eyes scrutinising me critically.

“Girl, Gracie has been going crazy. She wants to see the babies. Yeah, of course, and you as well!’

Schwartz, who had been intently peering at the tiniest baby, straightened up, chuckling.

‘In that order, eh? She wants to see the wee bairns first?’ I smiled as Danielle flashed him a mock furious look.

My gaze turned to Aiyana, who had been sitting silently, observing us, her black eyes unreadable.

She smiled at me, a slight smile, but that was Aiyana.

Observant and detached.

I stood up with difficulty and gripping Danielle’s arm, I went across to her and took her hand in mine.

“Thank you.’ I said softly. I knew that she had been instrumental in saving me. She smiled then, a slightly more relaxed smile.

Danielle looked like she wanted to smoke badly but was controlling herself with great difficulty.

As for Schwartz, he had not shifted from his position near the cribs.

There was a lot of bantering between Danielle and Schwartz and I felt cheerful and happy.

The conversation veered around to when my children back home would get to see their siblings.

I had yet to have a video call with them. The nurse had put her massive foot down.

‘No exposure of babies and new mothers to cell phones, Mr Della.’ she had announced firmly.

So I had to be satisfied with the news that Lucien passed on, and send messages through him.

***

The children were tiny and I had been through a lot. But my heart ached to bury my face in Ria’s and Piers’ blonde curls, to clasp little Claude in my arms.

I knew the nurse, Camilla meant well.

In fact, she had overruled the doctor and had refused to let me meet my friends till that day, till she had deigned that I was strong enough to receive any visitors apart from Lucien.

‘Germs,’ she had announced, “infection. You need to be careful.’Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

I had meekly nodded, too weary to argue.

Now, from where I lay on the bed, I watched them, these people I trusted the most, who were sitting around the room. Aiyana, alert as ever, her eyes shifting from one face to another, watchful. Schwartz, Handsome James, teasing Danielle endlessly. And my husband who had chosen to sit in a corner, watching us, aloof and silent.

His pale grey eyes were on me, moving to the others but always returning to focus on me.

I smiled at him, longing to have him beside me.

With a grin playing on his face, Schwartz who had been lounging around spoke.

He had picked up my tiniest son and was cradling n him expertly like he had been doing it for years.

“So when does our Mafia Princess get to see her siblings?’ asked Schwartz, grinning, the deep grooves on his face giving him a rakish look.

I spun to look at him and almost tumbled out of the bed, but Schwartz helped to steady me even as Lucien who had been silent, a brooding, dark presence, growled and came over to me and yanked me firmly into his arms.

‘He means Ria.’ he said, sounding irritated.

I shook my head and cried, impulsively, ‘ Oh NO!!! No, oh no. please!’

MAFIA PRINCESS, I thought in horror, my hands going to my face.

Sensing my dismay, Danielle snapped,

“Hey Scotsman, don’t you go scaring her now.’

Lucien gripped my arms and went on, sending Schwartz a look of annoyance,

“That is what he calls my little girl now.’

With another of his disarming grins, Schwartz winked at me cheekily as he gently lowered my son into his cradle, without waking him up.

I shook my head weakly, leaning into Lucien’s chest.

But with a sinking heart, I had a foreboding that his words were prophetic.

Gripping Lucien’s jacket, I studied his brooding grey eyes. What was eating him, I wondered. He looked displeased. I had not seen that frown on his face for some time now.

I stared at him, bewildered.

‘Alright,’ he snapped, taking in my confusion,

‘Time to leave. My woman has to rest and feed my hungry children.’

“He makes you sound like a f*cking cow.’ murmured Danielle as she stepped forward to give me a quick hug.

Aiyana squeezed my hand and said softly,

“Take care. The kids are gorgeous.’

“Ah, but the wee ones are not as gorgeous as their mum,’ said Schwartz, stepping up to give me a peck on the cheek, his strong arms wrapping themselves around my waist. I ducked my head and smiled, aware that Lucien was not too happy.

They trooped out, Schwartz wheeling Aiyana away.

Winding my arms around his neck, I looked up at Lucien as I settled back on the bed, with his powerful arms cradling me protectively.

“What’s wrong?’ I asked softly holding his muscular arm as he helped me shift into a comfortable position.

The grey eyes flickered across my face, landing on my mouth.

With an expletive, he brought his head down, kissing me hard and I gasped when he raised his head.

It had been a kiss of possession, like a brand.

His pale grey eyes were glowing with passion as he snarled,

“You belong to ME. You are MINE.’

And as I frowned, uncomprehendingly, touching my mouth for his kiss had hurt, he went on,

‘Schwartz fancies you and I know you like him, maybe more than just like.’ he snarled.

I stared at him in astonishment as he went on, almost yelling now but could hear the tortured note in his voice,

“YOU BELONG TO ME AND I WILL NOT SHARE YOU WITH ANYONE, NOT EVEN MY BEST MATE!’