Page 15 of Alive and Kicking
He turns to look at her over his shoulder. “Leave our weapons at the door unless we’re instructed to keep them, don’t threaten your father in front of anyone, and most importantly don’t make fun of the fact that he’s a mafia Don named Don.”
Viv nods her head, and we all ease out of the car. Nox rounds it to grab the bags, but Viv puts a hand on his arm. “Someone else will take care of that. Come on, let’s get this over with.”
She leads us up the wide stairs, and just as we step up to the door, it opens. An older woman in a modest black maid’s outfit holds the door open for us, bowing her head to Viv while avoiding eye contact. “Your father is waiting for you in the study.”
Viv turns to her. “Thanks Elise.”
She gestures to a small room to the side of the door we just came through, and we walk in to find a literal armory. Cain is the first one to get the hint and begins un-arming himself. His fingers twitch at his sides when he leaves all three of the guns he regularly carries on a shelf. The rest of us follow suit, stepping toward Viv when we’re finished. Her brow raises and she taps her foot expectantly as she stares Zane down. He huffs and pulls three more knives out of his waistband to set on the shelf.
Viv huffs again and steps up to him. Crouching down, she shoves her fingers into the side of his left shoe, and Zane startslaughing, trying to pull his foot away. “That tickles!” he argues, but Viv isn’t deterred. Victoriously, she stands with a folded knife pinched between two fingers. It’s Zane’s favorite, and I’m pretty sure it’s his version of a security blanket.
“No. That one’s special. I can’t leave it here. What if something happens to it?” He actually looks panicked over the idea of losing it.
Viv huffs and tucks the knife into her back pocket. “I’ll protect it with my life. I also have enough other weapons on me that if anything does happen while we’re here none of you will be unarmed.”
She turns, heading out of the small room, and we all follow behind her. Zane starts bickering with her over what weapon she’ll let him use, and I ignore them as I look around the house that Viv grew up in. The walls are a soft cream color that’s just a few shades richer than the paint on the walls back home, while the floors are black and look to be made from a fine white veined marble. On every wall there are paintings or shelves with what look to be priceless artifacts, though I’m not cultured enough to know what any of it’s worth. There is an elaborate plush, Turkish rug running the length of the entryway and up to the stairs. Cain would probably love someplace grand like this, but I can’t help but notice that the house is so tidy and neat that it doesn’t look like anyone lives here. There’s no personal touches anywhere in the rooms we pass. No family photos or even a throw blanket. It’s like these rooms are just here to exist and not meant to be lived in.
To our right is a large sitting room that looks like it’s never been used, and to the left there’s another hallway that leads to another part of the house. Viv doesn’t stop to look around because she’s seen all this every day of her life before she met us. I shake my head and hurry after her, leaving the rooms that are so full of things but feel so empty. We climb up the stairs andI can’t stop wondering where Viv had here that actually felt like home.
As she takes twist after turn down halls, I realize I have no idea how to get back to the front door. Normally this would give me horrible anxiety, but I trust that Viv will get us out of here alive if anything happens. She stops in front of a large, ornate wooden door and knocks gently. A moment later a familiar, scarred face pokes out and a wide smile crosses over it. Enzo steps out of the room, leaving the door to swing open behind him as he pulls Viv into a tight hug. Without any effort, he lifts her from the floor and spins her in a few quick circles before putting her back down, not bothering to brace her as she staggers from dizziness. “I’ve missed you, Vivy! Glad to have you home for a bit.”
Zane places his hands on her shoulders from behind to keep her steady as we’re all ushered into the large study Enzo just came out of. It’s all done in warm golden wood and deep red tones, with just a spattering of cream to brighten up the space. Viv is completely at ease as she walks into the room with Enzo to find her dad and an older man I don’t recognize already inside. “Viviana, good to see you.” The unknown man ducks his head to her respectfully.
Viv gives him a smile. “You too, Frank. These are my guys.” She gestures toward each of us. “Cain, Lennox, Sloane, and Zane.” She turns her gesture toward the man then, adding, “This is Frank Woodall, our family lawyer.”
Most of us give out awkward hellos to Frank, though I’m reeling from the fact that Viv just claimed us as hers. Cain doesn’t even bother looking in Franks direction though, too distracted by Viv’s words, while she seems completely oblivious to what she just said. “What exactly are the plans?” Viv turns to ask her dad.
Don leans back in his chair, looking over our ragtag group. “You guys can go ahead and get settled, we’ll be having dinner in two hours. After the sit down tomorrow at the Diamond, you’ll make your announcements for the promotions. Then afterwards we’ll have a party. I also know Enzo has been hoping to get you back into the gym, so please do try to make time for that. And I had your personal shopper put together some outfit choices for the events this week.” He looks over Viv’s jean shorts and T-shirt distastefully.
Viv rolls her eyes. “Fine. I’ll show the guys up to my room and we’ll get settled in for the week.” She puts emphasis on the last word, like she’s worried he’ll try to keep her here indefinitely.
Her dad clicks his tongue. “You can’t have four men share your room!”
Viv scoffs at that, cocking her hip out to the side. “Last I checked I’m an adult and can do whatever I want. They’re staying in my room.” She turns away from Don without another word to look at Enzo. “Did you get everything I asked for?”
“Yeah. Got it all set up and squared away for ya.” He grins that manic smile that just makes the scar down his face more prominent.
Viv grins back at him. “Sure you don’t want to be my underboss?”
Enzo’s smile grows. “And give up all the fun murder and torture? No way.”
Viv laughs before waving over her shoulder and leaving the room. We pause there for a moment before giving quick goodbyes to avoid being rude and then follow after her like baby ducks. We go up two sets of stairs on opposite sides of the house before she stops at a set of ornate French doors. Taking a quick breath, she pushes the doors open and steps inside. We follow, all looking around the grand room. My eyes stop at the wall opposite her bed and I smirk.
“Not fucking happening!” Cain growls.
Viviana
Ihuff at Cain’s reaction and grab him firmly by the elbow. He’s not getting out of this. The guys just watch as I drag him further into the room and close the door behind us. Zane’s practically bouncing on his toes. “It’ll be just like old times, but this time Cain’s here!” he says excitedly.
“I am not sleeping on one of those!” Cain’s eye actually twitches as he looks at the two bunk beds set up across the room from my queen-sized bed.
“Well, it’s not like I can fit all of you in my bed,” I snap at him. “Besides, I had Enzo get twin xl ones so your feet won’t hang off,” I tell him with a smile.
See I can be considerate.
He’s lucky he’s not tied up in my basement, honestly. He’s an ex-FBI agent in the home of a mafia Don. Pretty sure that’s how this situation is supposed to work out. “Hey, Viv? What’s with the closet?” Sloane calls out, poking his head out of the doorway I hadn’t even noticed him go through.
A breath catches in my throat. I told Enzo to get rid of the creepy shrine to Cain. That son of a bitch is just asking for me to do a recap of my torture training on him. I hurry through the door and flick the light on, blinking stupidly at the wall.
