Page 14 of Lev
Valentina
I look up at the sky, closing my eyes and enjoying the sun on my face. The fresh breeze swirls around me, causing wisps of hair to wrap around my face.
I’m happy that it’s still nice weather and not snowing. I’m going to enjoy this small time to myself, a small moment to enjoy some freedom. Well, not total freedom since the guards are stationed around me.
Scary biatch.
I walk into the coffee shop and look around. It’s not very busy. I push the wispy locks from my face and walk over to sit at the small table in the corner, next to the window of the coffee shop, to wait for my cousin Mia. I pull at my red dress as I cross my legs, sitting up straight.
That biatch best not keep me waiting forever; she’s always late.
I look at the people walking down the street, talking on their cell phones or to their friends. Some walk in a hurry and look pissed off.
It makes you wonder what makes them tick. Are they living a good life, or are they living on the fly by the seat of their pants, trying to make ends meet?
Do they take life as it comes?
Do they plan out every little detail?
I always wonder what life would be like to be a normal girl.
I bet that they’re not living like I am.
In my case, I’m living by the dictates of the underworld, my uncle Elio, the Don of the Italian Mafia. He’s been like a father to me since my Mom died in childbirth. My father, who knows, nobody knows anything about him. I don’t know anything about what happened. The bastard raped my Mom, so yeah, he’s not in the picture.
My Mom was Don Elio’s younger sister, and my Uncle Elmo, his twin, died a few years ago in one of the many Mafia wars.
I’m living on borrowed time, yeah, because soon, Don Elio will decide on which Mafioso to marry me off too. I know it will be soon since Don Elio is working on getting the best alliance. It depends on the deal; he’s going to hand me over to a mobster.
That’s totally a scary biatch.
You would think that I’m ready since I’ve known my entire life that I was going to marry a stranger, an arranged marriage. This shit happens all the time in the underworld. Love is not part of the equation; it’s a brutal fact.
My stomach twists in a knot, my chest constricts, and I close my eyes. I don’t want to think about it nor entertain any fears.
It’s hopeless to feel any fear.
It’s going to happen, period.
Well, of course, if I die, then I’ll escape my fate.
Of course, I won’t take my life, but I can always hope that something happens to end my life. It’s a dark, twisted thought, but I live in darkness every day. I know that life is precious; we don’t know when we will take our last breath.
I’m surprised; maybe luck was on my side since Don Elio gave me his approval. So, I got an Accounting Associate Degree. Of course, he chose what to study, and it was online. Yeah, it's nothing fancy, but it’s still something that gives me pride and confidence that I’m not just a stupid girl jumping to his every command.
Yeah, but I am.
Hell, hairy balls.
It’s a biatch life.
I open my eyes and stare out the window, then widen them. I blink to control my reaction; I can’t draw attention from the guards; they will report everything to Zio.
And I stare at the gorgeous man walking on the sidewalk in front of me with such confidence and elegance. His gait is graceful for a man, standing tall and strong. He must be an important businessman, right? I know that his dark gray wool suit iscustom-made, fitting his body perfectly. He’s wearing expensive Cartier sunglasses; I know because Zio Elio loves Cartier sunglasses. His shoes are Italian, black leather shoes. Everything about the man screams wealth and importance. Or he's a mob boss.
Hell, hairy balls.
He’s someone who would be worth getting into trouble with Don Elio.
