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Following Leo's instructions to the T I place the perfectly curled blonde wig over my black hair and shake it out. Letting the long blonde curls cascade across my shoulders and down my back. I look at my reflection in the mirror, barely recognizing the girl in front of me as I sweep a deep shaded crimson over my lips. Heavy dark make-up adorns my eyes.

I walk into the living room to find Leo in a pitch-black suit. His hair styled to perfection, swooped above his forehead revealing his tan skin. His gray eyes move up and down my body once, he shakes his head in disapproval.

I roll my eyes, "What?" I smooth my yellow dress out, I wore it in case Aiden is really in there. He loves to see me in it.

Leo places a hand on his chin, "What happened to listening to everything I say." I look around the room, blatantly ignoring what he's talking about.

"The gown that I laid on the bed?" He adds.

"It's too much." I tell him.

He gestures to the bedroom, "You're the wife of an Italian mobster tonight, darling. Nothing is too much." He smiles.

I walk back in the room, my hands grazing over the thin fabric of the black gown. I'm thankful for the color so we don't stand out but as I pull it over my body I cringe.

If Aiden is alive, he will probably have a heart attack if he sees me in this.

My cleavage is the main attraction, I sigh in the mirror feeling uncomfortable in what feels like a dress meant for someone ten years older than me.

But that's the point, I can't be eighteen-year-old Emilia Banks right now. Tonight I'm Mrs. Madeline Greco. An American girl who married into the Sicilian mafia.

I stumble a little in the tall heels as I make my way back to Leo who now, thankfully, has an approving smile. He pulls some jewelry from his pockets. He lays a large diamond encrusted necklace around my neck and clamps it shut, the weight against my already tight chest is surprisingly painful.

I'm not used to such flashy jewelry or expensive gowns, but tonight I'm someone else. I'm on a mission to save the love of my life.

"One more thing." He says, pulling what looks like a garter belt out of his pocket. "Put this around your thigh." I follow his instructions, he made me promise to listen to him tonight. Once it's securely on my thigh he hands me a gun, I shake my head once, but he gestures to it again. I slide it inside the make shift holster; the cold metal feels odd against my skin.

I lay out my floor length dress and smooth down the material as Leo loops my arm through his. We make our way down the dark streets of Campania.

He leans into me whispering even though no one is around. "Now remember tonight, you're the wife of Luca Greco." He slips a massive ring from his pocket with a Cheshire grin. I laugh nervously while sliding it on my finger, I left Aiden's promise ring at the room. Too scared to risk losing it.

Leo continues his whisper, "Follow my lead and don't speak. We have an advantage here. I'm obviously not Italian, but I have a few ties within the Sicilian Mafia, which are their allies. It doesn't hurt that I speak their language and can blend in." He winks at me, his casual demeanor calming me the tiniest bit. But truly, inside... I'm screaming for help.

"I'm nervous." I tell him. He places a hand on the small of my back. "Don't be, I've got you." He reassures me as he hails a cab. "Always." He says as he helps me in the car.

We pull up in front of a mansion. Leo escorts me inside after we exit the cab. The mansion is beautiful decorated, white roses line small bartop tables and soft music plays throughout the marble entryway.

We're greeted by a smiling waiter holding onto a tray full of stemmed glasses. No champagne, but red and white wine in different shades. I opt for one of the whites, it will be calmer on my nervous stomach than a rich sweet red.

The waiter goes to attend to other guest and Leo lean's over to me. "Sip it." He says in a small voice. "I need you alert. If anything goes down. You leave me here, understand?"

I give a subtle nod, taking a few small sips to attempt and calm my nerves. "But I won't let anything happen." He adds with a cocky smirk. With Leo's arm extended to me I lean against him, having a hard time walking in heels but from the looks of the other women in attendance I'm thankful I wore them.

All the men are in crisp black suits, the women in colorful gowns. It's definitely a formal affair so I'm glad we fit the part, still I can't get used to the giant wedding ring that sits on my finger. It's weighing me down.

We try our best to blend in but occasionally a few people shake Leo's hand and speak to him, in Italian of course so I don't know what they're saying. He smiles, they laugh, we move on.

I guess this is like a marketing event in some ways. The allied mafias meet together and keep their bonds strong.

Once we are alone for a moment I lean over to him and whisper, "Where would he be?" I see an elaborate table with fancy finger foods. Meat, crackers, and cheese.

I guide myself, knowing I need something in my stomach besides wine. Leo, being a gentleman fixes a small plate for me. I note the way his eyes slightly move around the room ever so often, I guess he's looking for the answer to my question.

I take small bites, then I grab another glass of wine from a nearby tray. A smiling woman comes up to us, her red hair wrapped in an elegant twist, her uniform ironed to perfection.

"Ti piace il vino?" (Enjoying the wine?) The woman directs her quesiton at me, I take another sip as I wait for Leo to say something so that I don't have to.

"Lei lo adora, viene fatto qui?" (She loves it, do you make it here?) He ask her, she nods with a smile. Her features becoming animated as she speaks to him. Grabbing my long stemmed glass she tops it off. I know I shouldn't be drinking so much but it does keep me from having to speak.

She gestures down a hall and then walks away, I see a small smile playing on Leo's lips. "We're going to the cellar." He says, extending his hand towards a door at the bottom of the long hallway.

"Why?" I ask in hushed tones as we descend the stairs.

He pats my arm, his lips curved into a smile. "Well my darling wife, because the waitress saw how much you were enjoying the wine. The property behind this mansion is a vineyard, and the hosts love sharing their homemade wines with trusted allies. It's all made here and they're holding tastings in the cellar." He winks at me, this must be where he assumes Aiden would be.

I hold my breath as we make our way down the intricate and rough stone steps, if I wasn't so terrified I would be in awe of the ornate design of the mansion. Everything is so beautiful.

I hold Leo's hand tighter as he escorts us further down, there's a fork ahead. A small sign says "degustazioni di vino."(Wine tastings.) A small scrolled arrow points left. We go right, passing through an open archway and down a small corridor.

With my arm looped through Leo's we make our way slowly, my eyes searching each room we pass. One in particular has a faint golden glow in it, it's too my left.

I glide my head to the left, and that's when my heart drops at the sight in front of me.

Aiden.

♥️

See y'all later :)

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