Hello
"Daddy why?"
"Callexa you will understand one day. I’m so sorry. I made bad choices and this is my repayment. Knowing you’ll hate me forever-"
"Daddy, please don’t make me go! Please!"
"Cal, I’m so-"
"No!"
I kicked and screamed as his men forcefully carried me out my parents house. The took me to a waiting black SUV. Inside was Zaden Ruiglini. He had the aura of coldness that emanated. I wept loudly.
"Let me go!"
"Your father promised you to me in exchange for his debts. I won’t force you to do anything you don’t want to, but you must adhere to my instructions. Firstly, we will be married in a month. You can help plan it or it will be planned for you. Once married, you must uphold the sacred vows of our marriage. I don’t like being made a fool of. I know you’re upset and I will allow you to be upset. My name is Zaden Ruiglini. I am head of the Italian mafia. I run all of Italy."
I looked up to see the most beautiful green eyes. I wouldn’t have thought that he was the head of anything. He seemed like your average Joe. I tried to stop crying, but the tears continued to fall. I hadn’t realized I was still staring at him until he looked up and held my gaze. I wanted to look away but I couldn’t.
We drove to the tarmac at the New York airport. A jet was waiting on us. The car came to a halt and we sat in silence briefly until he spoke.
"I will deal with my guys for being rough with you. Do you want me to carry you?"
"I want you to let me go. I don’t want this. I want to go back to my parents. I’m their only child. Don’t take me away from them. My daddy has a weak heart and my mom will die without him, Mr-"
"Call me Zaden."
"Zae.. I wasn’t raised to call adults by their first name. Please... I’ll come back to you, I promise. I don’t want my parents to die."
"I will allow you to visit, you have my word. There are things you need to get accustomed to at our new home. You have your cell, once we are in the air you can call them. I won’t cut off your communications with them. I need to learn your likes and you mine. That takes time. We need to get on the jet if we want to be back in Italy before nightfall."
"Promise me, you’ll let me talk to my parents!"
"You have my word, I promise."
He opened the door and stepped out. He exchanged words in Italian with the men in suits who were waiting on us. He turned around and reached a hand in for me. I blushed and took his hand. He handed me his handkerchief from his pocket. I dried my eyes. I was seriously gawking at him again. He was muscular build. His hands were rough. His hand naturally went to the small of my back. I gasped as he guided me to the jet’s steps.
We boarded and of course I tripped and almost fell on my face. I waited for the pain that would follow, but it never came. I opened my eyes and he was holding me. He had wrapped him arm around my waist and pulled me to him snug. I blushed hard and laughed nervously.
"You okay?"
"I didn’t expect there to be a lip after the last step. I’m fine, Zae."
"Zae.. hmm I think I’ll like you calling me that, but only you, wife."
I pulled out of his embrace and took the first seat I saw. To my luck it was his seat and one of the men he spoke to ask me to move.
"Callexa that’s the boss’s seat. You will have to take the next seat or another."
"No no baby girl you can have my seat. My wife may sit wherever she likes."
"Everyone calls me Cal. Don’t call me baby girl. My dad calls me that. I didn’t know there were assigned seats as I didn’t see my name. I’m not married to you yet, so stop referring to me as your wife! I don’t even have a ring-"
"You will get to choose one to your liking. I didn’t want to pick one that you might not like. I want you to have something you’re excited to wear."
"You’re a gentleman?"
"You thought I wasn’t?"
He raised an eyebrow at me but I looked away to hide a blush threatening to grace my face.
"Baby girl, this is Rex. He’s my go to. If you need to get to me quickly he’s your guy."
"Hello Rex. You don’t have a last name?"
"Hi Cal, Rex Brattaii. Zaden and I have been friends since we were little lads. Would you like something to drink or eat?"
"No thank you I have no appetite. Water to drink if you have some."
"Very well. Boss?"
"Scotch, neat."
"You drink?"
"Yes. Do you?"
"No, I just turned 21 yesterday."
"Happy belated birthday future wife."
We eased into silence after that exchange and the jet took off. I closed my eyes as the feeling of dropping to the lowest point took over as we drifted into the air. Once we leveled off my stomach returned to normal. I sipped the water Rex brought me. Zae worked on his laptop and phone interchangeably. I stared at him as he worked. He smiled as I know he felt me looking at him.
I remembered he said I could call my parents once we were in the air. I pulled my phone from my back pocket and dialed my mom. Daddy always forgot to turn the sound on his. Mom answered right away.
"Lexa, are you okay?"
"I’m fine mom. Mr Ruiglini says I can call you and daddy whenever I want. He promised too let me talk to you. I told him daddy’s heart is weak and you loved him too much to be able to handle his demise."
"Oh Lexa. I’m sorry, we’re sorry we didn’t provide better for you."
"It’s okay mom. You did the best you could. Where’s daddy?"
"I’m here baby girl. I’m sorry for putting you in this predicament. I love you so much. I hope you know that."
"I do daddy. I love you both."
"We only want you to be happy and we know right now you are not-"
"Daddy, it’s okay. You’ve given me so much and I could never repay you. I know you did what you thought was best for me. I’m okay now. I was just in shock. Everything was so sudden, okay? Please don’t cry. Take care of your heart, remember?"
"Baby girl, I’ll never forgive myself for making my consequences yours."
"Oh daddy!"
"Sh sh sh... you know I can’t take when you cry. Don’t cry baby girl. I already can barely take what I’ve done to you."
"Daddy.."
"Baby girl..."
I wept as my dad tried to find words. He too was crying.
"Daddy, I love you. You need to rest okay? We’re in the air, but once we land I’ll send you a text as it will be late."
"No, baby girl you call okay. We will leave the phone on."
"Okay daddy. I love you too mom. Please rest, okay?"
"Yes Lexa. I’ll make sure your dad does as well."
The call ended and I continued to cry silently in my seat. I felt eyes on me and looked up to see Zae looking at me. He looked away and continued on his devices once I wiped my eyes.
The motion of the jet soaring through the sky lulled me to sleep at some point. I remember posting off grid as my last post on my social handles and logging off for good prior to sleeping. I woke up to being shook lightly by Zae. I opened my eyes to find I was in a bed on the jet.
"How did I get here?"
"You fell asleep in your chair and you looked uncomfortable so I brought you to the bed."
"Oh, I’m sorry I disturbed you from your work."
"I didn’t mind, my future wife will be comfortable as long as I can help it."
I blushed as I swung my legs to the side of the bed. I noticed my shoes were missing. I looked down to see them in the floor. I reached to pick them up but he beat me to it. He helped me into them causing me to blush again. We exited the jet as I saw his men loading my things they packed for me from my parents.
"Watch your step"
I blushed. We were led to another black SUV. Zae allowed me to get in first and then he sat next to me, closely. I nervously bounced my leg and when his hands rested on my thigh, I stilled. His hand was rough on my skin, but his touch was gentle.
I stared at his hand on my thigh the entire ride to his home.
I was lost in thought thinking about what waited for me. Was he going to kill me? Would he be a good husband or a bad one? So many things raced through my mind. I worried about the condition of my father's heart. He drank and it didn't help his failing heart.
The ride from the tarmac to his house was lengthy and I tried to look out the window to give myself something else to think about, but it wasn't helping. My mind was in a state of chaos.
I thought on how I was just a year away from finishing my studies and now I may not get to finish. I knew nothing about the man sitting next to me. His cologne made it's way into my nostrils. He smelled heavenly. No! I can't think this way about him. His eyes floated back into my mind. He was a handsome man.
I wouldn't have thought he was mafia! Wait, he did say he ran all of Italy! Was he a dangerous man? I wondered what hid under the shirt he was wearing. Focus! He was being driven versus driving himself. He had men who guarded him and did his dirty work! They came and got me and dragged me to the car. Well not really, I was just trying to make it difficult.
I would've come along with them, I just wanted to make sure my mom and daddy were going to be okay. I didn't mind paying what my daddy owed. They had worked all their lives to give me a decent life. It was the least I could do. I missed them so much already. Daddy looked so distraught! I'll see the pain in his eyes in my sleep.
My chest hurt and I knew I had to calm down or else I would have a panic attack. I had to think positive things. I was going to be okay because that would help daddy be okay. I noticed all the men that were with Zaden wore black, but he had on grey. It looked good on him. He looked like a workaholic. He had broad shoulders. He was a big guy! He was very tall. Much taller than I. He towered over me.
Please let him be nice. Please let him keep his word and let me stay in contact with my parents. I promise I wouldn't give him any trouble if he kept his word. He was mafia after all. The movies made them look like untrustworthy people. Maybe he was different.
I couldn't ease my mind no matter what I did. I let it continue to reel.
