Sold to Moretti Mafia

Elena

The room looks like one giant mass of dresses, and I can’t seem to wrap my head around the kindness that Julian has shown me. I’m half-tempted to ask him if he’s sick or if this is some kind of messed-up joke.

I don’t realize that I’m standing there with my mouth hanging wide open until Marie walks up to me. “Elena,.” She grabs my hand and squeezes it. “This is Celeste, our new cook.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Elena.” Celeste smiles, holding out her hand to me. I take it and return the smile. She, just like Marie, doesn’t seem to be much older than me.

“Do you know what kind of dress you would like? Ball Gown? Mermaid? A-line? Trumpet?” Margaret gets our attention and pushes her glasses further up the bridge of her nose. She stares at me like a puzzle piece that won’t go into its spot. “You have the body for a mermaid, so if you’re undecided, we can try that one first. I want to be certain that Mrs. Moretti looks her finest on her wedding day.”

Shocked, I nod, my mouth refusing to work still.

I’ve only ever heard of two of the dresses she named off, the ball gown and the mermaid, and I know for sure I don’t want to look like Cinderella on my wedding day. Julian might have his sweet moments, but he surely isn’t a white knight, which fits since I’m not a princess in need of saving.

Margaret moves through the racks before pulling a dress out. I twist, looking over my shoulder at Marie and Celeste, who look just as shocked as I am.

“The sweetheart neckline will accent your breasts very well, and the overall body of the dress will give your hips a nice flare, showing off your figure.”

“Do you want me to strip right here?” I ask.

Chuckling, she nods. “Yes, don’t be shy, sweetheart. You don’t have anything that I haven’t seen before.”

I guess she’s right. Peeling off my clothes, I strip down to my bra and panties and let her help me into the dress. It fits like a glove, and I stare at myself in the mirror for a long second with tears in my eyes. The neckline draws attention to my breasts, but the dress in itself shows off my body well.

“Oh, my goodness, Elena, it’s beautiful,” Marie fawns.

“It really is. I don’t think you even have to try on another one. This one right here is gold.” Celeste clasps her hands together.

I run a hand down the front of the gown, the top of the dress is beaded, and the bottom is a little fluffier made with tulle and some other material.

“They aren’t lying, it really does look fabulous on you.” Margaret meets my gaze in the mirror, and as much as I like the dress, I decide to try on another.

We go through the grueling process of trying on another mermaid dress, which I like a little less than the first before moving to an A-line, which I think looks hideous.

“I really think the first one was it.”

“Okay then, now we just have to pick out the rest.”

“The rest? What else is there?”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“Ha.” She tips her head back and laughs. “Don’t be silly. There are the undergarments, the shoes, the veil, jewelry, the flowers, and maybe a purse or a light fur coat if you get chilly.”

“I thought you were just a seamstress?”

“I have many talents, my dear.” She winks.

* * *

After hours of trying on things and making decisions, I am exhausted, yet I enjoyed every minute of it. After being so isolated for so long, these last few hours have been more than great. Hanging out with girls my age is unusual for me, but it’s something I have yearned for my whole life. I wonder if Julian would ever let me have a girls’ night. Obviously, he wouldn’t let me leave, but maybe a movie and pizza night?

I snuff the thought out as fast I think it. I doubt he would ever let me do something like that, but I can always dream, right?

Margaret packs up all of her stuff and promises me the dress will be done by tomorrow. I thank her profusely, and when she leaves, I stay behind in the sitting room with Marie and Celeste by my side. Silence blankets the room, and I turn to Marie, who looks as if she wants to say something but is afraid.

“Is everything okay?” I ask with real concern.

“Yes, I was just so worried. I heard the rumors about you trying to escape, and I wasn’t aware that you wanted to leave so badly,” Marie admits, frowning at me. “I didn’t know what to do or how to help you. I hadn’t seen you in days and wasn’t allowed to bring the food up. Julian scares me, and I thought the worst, that he would hurt you–”

“You don’t have to worry about me. Julian wouldn’t hurt me, and I honestly didn’t even plan on running away. I thought Julian was with another woman that night. I was angry and mad and thinking irrationally. I just wanted to call my father, and then I overheard the guards talking, and I panicked. I promise I’m fine.”

“There is no reason to be concerned about Elena’s wellbeing,” Julian’s deep voice fills the room, startling all three of us.

Marie’s eyes drop to the floor, and her tiny frame rattles beside me. Celeste also looks to the floor, but she seems less frightened, probably since she wasn’t the one caught talking. Placing my hand against Marie’s shoulder, I give her a gentle squeeze. I don’t think Julian would ever internationally hurt her, but he’s led me to believe he might a few times.

“I… I’m sorry, sir.”

“Do not question what I do with my wife behind closed doors. You’re a maid in my home, and it would be best for you to remember that.”

The stern way he talks to Marie angers me. I bite my tongue, knowing that if I act out, nothing good will come from it. I don’t want to disappoint him, especially after all he’s done for me today. I won’t let this go, though. I’m going to talk to him about the way he acted just now.

“Of course, sir. I apologize.” Marie’s lips tremble as she talks.

Julian shakes his head, frustration filling his features. He offers me his hand, and I take it, melting into his side as soon as he tugs me to my feet.

“Get back to work,” Julian orders gruffly before we walk out of the room.

I frown but let him guide me down the hall and back into the wing of the house where our bedroom is.

“Why were you so mean to her? She was just being a decent human and a good friend. She didn’t do anything wrong.”

“She works for me, and she is your maid. She can’t be your friend, and I will not have her questioning what I may or may not do with you. Your wellbeing is none of her concern.” He says coldly, but I can tell he’s close to snapping. I shouldn’t push the issue, but Marie is important to me, and I won’t stand by and let him talk down to her.

Stopping in my tracks, I dig my feet into the floor, forcing him to stop as well. Halting, he looms over me, and maybe before our size differences would’ve scared me, now his darkness, size, and overall body appeals to me. Placing a hand against his chest, I try not to think of the skin beneath it: the ridges, and dips, and the way his body molded so perfectly to mine.

Jesus… I can feel my core tightening.

“She is the only friend I have. It’s not like I can go out and find one that’s to your liking. And even if I could, her social standing wouldn’t matter to me. She’s still a person. She is kind, and she cares about me. I understand that she shouldn’t question you and that what happens to me doesn’t concern her, but her intentions are pure and come from a good place.”

“I won’t be questioned by my staff.” His jaw turns to steel, and his eyes flicker with fury.

“Then don’t be, but don’t treat her like she isn’t a human,” I whisper, placing a featherlight kiss against his jaw. “She is loyal to you, doesn’t this prove that. Even though she was worried, she didn’t act on it. Can’t that be enough?”

I don’t understand why I feel the need to kiss and touch him so often, but it brings me joy. When he’s near, I feel alive. All my life, I’ve been trapped, and it’s like now I’ve finally broken free. Julian’s gaze softens a fraction when I grab his hand once more and let him guide me back to the bedroom.

“Will you stay a bit with me? Maybe just lie in bed with me?”

Julian gives me a questioning look, and I’m one hundred percent sure he is going to say no, but then shocks me when he nods his head.

We both take our shoes off and crawl into bed together. Resting my head on his chest, I throw one leg over his, wanting him closer. I never thought I would feel safe in his arms, and especially not seek out the comfort of his body.

Running a hand up and down my back, he makes me shiver.

“Tomorrow, you will meet someone close to me. He is an ally and has worked with me often over the years. He is bringing his wife. Maybe you can make another friend. Their love story is far more dysfunctional than ours.”

“Love story?” I lift my head off his chest and peer up into his calm gaze. “I didn’t think mobsters fell in love?”

“Not all mobsters fall in love. Xander is tougher than steel and meaner than fuck. I’m surprised he found someone that could be the light to his darkness.”

The light to his darkness…

Maybe that’s what I’ll become to Julian. Maybe he just needs a little light to dull out all the dark in his life.

“Well, I can’t wait to meet her and hear about their love story,” I whisper, placing my head back down on his chest. Closing my eyes, I easily slip into sleep, feeling safe, protected, and cherished.