Adriana rummaged through her closet looking for a dress to wear. Adrenaline pumped in her blood. Her hands were a bit clammy from anxiety. She was going on her first mission with her brother. Though her family was against it, she wanted to be fully involved in mafia activities, just like Gia. The two were about the same age and she had always admired her.
"Are you really that nervous?" Adrian asked as he walked into her room, looking at the mess she had made with her clothes.
She turned to her twin brother with a sigh, "I don't know what to wear."
He tip-toed around her room making sure to avoid the clothes strewn all over the floor of her spacious room, "Clearly. If I had this much clothes, I wouldn't know where to start picking from."
She glared at him, "Not helping."
"It's not like you're doing anything serious. You're just going to be with Matteo as he tries to close some deal. Just put on something comfortable. It should be comfortable enough for you just in case things go south," he told her.
"Will I have to throw punches on my first day?" she asked anxiously.
Adrian chuckled awkwardly, "I actually thought that you'll be over the moon about that. By the way, I'm not saying things will go south. I'm just saying that you need to be prepared at all times. Just put on something comfortable."
"Is that why Gia chose pants over the dresses Capo asked me to choose for her? She's always alert, isn't she?"
Adrian smiled at her, "You badly want to be like her, don't you?"
She met his gaze and hesitated before speaking, "It doesn't matter. Everyone hates her. They will hate me too if I try to be friends with an enemy. I got a good beating from mom the other time."
"Okay."
"Okay? That's all you're going to say?"
"You should get ready. It's almost time for breakfast. I think you should just dress how she usually dresses. You'll figure things out yourself," he patted her shoulder and left.
She silently watched him leave and when he shut the door, she settled for black leather pants, a black vest and black leather jacket with black boots. Gia was dressed that way the first time she had seen her in person. She had her auburn hair up in a ponytail before leaving her room.
The dining table was full as usual except Omri's seat that was mostly left unoccupied. The tension on the table was palpable just like any other day since Gia's arrival three months ago.
"You look good," Matteo whispered to her as she took her seat.
She smiled at him. She had felt stupid about her choice of outfit at first but his words held so much weight to her.
"What are you wearing?" Francesca looked at her daughter like she had grown a second head.
Adriana shifted uncomfortably in her seat at her mom's glare.
The mother slowly lowered herself to her seat, her eyes still on her daughter. "After breakfast, you're getting rid of that clothing."
"Seems like it's only a matter of time before the little minx starts corrupting all our daughters," Sophia remarked as she sat down too.
Renzo heaved in annoyance but said nothing to the two women.
"Exactly what I have been trying to tell brother but he doesn't see my point. I'm just glad everyone else is seeing this too," Camilla said with a dramatic sigh.
Gia completely ignored them and Alvan sat beside her, not a word coming out of his mouth. They all started eating.
Adriana wondered how Gia's mind worked. She never seemed bothered by the opposition in the family, at least she didn't show it even if it bothered her. And whenever she showed that it bothered her, she managed to shut everyone up.
"Did anyone ask you to put on that trashy outfit? Have you been talking to a certain outcast of recent?" Francesca directed the question to Adriana.
"Um.. I don't know what you mean," Adriana said even though she knew exactly what her mom was doing. She was mostly quiet on the table until Sophia fell out with her brother because of Gia.
"Do I need to spell it out?" Francesca said.
"Stop it, Francesca!" Renzo chided.
"No, don't stop her from saying what is on her mind because I have something to say about her too. I made a very shocking discovery just a few days ago," Gia said and Francesca looked at her in horror.
Valentino choked on his food and the table went quiet to hear what was going to happen between the two.
"What cat got your tongue?" Gia smiled cynically.
"What are you on about?" Francesca tried to act indifferent.
"Trust me, you don't want us throwing our dirty linen out on the table like this," Gia said.
"What are you on to?" Renzo asked.
Francesca paled as Gia's lips parted, "Nothing."
The young girl shrugged her shoulders and stood up to leave the table.
"And Adriana?"
Adriana looked up at Gia.
"You look wonderful. Don't let these old hags talk you down for trying to be the type of woman they could never be, not even in a million years."
Gia nodded at her before leaving the table.
Adriana's cheeks warmed from Gia's validation. She nodded back slightly while containing her excitement. She didn't want to provoke her mother and aunts.
* * *
"You have this flare for drama, don't you?" Vinnie said from behind her.
She ignored him and climbed on the chair she had placed before her to reach a book on the top shelf of the library. She reached up to get the book and his cold hands held her waist. She smacked his head with the book and he left her alone immediately. "Don't fucking touch me ever!"
She hopped down from the chair and walked towards another section of the library to find another book.
"Aren't you tired of living like this? I know how things are with you and your husband dearest."
She barely acknowledged him.
"Don't you think that you deserve better? Alvan is an arse. I can give you everything that he can never give. We can give that a try right here right now," he said huskily as he approached Gia.
She gulped as she watched him from the corner of her eyes as he made his way towards her.
"Within the walls of this empty library," he whispered behind her ears and she shivered at the electricity that travelled through her body.
"I can give you a mind blowing orga_," he bit the lobe of her ear and she sucked in a breath. "_sm," he completed his word in a raw whisper.
Gia leaned into his touch as his hands slipped into her shirt. The image of Francesca and Valentino flashed before her eyes and she snapped out of whatever Vinnie was seducing her into.
"Get your fucking hands off me!" she shoved him before his hands reached her boobs.
She stormed out of the library without the books she had planned to get.
"Fucking ovulation!" she cussed.
She couldn't believe she almost let Vinnie of all people to lay a hand on her.
"Hey, are you alright?" Javan asked standing in front of her.
"No! I mean, no. I mean, yes. I'm_" she sighed and just shut up. She ran her fingers through her messy hair. The whole thing had caught her off guard and managed to unnerve her.
"What happened?" Javan asked.
"Nothing," Gia said and walked away before he could say anything to her.
Vinnie walked out of the library, a satisfied smirk on his face. Javan's heart lept in his chest.
"They didn't, did they?"
He hurried down the stairs to find Gia to question her but she was nowhere in sight. His heart raced as he feared for her.