Judith

He wanted to introduce me to other mafia families. The maid was not joking. The event might have been held for some other purposes but all attention was on me and Domenico as we walked in, my hands clutching his elbow like a lifeline.

The event was held in one of private mafia-owned estates. The air was thick with the smell of cigar smoke and expensive cologne, mingling with the faint notes of classical music from a live quartet. Waiters in crisp black and white weave through the crowd, balancing silver trays of champagne and caviar.

The men were in well tailored suits. Many of them had visible scars and tattoos peeking from their cuffs, and the bulge of guns at their sides. Their wives and mistresses were in glittering silk gowns and diamonds that caught the light with each movement.

The room buzzed with overlapping voices — Italian, Russian, Spanish — all weaving together in a heavy hum. And layered with laughter that never reached their eyes. Everything looked polished on the surface but beneath it was an aura of danger. Just one snap and everything would go up in flames.

This setting has only managed to drive home that I really was in the middle of something more powerful than I could ever dream. One slip up and I’d be dead. I moved closer to Domenico—for protection which was ironic because I also needed protection from him—and if he noticed, he did not say anything but continued to lead me.

I should be running far away instead of leaning in close but what can a girl do in this situation? He was the only one I knew in this gathering.

Has he ever brought Janet out like this before?

The man I recognized from our wedding as Domenico’s uncle waylaid us the moment we walked in, as though he had been waiting for us.

“Domenico,” he called in a boisterous voice as he reached for Domenico to hug him, “I thought you won’t be attending this gathering until I saw you.”

We all knew that was a lie but who was going to call him out? Definitely not me. I’m trying to keep my head on my neck.

Domenico accepted the manly hug without letting go of me.

“Uncle,” he called in an almost bored voice.

“Janet,”

His uncles turned to me, eyeing me like a predator, causing me to almost shrink back but like the first time he spoke to me after the wedding, I recovered quickly and lifted my chin in the air. I’ve been singing to myself since Domenico came to pick me up. I was Janet and Janet was not a push over. Domenico’s words about me being different before we consummated the marriage was ringing in my head.

“Hello again,”

He cocked his head at me but his expression gave nothing away.

“You look beautiful as always. How are you enjoying your marriage?”

“Oh, married life is really favoring me.” I chirped, saying something I knew Janet could say in a situation like this. I knew I’d hit the target when Domenico who had been staring straight ahead glanced at me and his uncle burst into loud mirthless laughter.

“Oh Janet. That’s wonderful to hear,” he said, “I hope you keep enjoying this marriage you fucked my son over for.”

Then without waiting for a word of reply he turned and walked away.

Fucked his son over for? What else has Janet done? Who was Domenico’s uncle’s son? God, my head was spinning with so many questions, I wanted to sit down for a while but I couldn’t.

I followed Domenico into the grand hall and a hush settled over the crowd as every eye turned to us. Domenico stopped a couple of times to talk and he did not fail to introduce me to every man he spoke to. If I didn’t know otherwise I’d say he was just a proud husband in love that was showcasing his beautiful wife to the world.

The women accompanying the men tried to draw me into conversations by complimenting my choice of gown and jewelry and asking how I was able to acquire the gown when it’s yet to be released. Since I don’t even understand what they were talking about I just said Domenico got it for me. Each time I said it, their smiles died and envy immediately took over their expressions. They wanted to be me? I’d gladly give up the position.

“You know I didn’t get that, don’t you?” Domenico asked once we left the last man and he began to walk to our assigned table. “Were you just saying that to make the other woman jealous of you?”

“No. I did not just have the time to explain things to them.”

“Easier to use me to get out, huh?” He looked at me, “The same way you’re trying to use me to escape from having to work again in your life,”

“You’ve got it,” I said at a careless shrug.

A secret Janet was holding over his head, Perez had said. Now, Domenico was also talking about Janet using him to escape from ever working. Everybody knew that Janet wanted to become a celebrity through acting and modeling. But there was something she wanted more than that and it was to marry into a powerful and old money family and spend her husband’s money.

In no time, I’d uncover everything. I just needed to be patient and put my eyes down so that I don’t miss anything.

The side of his mouth curled up but he said nothing else until we got to our table. The atmosphere at the table changed once we were seated and a few looked uncomfortable while the rest looked outraged. There was no in between.

“I need to use the bathroom,” I whispered to Domenico and stood up before he could say anything.

I asked one of the staff for directions to the ladies room and I hurried away. Once the door was locked behind me, my breath rushed out of me and my shoulder slumped in relief to be away from all that acting and danger even if only for a few minutes. Just as I’m sucking in a much needed breath the door was heaved open and a beautiful woman with fiery red hair and a beautifully made up face walked in, or better yet, marched in.

Her eyes were blazing with anger and her expression held malice and hatred. Even before she opened her mouth I knew that there was going to be a fight. Janet must have also offended this lovely woman.

“You stupid bitch! How dare you show up here, shameless clinging to his hand after what you did!”

She raised a hand to hit me but I caught it as it descended. I don’t know what went on between her and Janet but no way will I be letting her hit me.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” I told her in a calm voice but it only seemed to make her angrier.

She used her purse to hit my hand that was holding hers and I let her go.

“You posted that stuff, right? You thought I’d never find out!” She screeched, “That scandal was leaked by you. I got punished because of it. If you think I’d let you steal Domenico from me then you’re solely mistaken,”

“Steal? Baby, I got married to him a few days ago,” I said with a sneer, “You found out about the scandal but not this? Girl, you need to start paying attention and keeping up to date,”

“How dare you speak to me in that way, you country bumpkin?” She looked as if she was one step away from lunging at me, “If you think you can just waltz in here and steal what belongs to me then you have something else coming for you,”

“A country bumpkin stole from you? You should be ashamed of yourself,”

Unable to control herself anymore, she lifted her hand and slapped me across the face at the same time another woman opened the door and stepped in. She saw everything and a high pitched scream left her lips, drawing attention from the few people who were standing outside around the bathroom area.

“What happened?” Someone asked and in a few seconds the bathroom was filled up with curious people.

“I walked in on Gianna slapping Janet,” the woman told them and every eyes turned to us.

Good God.