I hate baby showers. I find them to be incredibly boring. I don't care to watch a pregnant woman open gift after gift of damn zoo animal onesies and mountains of diapers. I loathe the corny games they play. Baby due date guesses, baby shower bingo, and blah. Stupid.
That being said, I am going to a baby shower today. I hardly had a choice. Enzo my future hubby's, sister is having a kid and that means I have to go. My family was invited in some lame attempt to mend relations.
If not for this kid it would be that Alessandro guy I would've had to marry. Of the two I think I prefer Enzo's looks, so good on Alessandro for not wearing a rubber and knocking up a girl he doesn't wanna be with.
Anthony will be there. It'll be the first time aside from that sit down that we'll all be together in the same room. And this time for longer. I could care less about meeting any other Rizzo family member or any of Enzo's friends. I don't even care to know Enzo for that matter.
I'm not looking to make this a real marriage. I'm hoping he agrees we'll be together in title only and we both go about our business seeing other people.
My heart dropped when I realized something. I'm about to be introduced as Enzo's soon to be wife, and his SISTER has already seen me with her cousin. There is a very strong possibility she'd remember me from Anthony's apartment. In a total panic I texted him to point that out.
*Anthony: Fuck* was his response. And then after, *Anthony: I'll make her promise not to say anything. She owes me a lot for helping her out*
I don't know the girl's character to be able to determine if she's trustworthy or not. She would have the perfect ammo to fuck us over if she felt like it. But if Anthony did a lot for her then that has to mean they have a good relationship. So why would she fuck over her own cousin by telling everyone she knows me already? Let's hope.
I was finally in my own apartment. I complained to Vitaly that I would have nothing to wear to a baby shower and needed my clothes at my own home to pick something out. What I was doing now was sitting in front of the large wall mirror between Chloe's room and mine in the hallway.
My hair was in loose waves, tousled over to the side carelessly, but I figured maybe I should tie a few pieces back a bit and give myself a more fancy look. It's less messy, and Vitaly wouldn't settle for messy.
I really didn't try very hard on the outfit though. I wore a soft fabric mauve jumper, which was somewhat bohemian. I've never been one very interested in impressing people. Vitaly or not.
-
This baby shower was being hosted by the Rizzo crime family in honor of Alessandro De luca and Giana Rizzo's child. I guess we're going to a very large home where Mr. Rizzo, Enzo's father and mother live. I know it's gonna be extravagant because crime bosses love to be showy.
I was alone in a four door blacked out car, I was arriving separately from my father and brothers, but I was instructed to wait for them in the car until they arrived. We'll be entering together for no good reason.
When I say 'alone in a car' what I mean is I have a personal driver, Boris, and one other security man in the car with me. I never needed so much protection when the Petrov's weren't here. It feels silly now. Like, is my life actually in danger or are these mobsters self important and paranoid. I wasn't associated with the mob for so many years.
It's weird to think I am affiliated now. Are their enemies my enemies?
To no surprise when I pulled up to a long driveway with a fancy iron rot gate we were checked out before they waved us forward. I saw many expensive cars all parked along the sides of the long gravel drive up to the front short lawn of the home. It's a very big, very colonial designed home.
There was a lot of symmetry to it. Evenly spaced shutters, flattened columns, and chimneys. The door was centrally located and currently open while guests entered the house.
This is no picket fence family here though. The people walking inside are all sharp suited, designer dressed. Expensive people. Dangerous people. It's all smiles and slapping backs until someone steps out of line. Then it's a whole different scene.
As instructed I waited for my father and brothers and once they showed up I got out of the car and met them at the flat stone path cutting one side of the lawn from the other. I felt my father's eyes inspecting me.
"You could have put in a little more effort," he told me in Russian. "I could have," I agreed like a smartass. His nostrils flared but he let it go this time. Instead he moved me along behind my brother's who were now entering the house.
"Mr. Petrov" the person at the door knew us even if we didn't know them. I guess we stand out amongst the dark haired, olive skinned Italians. We're all creamy skin, pale hair, and blue eyed.
"Gentlemen, welcome" I suddenly heard a louder voice behind the person who initially opened the door. It was a man with a sharp blue suit and slicked back hair. He had a broad smile and smelt like after shave I imagine a Wise guy smelling like.
Two gold chains around his neck. One had a cross attached.
My father and brother's stepped forward and shook the man's hand. I heard them greet him as Mr. Rizzo. Oh this is Enzo's father, Anthony's uncle. I guess I could see some similarities to Enzo. He was long-limbed the way I remember Giana being. He's got the salt and pepper hair and a lightly creased face.
I could picture him younger, being a troublemaker with good looks and charm. Like his nephew.
"Mr. Rizzo" I extended a hand out to the man to introduce myself. "You must be Aleksandra. Please, call me John, honey. Let's go find my son. I'm sure he'll wanna see you" Mr. Rizzo was friendly with me.
"Um, you can call me Le-" I was about to ask him to call me Lexi when my father stepped in the way and cut me off. Why he hates that name so much, I don't understand it.
All three Petrov men were in black slacks, crisp white button downs partially opened at the top, with the black jackets unbuttoned also. They all had the combed hair parted in various ways. It's a handsome look if that makes any sense. They're in a more relaxed suit than the Italians, but still equally sharp in their appearance.
They look important in a shady way. You can't hide the mobster in them.
I saw many, many men in this grand room all looking that exact same way. God, you just know there's at least 50 guns floating around here. All the Italians were all buddy-buddy and chummy, but we are outsiders. The foreigners. And we stuck out a lot.
I felt so many eyes shift our way when Mr. Rizzo led us into that open dining room and spare sitting room area where a ton of people were all spread out.
There was a lavish table set up in the middle, but people hung out in various places. I could see the backyard was open to visitors and it was nicely decorated back there too.
There were too many faces to recount, too many names, and too many decorations to explain it all. I instantly wanted to go home as soon as I stepped in the door. I wanted to roll my eyes when people stared.
Mr. Rizzo collected his family and came over to mine. I greeted Mrs. Rizzo with a half hearted smile and nodded to Enzo in acknowledgment. And then it was Giana they introduced with her big round belly.
"This is my daughter, Giana," he told me, and I played it off as the first time laying eyes on her. I was grateful when she did the same. I did feel her eyes linger on me though. I wonder what she's thinking.
"Lorenzo, take Aleksandra around and introduce her to some people, huh?" Mr. Rizzo directed me towards his son. The Petrov men were immediately engulfed and properly greeted. They were separated from me rather quickly so I shrugged and followed Enzo along.
There was a group of people sitting in a circle outside in the yard. It seemed like all the younger people. The yard was frickin huge and they had various setups of lawn sofas and chairs arranged for socializing.
"Aleksandra, you remember my cousin from the other day, right? Anthony" Enzo pointed over to the handsome man in his handsome suit. "Yes, hello. Um, call me Lexi though" I reminded him. He nodded but continued on introducing the circle.
Isabella, Sophia, Anthony, Joey, Georgie, and so on.
"Here, sit" one of the guys got up and offered me a chair. I took it, not knowing what the hell else to do with myself. More faces came and went saying plenty of hellos. More stares.
"So, Lexi, do you live here in the states or in Russia?" The blonde girl I think whose name was Sophia decided to break the ice and ask me. She's the only other blonde here, but I doubt it's natural.
"I live here in New York City," I told her. Her brows lifted some and she cracked a smile. "Oh great, you're already here" she nodded and looked around at the others to speak. I felt someone walk up behind me and stay standing there. It was Enzo.
"Yeah, she's a model too," he told her. Her face brightened and she slapped her hands down on her thighs. She was wearing designer everything from head to toe.
"You may know my best friend then!" She started excitedly. "Eh, I don't know. It's a pretty big industry. We don't all know each other" I sort of chuckled on her behalf. "She'll be here in a minute with my brother. I'll introduce you" she offered. She seems friendly enough, whether it's genuine or not. I nodded okay to her.
"Lexi, would you like something to drink?" I heard the deep familiar voice of Anthony. My eyes snapped over to his and lingered there. "Sure" I shrugged.
We may be pretending not to know each other, but that doesn't mean we have to completely ignore each other. That would seem more obvious than these polite pleasantries.
Anthony nodded and stood to grab me something.
"Yay! She's here" the blonde popped up from her seat and didn't tetter in her expensive heels in the slightest. I followed her motion to walk over to someone and I'm glad I didn't have that drink yet or I would've choked on it.
"You're kidding" I didn't mean to exclaim aloud. I felt everyone turn to look at me, but I was too busy looking at the model.
"Mia?", "Lexi?" We both questioned the other in surprise.
How is this happening?! First I meet Anthony who I assume is some normal guy, then I find out he's a mobster in connection with my family, and then I end up engaged to his cousin Enzo, and now frickin Mia Fiore is standing in front of me. It's too much.
"Wait..." Mia tipped her head in confusion. "You know the mob?" She asked in surprise just after. Everyone was looking back and forth between us trying to catch on. I heard someone chuckle. "She doesn't know the mob, she is the mob" someone said. I quickly shook my head no.
"I'm not really in this lifestyle. I've lived separate from the Petrov's for most of my life, but, uh, yeah. My father is Vitaly Petrov, the Russian walking amongst us. Him and my brothers" I thumbed towards the house.
We both continued to stare at the other until we both started laughing.
"This is unbelievable. I date Domani De Luca. The boss of all this" she waved around us. Well look at sweet little Mia Fiore screwing the big bad mob boss. Good for her. "So you know each other then?" Enzo chuckled.
"Yeah, we've done a few shoots together. We're new friends" Mia kindly stated, even though we really aren't friends at all. The girl rushed up to me and gave me a great big hug. The blonde, Sophia, pouted and said, "Hey, hug me first. I'm the OG friend." Everyone laughed.
I was still pretty shocked about all this. I sort of stood there awkwardly and looked around. How the hell did I end up here?
"Wait..." I heard Mia say again. She stepped closer to lower her voice, but she still gained everyone's attention anyways. "So you're the Russian bride? Sorry, that sounded mean the way I said it. It's just, Dom told me a little bit about, ya know, all this" she motioned between me and Enzo. I cleared my throat and turned to the group.
"Let's get this out of the way. It's the awkward truth hanging over our heads here. Yes, I'm promised to Enzo like it's 1850 and I have a dowry. No, I'm not okay with it. And here we are," I saluted them.
They found it funny, which I guess is the better reaction out of most. Anthony looked away and took a sip of his drink. He'd handed me mine in passing but didn't speak a word to me.
"Oh Lexi, this is so crazy. I know that sounds...well, it sounds awful, but you're with us now. I'll be the friendly face to get you through it. Promise" she clasped my free hand and squeezed it. She's nice.
Our conversation was interrupted when all eyes shifted behind me. There stood a tall brooding man I know to be the Italian boss. We met already.
"Dom, guess what!" Mia practically skipped over to her boyfriend and hung off his arm with a great big smile. "What?" He stated plainly. Though his eyes stay glued on that girl, and they're intense, whatever that gaze is.
"I know her" she pointed right at me. Dom's dark brows lifted in surprise. "From modeling," she added.
Recognition came over his face. He's a very handsome guy. Him and Mia look good together. "Small fucking world" he stuck out his bottom lip and nodded at the giant coincidence. If only they knew.
"You can show her around then" I heard Dom quietly tell his girlfriend. She nodded enthusiastically. "Definitely. I already told her that."
The blonde started pouting and told Mia she's jealous. I assume she's kidding. She seems friendly, but definitely spoiled. I'm sure they all are. Spoiled, not friendly.
"Have you met the beach ball yet?" Sophia suddenly turned her head to me. "Sophia" I heard Dom snap at his sister in warning. Wait, that's his sister right? They just told me and I already forgot.
So Domani, Isabella, and Sophia are siblings. Enzo and Giana are siblings and very close to their cousin Anthony. Mia is the girlfriend to Dom and best friend to Sophia. I was trying to keep it all straight in my mind.
"Yes, I did meet the beach ball. I mean...Giana" I corrected myself, but answered Sophia's question. She snorted a laugh. "Oh, I think we'll get along just fine" she patted my arm before walking back across the circle to take her seat. She dragged Mia with her.
From there I suffered what felt like hours of answering questions or blending into the background observing everyone interact. Then we were called inside for silly games. Most of the guys refused it, but Mia dragged me along for the first one.