Five:
Dove
"I have four rules I have to let you know before we get to the estate," Gedeon said, breaking the tense air in the car. I was curled on the furthest end of the back seat, away from him. I was surprised he didn't try to pull me close to him or hit me when I flinched to subdue me.
It finally hit me who he was. Gedeon Sokoloff, the youngest to ever take over the Russian families at the age of fifteen. His nickname I've heard from Father, "Cold Splatter" was because he was known to kill his enemies and he did it so messy that it looked like a piece of art on the floor. I thought he wasn't as deadly, but he was worse than Robert Gaggi.
And I was now his wife.
"Is she even listening?" Timor looked at me through the rear view mirror. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to answer, or if this was a test. I never knew how these men think, but if they were anything like Robert, it was best to keep quiet unless Gedeon talked to me. I clutched the Little Women, the only book I brought with me, closer to my chest. It calmed me, just a little bit.
"Bird, are you listening?" Gedeon asked, looking up from his phone and he cocked an eyebrow upwards.
Gingerly, I nodded, hoping to not anger him. I still hated the nickname and decided to throw it in to test my luck. "Yes, I am listening, Scar."
At that, a slow smile formed, even as Timor scoffed. "I didn't think you'll be entering the nickname honeymoon phase so soon."
"Shut up before I actually decide to take up on your offer to shoot your fucking ass before I even said you could tell her," he growled darkly before eyeing me. "Do you remember the first rule?"
"To not apologize if I do not mean it," I recalled.
He nodded, seeming pleased I remembered before looking back down onto his phone. "The second rule is to listen to me. That would mean if I say something, you won't disobey me. Trust me, you won't like what I'll do to those who doesn't listen."
I nodded meekly as I looked out the window. We had been driving for almost an hour, and with each passing minute, we seemed to be going further away from civilization. The buildings and houses were slowly morphing into miles of tree. It was basically a mockery. I didn't dare ask where their estate was. I still wasn't comprehending what went on an hour ago. My father basically just signed me away without batting an eye and handed me to someone more violent than Robert. "Yes, I understand."
"The third rule would be to not cause any trouble with the others in the estate. You can talk to them freely, even if they don't ask you it in a form of a question. Answer honestly and without disrespect," he informed me.
"Trust me, no one wants to talk to an Italian princess," Timor shot with a snort. I tried not to tense, because I wasn't sure if it was going to be a good or bad thing that they won't want to talk to me. "We're there in five minutes."
"Make sure Anastasia and the other maids prepare a warm bath and food for bird," he eyed me again, his eyes resting on my legs. I was practically freezing in my dress since it was the middle of winter. But he didn't eye me in a sexual way at all, but one of curiosity. Though I knew his eyes lingered a bit longer around my slender legs before it rested on my eyes. "What size are you?"
"Small," I answered. I swallowed the nervousness, and wanted to ask why he wanted to know, but was cut off.
"We're here. I'm going to let the others know, and to get a bath and food ready for her," Timor practically spat out the last part before opening his door to get the door for Gedeon. He turned to me and smiled, though it doesn't reach his eyes. I noticed it in the span of two hours I've known him. His smile was hallow and empty. It was like he wasn't capable of it.
"Oh, right," he said as Timor opened the door for him. He cocked his head to my direction. "The last rule, bird, no running away."
He didn't have to tell me that one. It didn't matter if I could run, because I would never be able to escape from their grasp. When I was young, I remembered I would always run off to play when Father had things to do. Mother said as long as I came back at a certain time, I was able to do it. It was a Summer filled with genuine laughter as I played chess, read, and learned to garden. It was the only time I felt like I was free.
I had run shortly after being betrothed to Robert and raped, but I didn't get far. I was beaten so badly; I couldn't move for a month. After I nodded, I opened the door on my own, my bare feet hitting the snow-covered ground. Immediately, I tried not to be captivated by the view.
The estate was the only building for miles, guarded by a giant fence to not allow intruders in or out. Made out of what I assume to be white marble with an orange red roof top. It was much bigger than my father's place for acres.
Not only that, but there was a greenhouse section connected to the right side of the estate. It was covered in vines that desperately needed to be trimmed. Out of the whole estate, it was the only place that seemed to not be kept well. Mother always loved to garden, and I inherited my love for plants from her. Peeking to my left, I saw a small pond, though it was covered in a thin sheet of ice. Even if it was winter, the place was breathtaking.
Too bad this would probably be the best I had in experiencing the place. If he was anything like Father and Robert, I would be shoved in a small bedroom with just a small window, if I was lucky. I unconsciously pulled into the suit jacket to try keeping myself from shivering as I stood there, waiting to see if I was allowed to follow.
Gedeon noticed right away when I stood there and frowned as he came to a full stop. "Are you waiting for an invitation?"
This time, I couldn't help but narrow my eyes slightly at his comment. With a small huff, I slowly trailed behind them, my feet crunching on the snow as I followed them to the large house. I could only imagine what illegal activities they had done in order to afford this place.
The guards up front bowed as Gedeon passed the front of the gate, though they sneered when their eyes landed on me. Timor's words echoed through my head. They all hated the Italian families, and as the princess, they automatically hated me for the blood running in my veins.
Even though I was innocent in this war.
Soon as Gedeon and Timor was steps away from the entrance of the huge iron glass door that was adored with intriguing patterns, someone opened it.
"Where's your wife? Did you actually go through with it? I want to see her," she said with a squeal that resembled a puppy. I slowly leaned a bit so I could see passed Gedeon and Timor to take in who said it. Standing at the entrance was a girl, perhaps around my age. Her hair was long, going up to her waist as it was tied by two hair ties in the front. She was in a uniform dress of some sort, with an apron over it. Her eyes were full of curiosity and wonder as she stared at me and gasped. "That's her?"
"Ana, have you prepared the bath and clothing like I asked?" Gedeon asked, stepping into the house. Timor shrugged off his suit as the girl took it from him and placed it onto the rake on the side. So much were going on that I visually didn't know what I wanted to take in first, the interior of the house before I was placed away or at the scene in front of me.
"Yes, obviously," she rolled her eyes, placing an arm onto her hips. "Though I wished you would have told me an hour before, so we had time to prepare. The other maids weren't happy with your last-minute whim to scramble something, especially since we don't know what she can or cannot eat."
"Anything would be fine," Gedeon stated as I finally walked in, my feet numb and red at this point. Though, I liked the feeling. It was different, and it was the first time I ever felt snow in years. I clutched onto my book to my chest as the girl stared at me and then walked around me like I was a statue to marvel.
"What's your name?" she asked with a smile and extended her hand to me. "I'm Anastasia, the head maid and babysitter of these clown heads on this estate."
"My name is Dove," I meekly replied, a little stunned by her warm greeting and her introduction. I stared at her extended hand for a moment as I looked over at Gedeon in hopes that he would tell me what to do. Instead, they stared back at me, waiting for my next move. Hesitantly, I decided to extend my hand and shook it gently.
"Come in then," she waved me to come with her as she examined what I was wearing with a frown. Then she glared up at Gedeon and Timor. "Did you actually let her walk around in the freezing snow with her barefoot? You call yourselves men?"
"He gave her a jacket, that seems good enough for me," Timor refuted back. He narrowed his eyes at me as I looked at my reddened toes. "Besides, she's not a guest by any means."
She pouted and crossed her arms. "So long as she is under this roof, she's a guest."
"Hurry up and make sure she bathes and eats," Gedeon stated, making his way up the marbled stone without looking back. "Make sure you don't lose sight of her, because I know you're planning to show her around, even if I tell you no."
"You got that right," she laughed and then cocked her head to the side. "Where should her bedroom be? You going to let her sleep in your room?"
I tensed slightly at her question and I prayed that wouldn't be the case. It was the only space where I could relax and not put up a front. To be trapped in a cage with someone who bought me off for a deal was more than I could handle. Everyone stayed silent, waiting. My heart beats erratically and I clenched onto my door hard against my chest, hoping it would stop my heart from ripping out of my chest by how fast it was beating.
Finally, he snarled. "No, she's going to have the vacant room next to mine."
I couldn't help but sigh in relief as she nodded. Then she tugged at my tattered dress as I followed her lead to where I presumed the bathroom was. "Okay, let's get started and get you warmed up. I have a set of pajamas that I think it'll fit you. Do you need help bathing yourself by chance?"
She stared down at my wrapped arms and I shook my head. "No, that's quite alright."
I continued to follow her as we made our way to where the living area were. Immediately, my eyes caught onto the two men on the couch. Both of them were discussing something, with a laptop and a giant screen pulled up on the mounted television with a map of New York. When their eyes landed on me, one looked stunned while the other sneered.
"Holy shit I didn't think Gedeon would actually do it," one of them said as he closed the computer and leaned onto the couch, crossing his legs. He had copper red hair that was pushed to the back. In a black button down and slacks, he looked ready to attend a fancy meeting, like Gedeon and Timor did. "She's not bad on the eyes, except for the disgusting stress. I never thought I'll see the Italian princess in the flesh."
"Ew, please don't say that," Anastasia made a disgusted face in return. "Especially in front of me."
"Can I kill her throat right now?" the other asked out loud, and a wicked smile formed. He was the only one I have seen so far that was dressed casually. His hair was a mess, along with his wrinkled shirt and sweatpants. He had a huge scar on his left cheek, and I couldn't help but wonder where he had gotten it. Although, a part of me already knew I didn't have to wonder far to know. He threw the pocketknife into the air and caught it without looking. "I bet you she won't put up much of a fight."
"You know you can't do that, even if she's an Italian," the copper man said with a frown and stepped onto the other guy's foot. "Gedeon said to specifically behave, especially you. Which means no psychotic and disturbing threats or jokes."
"Exactly, Nico, she's a guest. So long as she stays here, you know what Gedeon's rules are," Anastasia agreed, nodding before turning to me. "I might as well introduce you now while I can. The guy over there with the copper red hair is Aleksei, but everyone calls him Alek. There that's playing with a knife is Nicolai, though I call him Nico. Alek is Gedeon's bodyguard and my older brother. Nico is one of his trusted men."
"What's your name again?" Aleksei inquired, stifling a yawn. "Sorry, I'm a bit tired from being Gedeon's pack mule for his latest scheme. Don't pay attention to me. And which family are you from? We had heard of the news of Gedeon's plan to marry in order to get his plans going, but he never said which of the family."
"My name is Dove. I'm twenty-two and the daughter of Mateo Genovese," I introduced quietly, reciting what I had known my whole life if Robert wanted me to introduce myself to someone. I swore the changed when I said my last name and my father's.
Aleksei's body hardened as his eyes widened. "Genovese? You're the Italian princess?"
Nicolai stabbed the knife into the wooden table in front of him with a snarl and got up from where he was seated. It was almost as if Gedeon haven't bothered to tell them who I was. I took a step back, trying to make myself look smaller from the change in mood. "You have some nerve. Holy shit, I'm going to kill you and then Gedeon."
"Nico, we talked about this. We said no matter what, we would support his actions," Anastasia mumbled as she took a step till she was between me and him. She said something to him in Russian and he snarled in annoyance by her comment. He exhaled and looked past her to look at me.
"How long do you think Gedeon would keep you alive for?" Nicolai growled lowly, his voice cold and foreign. The question wasn't one of curiosity, but a warning what would be an empty future. He knew as well as everyone else did that I was nothing but a pawn for his games. Once he had gotten what he wanted, he would dispose of me like I never existed. "A word of advice, Dove. Never say your damn last name in front of me ever again and stay the fuck away from me unless you want to die."
With that said, he stalked away with Aleksei trailing behind him with his laptop. Anastasia pinched the bridge of her nose and I stared at the floor, not knowing what to do. I wasn't sure if I were to apologize for my family, and whatever pain he had felt because of my father or stay quiet. I didn't get the chance to think out the most appropriate answer because she cleared her throat. "Anyways, let's get going to the bathroom and get you a shower. I apologize for my brother and Nico. They're usually really nice, especially Nico. He doesn't mean to lash out on you like that. We didn't know that you were Genovese's daughter, but we all had a hunch about it. You confirming it just...brought up some memories we rather forget."
I stared at the book in my hand as I finished her sentence. It didn't take a genius to know what she meant. "The Genovese had done something to his family, I presume."
She went quiet for a moment and I peeked up to see her giving me a sad smile. "The Italians had taken someone from all of us, but it's your father that had done the most from us. Especially Gedeon's."
Which begs the next question of why Gedeon wanted to keep me around.
Thank you for reading, Beautiful!
Next update is coming Friday!