The Dragos ⬇️

The Bonferronis ⬇️

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If you see that I skip a day, it's because nothing much happens that day and I just briefly go over it in the next day that I decide to write. I thought I mentioned this but I guess not, so thought I'd point it out for the people who might be confused.

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Day 8 (Arie's POV)

          I groggily pattered my lids open, my entire frame sinking into the soft mattress of the comfortable bed itself. My body stretched under the disheveled white sheets and pulled my resting muscles awake. With a press of a button on a small remote, the curtains shading the balcony doors slid to the sides and unleashed more sunlight into the decent-sized room. It poured into me and made me smile from the inside.

          Jumping out of the bed, I waltzed over to the glass doors and swung them open like Elsa from Frozen. The balcony was the size of one nice recliner. Fairly small but certainly enough for me to step out into. The sun rays danced on my skin, the cool morning breeze brushing through my hair and filling my lungs whole. I closed my eyes and basked in the noise and the smell of Florence with sheer exhilaration.

          Yesterday, I woke up in the castle thinking I'd be going back to California after the incident with Aria the day before. I got my things ready and was looking forward to leaving, but Soph was shattered by the thought of the wedding being postponed. She sobbed into my lap all morning. The only person that calmed her down was Wren, and that was after he told her the wedding was still on and we were going to Florence. Surely, that ruined my plans to leave, but Florence didn't sound so bad.

          We all had arrived here yesterday evening from Sicily. Every cell in my body was ecstatic to be in the city where the Medici family flourished. Rich history was embedded into every building here. Some of these streets were walked by great artists from the Renaissance period and that was exciting in itself. Florence had always been on my bucket list to visit. All the great artworks and rich culture were a magnet for me, and I couldn't wait to explore everything this place had to offer.

There were two Ferroni hotels in this historic city, one on either side of the Arno river that ran through it. Both sat on the edge of it, giving a beautiful view of the river and buildings mounted all around. From what I heard, both hotels were vacated for the family and guests that'd be joining the wedding festivities. I was in the first one with the family, of course. My eyes were graced with a bunch of new faces here. Beautiful and handsome faces, might I add. Everyone here was devilishly gorgeous. Women and men both. But I hadn't seen Leo or Verona, or Mike and his wife for that matter. Perhaps they were arriving today or maybe they were staying at the other hotel. I didn't know and I didn't care.

          Aria had been shifted to a hospital here from what I had heard. She was still in a bad state but would live which was good news. Unfortunately, she wasn't going to attend the wedding that was going to take place in the big Cathedral of Florence itself, Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore as called by everyone else here. I had read about it in my art history class at Columbia University. It was big enough to hold hundreds of guests for the ceremony, if not, a thousand. But I knew it was also a massive tourist attraction. I didn't know how they'd get it to be empty and prepped, but this was the royal mafia family I was dealing with. They could make anything happen, especially in the country they hailed from and ruled.

My eyes feasted on the flowing body of water that reflected the sun so beautifully. It was so calm and serene unlike the city bustling with locals and tourists from around the world. I was content with the room I was assigned because the view was one of a kind. I went back in and soaked in a relaxing bath, thinking about the kids and Fred. I couldn't wait to be with them again and with our new puppy that they named Zeus.

          The day went on smoothly. I tried on dresses for the big party that was going to take place two days before the wedding. Each one was lovely and absolutely stunning. They had to be worth more than a few thousand and I was reluctant to say yes to any. Soph knew how much I hated taking money from others and selfless favors because I liked to do things on my own terms and achieve with my own hard work. But she was bossy as always and made me pick one. And now I felt guilty for some reason, however, she was having a blast torturing me like this.

Evening came around and we were all sitting in the lounge. I sat next to Soph who was wrapped in Wren's arms while Gus cozied up to me as usual, scowling at his brother and soon-to-be sister-in-law. On the sofa to my right, Ashton was sitting between Vince and Roman who held his dog in his lap. Lina, Heaven, Yana, and Oliver had their legs propped on a table as they laughed among themselves on the luxurious sofa opposite me. Two of Leo's cousins, Viola, who was Caterina's youngest child, and Chiara, who was Valerio's second child, chatted with me on the couch to my left. They both looked like some badasses right out of a movie with tatted arms and they were surprisingly nicer to me than the bitches on the royal side of the family.

(Ruby Rose as Chiara Bonferroni and Kehlani as Viola Verdino. They're both SO FUCKING GORGEOUS! My woman crushes!!!)

The rest of the family was scattered around the hotel and places I didn't know. However, the conversation about me continued. "How in the world did he score you?" Chiara remarked dreamily, referring to Leo and shaking her head with sheer amusement as she lit the butt of a cigarette and pulled a long one from it. She was careful not to spill Leo's name after Aria had strictly instructed everyone not to which was nice. Anyhow, her words flattered me to the floor. I had always been mistreated by the other family members for supposedly trapping Leo for malicious reasons, but Chiara did the opposite and made me feel good on the inside.

          But then Wren reached forward immediately and ripped the cigarette from her lips, smashing it on an ashtray laying on the table in front of us. "Sorry."

          Chiara stared at the man, astounded at his action. "Are you trying to die before your wedding, Reynold?"

          "Reynold?" Soph and I exchanged a glance before bursting out in laughter.

          Wren rolled his eyes, releasing an annoyed breath through his nostrils. "I would really appreciate it if you didn't smoke around me or Sophie, and don't call me that."

          Chiara and Viola both awed in unison as they got on with harassing Wren the way I had usually seen them do. "Are we going to corrupt little Reynold?" Viola poked fun, batting her long lashes at the man who wasn't very amused.

          "Watch it, Viola. You might break his no nicotine, no alcohol or drug diet," Gus warned his young cousin with mischief resonating loud in his tone. "On second thought, maybe you should do it. He'll overdose and die. Then I'll have Sophie to myself."

          "Nice try!" Wren scoffed, kissing Soph's cheek gently. "I'm not going to make a bad decision after making the best one in my life." His brown eyes professed his undying love for my best friend as I admired their precious relationship.

          Reminded me of how madly in love I was with Leo. Everything about him was irresistible. His anger that he didn't project onto me, his willingness to fight for me, his love and care for his sisters. And I couldn't forget those soft dimples that subtly dug into his cheeks every time he smiled at me and loved me without any boundaries. Alas!

That was a thing of the past now. We grew into different people, prioritized different things, had different families, even different lovers. We were too far apart to ever come back together and claim a common ground. And if any one of his people were to find out about the things I had been hiding, I could only imagine the consequences. I knew I had no right to keep it all a secret but I couldn't help it. Too many years had passed already where I had shielded my family from this world of chaos. How could I willingly put them through this now?

          "Let's just set the record straight. You're the one who's going to die first with all your dumb decisions," Wren scowled at Gus who chuckled in return.

          "Wanna bet?" Gus straightened his spine instantly. "If I die first, you dress up as Madea at my funeral, and if you die first, which will happen, I'll wear a fat suit. Deal?"

          "I should order my Madea outfit then," Wren smirked, slouching back with a content sigh.

"Children." Chiara shook her head at the bantering boys before turning back to me. "As I was saying, you're bloody gorgeous, pretty intelligent to be a doctor as well. Beauty and brains might I say," she continued on my praises while swiping back the raven-colored strands of her short bob cut that fell over her twinkling gray eyes.

"Stop hitting on her," Gus snapped at his cousin, pulling me closer to him by my shoulder.

"I always knew you were threatened by me." Chiara winked at him as the rest of us laughed.

"Oh, please. I've gotten more girls than you, Chi," Gus scoffed, relaxing himself a bit with a smug tilt in his entire posture.

"I'm not denying that, Augustus." She shrugged with a devious smirk. "All I'm saying is that I can steal a girl from you very easily even if they have never dipped in the lady pond."

"But Sirena is not like the other girls. She won't swing that way," he countered with such assurance that I just had to crush his ever-growing ego.

"Well." Removing Gus' arm from around me, I offered him a mocking pout. "I just might swing that way for her. She's too charming and drop-dead gorgeous."

          "See," Chiara giggled along with me, leaving Gus to glare at us before the girl lifted herself off the sofa. "I didn't even have to try that hard."

          She sauntered toward me in slow, casual steps and bent down a bit to incline her head with mine. Elevating my chin, she caressed her thumb over my lips for a quick second, leaving me puzzled before she pressed her mouth against mine. I was rendered motionless by her unexpected act, stiffened for the longest second, but being a good sport, I began moving my lips with hers. Faint taste of cigarette lingered upon my tongue as she sucked on it and sighed in pleasure. The kiss lasted a good ten seconds before she broke away with a smirk.

          "Nice lips," she complimented me and made her way back to the sofa beside Viola who high-fived her cousin. "Also a good kisser."

I cleared my throat and laughed. "Thanks! You're really good too."

"Yup! There's my boner!" Rome grinned as his blue eyes darted between me and Chiara devilishly. "Second base, ladies? I recommend third though." He wiggled his brows.

"That's my sister, dude! What the fuck?" Ashton chided Rome and faked a gag.

"I would've found it hot, but I don't particularly enjoy watching my cousin make out with my girl!" Gus hopped on the disapproving express and agreed with my brother's sentiments as he jerked me sideways to him again. "Piss off, Chi!"

"Don't worry, Augustus. She's all yours." Chiara laid back and crossed her right leg over the other one. "I still got the hots for Athena. She's perfect in every sense."

          "Too bad she's taken," Eros declared as he sauntered down a narrow hallway with a proud smile stretching his lips.

          "Too bad," Chiara repeated with a sad yet playful smile as she scooted over to give the man room to sit next to her. "You're a lucky bastard."

Eros let out a laugh, his head shaking. "Not really."

"I heard that!" Athena walked down the same hallway, her heels thumping loudly against the nice marble layering the floor.

"Precisely why I said it." Eros winked at the woman who narrowed her eyes at him but didn't crack a smile that her partner was flashing. She went ahead and sat by him on the arm of the sofa, crossing her smooth long legs as I rolled my eyes at the sight of her.

"What were you guys chatting about?" she asked, resting her hand on Eros' shoulder.

          "Augustus is threatened by Chi," Viola informed the woman as she tucked her long wavy black strands behind her ears. "Actually, he's a confused man."

"How the fuck am I confused?" Gus' voice rose slightly in annoyance.

"You keep hopping from one girl to another within minutes," Viola replied with a leisure shrug of her tanned shoulders as her dark brown eyes darted between me and Soph.

"I'm just exploring my possibilities till I find the one I stick to for the rest of my life," Gus retorted in his defense. "Every girl I've been with so far hasn't been the right one. Even the ones I've regularly hooked up with."

"Sleazebag," I coughed up the insult that forced a chuckle out of everyone and a glower from Gus.

"Sirena, I make my intentions clear from the beginning; sex with no strings attached. They want a hot fuck and I give them that, then it's bye-bye right after for both parties." He turned his body to face me entirely and exhaled. "You see, there are no divorces in the Bonferroni family at all, so I need to be sure of the woman I put my time and effort into before I decide to marry her. I don't necessarily want to get married, but Nonna will chew my head off if I don't. She's been doing that to Zio Omer. I don't know how he's been taking her constant badgering, but I know I will go crazy if she does that to me."

"No divorces at all?" I queried with scrunched brows, replaying what Astor had said to me all those years ago about there being no separation between couples until death works its course. However, I didn't understand why.

"It's a rule," Chiara announced as a waiter served drinks. "It was set by one of the Drago kings way back when the empire was apparently formed. We Bonferronis follow that concept more diligently than the royal cunts now."

"Still doesn't explain why," I pressed for more information, grabbing a glass of juice from the waiter's tray.

"You're smart, Arie. Why the bloody hell do you think?" Athena chimed in and rode my ass as usual. "On the royal side of this, you pick a queen to represent the empire and further the legacy with an heir who will be the future king. Can't have a scandalous king with mistresses running their mouths on T.V and revealing the royal truth of the Dragos."

Athena glanced at Oliver and shot him a quick glare as he was about to drink an alcoholic beverage. Out of fear, the boy immediately exchanged it for a glass of water, allowing the woman to continue. "On the mafia side of this, which are the Bonferronis, your partner is your strength and weakness both. If you let him or her go, you risk exposure of your criminal work and identity. Your divorced partner might go babbling family secrets to the enemies which can lead to the fall of the mafia empire and destroy what we've built in the world. Hence, you need to pick the right person whom you can trust fully to drag into this life of danger."

"My older brother Sebastian's wife, Beatrice, doesn't come from a line of mobsters or influential people, but he fell in love with her. My father, who has much control of the mafia, wanted Seb to marry a girl whose father promised us control over his territory, but Seb convinced our mother. Father couldn't deny her wishes, so the big wedding took place after much persuasion." Chiara paused for a second to take a casual sip from her glass of rusty-colored alcohol. "If he was a grandchild of Marsilia, it would've never happened 'cause it's all about reputation and what others think above all. Marrying someone with a lesser name is almost intolerable for the Dragos. No wonder they've given Verona hell. I pity her."

"Poor Verona," Lina smashed her lips into a thin line and frowned. "She married into the wrong family. Nonna has made her life a living hell."

          "True. I don't know Marsilia much, but from what I've seen for myself over few encounters, she's a bitch," Viola voiced her thoughts and sat back, fixing her diamond septum ring. "Marsilia can't stand looking at Chiara 'cause she's a lesbian. She called her an abomination at Lina's coronation ceremony four years ago. I was only fifteen at that time and I never knew I could ever be that angry."

          "At least you aren't her grandkid and have to listen to her bitch about everything every time you see her," Lina shouted out with a chuckle.

          "Touché!" Viola snickered.

          "Anyway," Chiara lured my attention back to her with her voice. "Bonferronis do think about business around marriages and that's what happened with Belle. That all turned out awfully bad as we know." Chiara sighed in dismay. "We aren't as strict about it anymore and value love and loyalty a lot unlike the Dragos who still have their heads high up in the clouds. I wonder when they'll realize that the throne is under us now. Stronzi (Assholes)!"

          "Still half Drago here," Gus reminded Chiara who rolled her eyes.

          "Still Bonferroni, so shut up."

          All the chattering simmered down when the entrance of the hotel opened to let suited men march into the lobby and secure the room. A feeling of absolute nervousness made my palms sweat and my stomach queasy. I knew who it was even without seeing the man who made my heart beat erratically without any sane reason. Oh lord! I was almost hoping not to face him again, but the odds barely worked in my favor.

          First, Federigo entered the building with Amelia by his side. Then Leo stepped in and the atmosphere of the room thickened for me at once. My respiration was breathy and quick, but it was all a chaotic tornado on the inside for anyone to notice. I wanted to look away, but my pathetic eyes wouldn't allow me. Their only desire was to stare at the dark gray suit hugging his strong muscles tightly that the sight made me unreasonably weak. Fuck! It was wrong, bad in every sense, but bad was too tempting.

He escorted Verona in beside him who walked carefully. She looked a bit better than the last time I saw her when I was restitching her torn open wound. Mike and Valentina made their way in after them, giggling to themselves about something unknown. He looked happy and that made me smile to know he was with Valentina who seemed to be a good woman for him. Aunt Wendy would've definitely wanted him to move on after everything happened and I knew she'd be happy for the man she loved.

Lina jumped off her seat and embraced her father and mother warmly. Heaven and Yana went ahead and gave Federigo a hug too which he returned with a quick peck to their heads. Although I always saw him estranged from Arabelle, he was all the more affectionate with Lina and Heaven, Yana too. Perhaps he was making up for all the love and affection he couldn't give his older daughter when she was their age.

As I turned my head, Leo's oceanic eyes caught my attention as they gazed at me for a quick second before glancing away. I swear for that short second the world could've stopped and I couldn't care because I saw the familiar look behind the protective and hostile front that he had been holding up. My heart might've been playing games with me, but it was a look I couldn't forget for the life of me. It was the same one where his eyes lit up whenever he saw me before we fell apart. From our first encounter at the police station to our last at my house where the light in him dimmed more than ever. I saw the Leo I fell in love with at that second. I sensed my Leo that I'd never get back no matter what, and that fact hurt.

All the thoughts and emotions were overwhelming. Almost suffocating. I had to get out of here immediately. Another minute of looking at him would kill me for sure. Before I could escape the large lobby and sulk on my own, one of Leo's guards rushed in and said something in Italian which forced every other suited man to draw out their weapon and aim it at the entrance of the hotel as Vince hurried over.

"Get to your rooms," Leo ordered everyone, motioning Verona to leave with all of us as every man on the property gathered around Leo including Athena, Eros, Wren, Rome, and Gus. Out of curiosity, I managed to sneak a peek through multiple heads at the man standing before Federigo. The cocky smirk on the man's face was dangerously unforgettable. His features contained a sense of coldness in them with his icy blue eyes and dark brown hair color that matched his stubble.

(David Gandy as Orel Pavlov.)

          Disregarding the fiasco, we shimmied down a hallway as more men made their way to the lobby which squeezed my heart in trepidation. An uneasy feeling in my chest told me that something was definitely going to go wrong. With the pounding of the piece of thick muscle behind my ribs, my mind was getting hazier with each step and I could barely think clearly.

          "What's going on?" Ashton asked in a scared tone. "Who's that guy?" Of course, he snuck a peek like me.

          "Orel Pavlov, Russian mafia," Viola answered him which shrunk my insides further. Did I walk back into a war zone again? "Let's just say, we don't get along with them. Italian and Russian old rivalry, you know. Very stereotypical."

"You're kidding me?" Ashton scoffed in utter bewilderment.

Lina stepped into the elevator behind Viola, Sophie, and the other cousins before pulling my brother in with her. "Trust me, the Russians are no joke." Verona and I were the only ones left outside the elevator that was too packed for us to enter. Lina stared at her brother's wife then looked behind her. "Someone get out for Verona."

"It's okay, Evelina," Verona said, stopping Oliver who was going to sacrifice his spot.

"Leo will kill me if I leave you alone." Lina pushed Oliver out with one quick shove which forced him to stumble a bit. "Come in, V."

"He won't kill you," she giggled, motioning Oliver to get back into the elevator. "Arie and I can use the other elevator and meet you up there." Lina sighed but complied and vanished behind the steel doors, allowing us to start walking. "Are you okay?" Verona laid a warm hand on my shoulder which didn't ease my frenzy nerves.

"Yeah, I'm good," I lied as we sauntered down the hall.

The woman let out a chuckle and looked at me with her big blue eyes. "It's okay to be scared. I am too, but I know Leo will take care of it. Trust me."

An awkward laugh from my mouth didn't help me either. "Honestly, I just want this wedding to be over so that I can go home."

"Just a few more days, Arie," Verona reminded me with a reassuring squeeze of my hand. "Don't worry. It'll be a nozze (wedding) you won't forget. It'll be fantastico."

She brought a small smile to my lips with her positive nature that seeped into me with ease. "I honestly hope this two-week trip is worth my vacation time." We reached the other elevator and stopped for a minute. "I want good stories to tell my friends when I get back."

          "You will have the best sto-" Verona's sentence was cut off by a bullet that pierced in our direction and silenced us in fearful shock. My eyes hurriedly darted to our attacker who I would've never guessed to do such a thing, but the gun in her hand elevated further up to shoot us again and she didn't miss me this time.

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I know it's been long but hey!!!! How are you all doing? I just moved and it was stressful and painful in the physical sense, not because of memories. Fuck memories 😂 Jk. All that pushed me wayyyyy back on the updating train and I apologize for that. I love the new house and painted my room already. It was pink 🤮 so I changed it to deep wine and a light gray. I might post a picture on Instagram for it when I have everything set.

AND I'm thinking about doing a picture collage for each family so you know what they look like and so that it's organized. Like the Marinos together and the Dragos with their family, the aunties and Uncles separate with their own kids and spouses if you know what I mean. Should I also put the spouses of the cousins in? Like Aurora's husband, Verona, Alicio and all or just blood? I WILL POST IT ALL ON INSTAGRAM FIRST BECAUSE I WILL LIKELY GET THAT DONE BEFORE I GET THE NEXT CHAPTER OUT BUT I WILL PUT IT IN HERE IN THE NEXT UPDATE.

Anyway, I know this chapter was a bit boring but yay or nay? I know Leo and Arie don't have much screen time together but don't worry, I have something coming up.

Who misses the kids?

Their new dog, Zeus is named after my own doggie 😂 Unfortunately, we had to give him up 😭 but this is what the pooch looked like as a pup so you have a picture in your head when I talk about him. He's NOT a husky. He's a German Shepard and a Norwegian Elkhound mix. So precious 😍😍

What do you guys think about Wren and Soph's relationship? Should Arie tell Soph about what her man did to Arie all those years ago in his drunken hysteria and ruin everything or let it be?

Will Gus ever find THE one he will settle for or will he be a freelancer like Omer?

Team Bonferroni or Team Drago? PICK ONE!😂

Arie got SECRETS!!! Who thinks she should spill them? Will it ever end well for her?

Who liked Chiara and Viola? I enjoyed them personally.

Yup, Russian mafia is in the picture now. Who's excited? What could this Orel want?

And who could've been the attacker at the end there? Could it be the same one who had been attacking Verona?

Thoughts on Verona?

Leo?

Or Arie?

Further comments and questions are always welcome ❤️

INSTAGRAM: reetilicious

Much love ❤️
~Reet