Tonight is the night, the prime minister's wife, Albano Sandra's 50th birthday party. The thing about Mr Albano is his underground work, he's a trustworthy man and keeps to his word but not many knows of his underground dealings. Most of his buildings and company were by the help of my mafia, Vipera but I know very well that we are not the only mafia involved in his success so that means tonight's party will be full of mafia men and women rallying the floor. The theme for the party is a masquerade ball which means everyone is expected to wear a mask. I stare at my reflection in the mirror. I look like shit.

The past two nights were spent on trying to figure out the pattern of the bombing, Federico has not made any suspicious move lately neither has any of the capos. I don't want to kill Federico without having a solid reason, I won't disappointing father again. I'm going to need make up tonight, lots of it. I can't even pretend to be energetic tonight, I feel drained, hopefully Rolan won't notice and if he does... Oh well.

A knock comes from my door and I already know who it is. "Come in Meth" I drawl, not taking my eyes off my miserable self in the mirror. The door opens and the click clanking of heels disrupts the silence in my room.

"Mio Dio! Sembri la morte, questa non è l'atmosfera di una signora che partecipa a un ballo" ("My God! You sound like death, this not the attitude of a lady attending a ball) she says dramatically as she chews on the gum in her mouth with so much passion. My eyes roll to the back of head. I spare her a glance, she's dressed like a clown as always and by clown I mean. Pink body suit armless top and white mini leather skirt with black poker dots on it, she finishes it off with her knee high black boots and over the top, high ponytail and bangs that look like she stole them from the 80's England fashion magazine.

"Questo è quello che succede quando lavori per due giorni di fila senza battere ciglio" ("That's what happens when you work for two days straight with no blink of sleep") I drawl before looking down to the box she carries and I inwardly groan. She notices my tormented gaze on her box and she smiles evilly as she brings it up and places it on my vanity table.

"I won't cake your face, zucca" (Pumpkin) she cooes as she begins to open the box, step by step. "You don't look as worse as you did when you were trying to solve your father's case. You won't need much makeup, just a little concealing of your dark circles and tiredness and the rest is soft brushing" After which she immediately starts with prepping my face.

Yes, I can't apply a full face makeup on my face. I never liked beauty cosmetics since I was a kid neither did Tiana. We behaved more like boys. Tiana was very inquisitive and sneaky while I was very stubborn, hyperactive and very daring. We'd build Lego houses and blow them up. Yes, uncle smuggled little explosives underneath our beds when father wasn't looking. I sigh out loud. Fun times.

"I heard there's a man, is that right Zucca?" Meth asks as she slides a small brush with foam at the tip beneath my eye lids. I was expecting this, leave it to Meth to be a curious cat. I nod in response.

"Yes, Meth" I can't afford to roll my eyes unless I want to get poked in the eye. She scoffs loudly at me. "He's food isn't he?"
My eyebrows furrow.

"What?" she shrugs, her brown eyes staring down at me like I should know what she's talking about. I shake my head slowly, indicating that I have no clue about what she means. It was her turn to roll her eyes.

"You and I both know that you don't love. You're more like a devil in a beautiful clothing. The only men I see you with are food and by food I mean Giochi di giocattoli pazzeschi e che si avvelenano a morte! (Freaking play toys, that you poison to death!) she exclaims, her occupied hands leave my face as she dramatizes her sentence. She switches to Italian when she's overwhelmed.

"Oh" is the only thing I'm able to say. She is right, the only men I'm seen with are men that I pick as preys and will eventually die. Rolan is not a prey if anything he's a predator, a very sexy predator. "No Meth, he's not food. We're engaged" I explain. Only for her to pause like someone turned her off then howls in laughter.

"Devi prendermi per pazzo per credere a quello che hai appena detto "(You must take me for a fool to believe what you just said) She says in between laughter. I stare at her through the mirror with a deadpan expression. When she sees my expression she stops laughing and all joke leaves her face.

"Oh, you're serious? "

"Yes, I'm engaged" I bring up my right hand for her to see the ring on my finger. She gasps loudly.

"Madre di Gesù! Non è una bugia. È enorme!" (Mother of Jesus! It's no lie. It's huge) she exclaims. "What his he like? His he hot? His he strong?"

I smirk at her and she lets out a breathless gasp before fanning her face with her lipstick palette. She continues to make my face up while mumbling ridiculous words. Words like. "We need to make you very gorgeous then, he mustn't be able to take his eyes of you. Mio Dio, fidanzato?! "(My God! Engaged!?) She continues like this till she's done baking my face. She spins the mirror away from at some point so I don't know how I look. My eyes glare deviously at her.

" I better don't look like a clown" I warn. She holds her chest like someone shot her with an arrow.

"You wound me, Zucca" she exclaims. I roll my eyes playfully at her. "let's get you dressed in and you can see what you look like, be careful not to fall in love with yourself. Your dress looks amazing" She says excitedly as she goes to bring out a garment bag.

"You're ready for this?"