Ria
The Capo had come around to her side of the vehicle and lifted her down easily although she made a show of trying to get down on her own. But then she gave up; landing face first on the snow was not an enticing prospect.
His touch was impersonal; he could have been hoisting a sack of potatoes to the ground for all the emotion he showed, she thought crossly as he slammed the door behind her and checked to see if the door had slammed shut. Satisfied that the Hummer was locked, he turned to her, eyes hidden behind his hand crafted Matsuda winter sunglasses. She knew that they were made and assembled in Japan, hand crafted, a skill passed down from generations. She knew all this because she had once gone shopping for winter sunglasses with her twin and they had picked up a pair for Pappa. Of course, his had been super cool, super expensive but the twins had cheerfully bought it for the man who ran the Mob with an iron hand. Those glasses had been a serious power statement, while Piers had chosen a limited, numbered run of 1899 pairs to commemorate the year that FC Barcelona was founded. As it stated on the very subtle note posted in the showroom, Etnia’s 1899 sunglasses were undoubtedly a serious power move. The Barcelona crest was subtly inlaid in tonal black while 24-carat gold embossing ads impact to the chunky frames. Ria had teased her brother endlessly over his choice but Piers was a staunch Barca fan and remained unmoved in the face of all her prodding, although her other siblings had joined in to rib him. Even Paddy had smiled shyly.
Ria sighed unconsciously. All that had been before the attack on poor Paddy had taken place.
Now she realised that she was feeling very cold and the Capo was leading the way to the small house, up a paved path. She made out a little patio, a garden that had obviously been well tended and a path leading to the back of the house. That was all she could see before they were at the front door.
It was almost indistinguishable from the other houses around, she thought, blinking and peering around, snowflakes on her eyelashes. I must look awful, she thought glumly, my nose must be red like a beacon light…They had reached the door which was opened immediately by a woman who had probably been waiting for them.
She must have been looking out through the window, thought Ria spitefully as she saw the way the woman’s eyes devoured Philippe.
The brunette smiled when she saw Philippe and Ria was instantly jealous. The woman was tall and slim, in a lounge dress which was slinky and black in colour, hugging her thin figure and accentuating all her curves, hugging her small breasts. The floor-length gown was chic and sexy and Ria felt her heart plummet as she saw the welcoming smile in the woman’s jade green eyes. The woman wrapped her arms around him as he entered, ignoring Ria, her mouth latching onto Philippe’s for an intimate kiss. Ria barely noticed how Philippe was gently but firmly, putting the woman away.
*
The woman turned to Ria with a slight frown on her unlined face when Philippe growled in a deep voice, ‘Meet Ria.’
Her carefully plucked brows shot up and she slid a cool, calculating look over Ria. The younger woman felt her cheeks flame in indignation. Ria was in her casual college-going attire, jeans and a bulky sweater but that was all. With very little make-up and her golden hair in a heavy braid on her shoulder, she looked like the teenager that she was.
But the dismissive look on the woman’s painted face, the way her scarlet mouth twisted in derision, made her temper flare up and two spots of red appeared on her cheeks.
No need to look at me like I was something that the cat had dragged in, she thought.
The Delano arrogance was on full display as Ria stuck out her chin and asked in a cold voice, addressing the Capo,
“Philippe, who is this?’
The Capo hid his smile. Good. The Little Princess was getting a taste of her own medicine and she was certainly riled and seething with jealousy. She had angered him, almost driving him to the point of insanity by flirting with that idiot Assistant professor who had looked at her as though Christmas had come early when she had begun to play the temptress with him.
‘This is Carmen,’ he said nonchalantly and the sultry woman with the dark hair and thin-lipped red mouth preened, as he exchanged a secretive smile with her, a smile that seemed to hint, to Ria’s fertile imagination, of shared nights of passion. She clenched her small fists and the Capo grinned to himself.
And then to her astonishment, he turned to Ria and said in a lower, tender voice,
‘This is my girl’ and with that, he pulled Ria into his arms, fitting her into the crook of his elbow neatly. As she raised her head to glare at him, her golden braid flying across her face, he leaned down and kissed her hard to stop any outburst.
The woman named Carmen had stiffened in displeasure, her ire clearly evident as she stepped back and stormed away down the corridor. She felt as though her body was tingling, and there was a peculiar sensation in the core of her womanhood, leading to a wetness between her thighs. Grey eyes dark with passion and bewilderment, she raised a hand to touch her bruised lips for Philippe had not been gentle; his passion had made him struggle to control himself. Now, looking at her swollen red mouth, he wanted to grab her again but he stepped away and turning, spoke in a cold voice,
“I do not want her to know that you are the Boss’s daughter. I do not trust anyone, even Carmen.’
Ria bristled, Even Carmen? Was she that special, then?
She had been overcome with emotion when he kissed her in such a passionate manner but Philippe looked as composed and as unflappable as ever. There was nothing remotely romantic in his face as he rumbled in a grave voice, his long, hard fingers gripping her chin as he brushed his hard lips against her mouth and spoke in a low undertone,
‘Just follow my lead.’
*
Who is she? Ria hissed but the Capo had already turned away his hand on her arm as he led her up the stairs which were carpeted a deep, warm brown. There were doors on either side of the corridor and she glimpsed a herb garden through a window. He hustled her up the stairs and she soaked in the warmth of the house.
After the cold of the world outside, this house was cosy and warm. It had a lived-in feel and Ria liked it. Who had been living here, she wondered as she saw that there were just a couple of bedrooms on the floor they had reached. Sounds came from the kitchen; pots and pans clattering. Obviously, the Capo’s declaration had not gone down well with Carmen of the slinky gown, she thought maliciously.
Pappa had never mentioned a house in the suburbs, she thought as she trotted after the Capo, finding it difficult to keep up with his long stride. Did Mumma know of this place then?
*
Her thoughts came to an abrupt halt as she saw where they had reached. He had thrown open the door to a room, and she did not know whether to be relieved or fearful when she saw that it had a huge bed. Enormous, it was enough for three people to roll about in, she thought incredulously. A small table and a chair in a corner overlooking the window but that was all. Undoubtedly feminine though and she marched to the wardrobe and flung open the doors. As she had been thinking, a feeling of gloom grew in her, the shelves had only a few clothes.
Women’s attire.
With a sinking heart, she thought, Pappa?