Proserpina
When Lucien threw open the passenger door of his large black SUV, one among his fleet of bullet proof vehicles, and which was standing, waiting for us at the door, I tried to turn to him. But he had forcefully thrust me in and slammed the door before I knew what was happening. And then, to my astonishment, he came around and slid into the driver’s seat himself.
‘Belt up wh*re,’ he snarled like a man at the end of his tether, and fearfully, I obeyed him and I shrank in the seat.
I had never seen Lucien drive before; had never wondered if he knew how to handle one of these large machines. But then, he turned to me, the blue-grey eyes blazing and I hastily slipped on the seat belt, fingers fumbling. My fingers were suddenly slippery and with an oath, he leaned across and tightened the safety belt, and then, we were away, roaring down the driveway.
I sat, rubbing my tender wrist which was already turning red, the imprints of his fingers deep in my skin.
Blinking rapidly, I gazed out the window, as the scenery sped past. Lucien drove effortlessly and I recalled in some wonder, detachedly, that it was the first time we were alone in a car. But he was driving at breakneck speed, his anger propelling us forward alarmingly. The good thing was, I thought feverishly, there was a dearth of traffic as the city was only beginning to go about its business.
But as we swung around a corner at an alarming speed, I felt my heart in my mouth as I shut my eyes and prayed.
Turning to him, I spoke,
“Please, Lucien,’ I whispered, as I saw the needle on the speedometer shoot forward dangerously, ‘Please, slow down.’ He ignored me and I sat, clutching my armrests.
*
Lucien drove swiftly yet smoothly and the fact that another couple of cars were following us closely, His men of course, only made me relax a fraction. But he did not reduce his speed even when we entered the city limits and I glanced out of the corner of my eyes at him.
‘I …I only meant…’, I began again, tentatively and I saw the knuckles of his hands whiten as he gripped the steering wheel.
‘Shut the f*ck up, c*nt or I swear I shall wring your pretty neck.’ He snarled and I subsided.
*
It soon became obvious that he was taking me to the newest Club, the one on the outskirts of the city of Hollowford.
I glanced down at my clothes nervously. My still-damp hair was clasped loosely in a clutch as I had just been feeding Rudi before breakfast after I had had my bath. The clothes I had on were everyday wear, my faded baby-pink yoga pants and a long pink shirt with a motif of apples which Dom and Lou had got for me with their pocket money, one that opened in the front making it easier for me to feed the baby; on top of that, I had a thin cardigan I had thrown over it because of the chill, though the house was always warm with the central heating. I turned to my husband again but his look of intense anger froze me and I settled back.
*
Ria
She ran out of the dining hall in time to see her Pappa bundle her Mumma into a vehicle that had drawn up to the front door and then they were off. And to her astonishment, Pappa was the one who got into the driver’s seat and shot off, his men scrabbling around to get into cars and take off after him. Where was he going, she wondered wildly, he seemed livid.
Her long blonde hair streaming out behind her, Ria raced to the door but her father’s cavalcade of cars was already whipping up a storm cloud of dust as they drove away.
She leaned against the tall marble pillar in the front sighing bitterly, biting her lip. What would happen now? Pappa had looked really incensed this time.
She sank to the ground, onto the cool marble floor and heard footsteps hurrying towards her; then they stopped behind her. A hand, large and warm, touched her shoulder and then, Philippe was lifting her to her feet, as she buried her face in his warm jacket.
Tears seeped out despite her desire to be tough.
“Hey, Princess,’ he growled softly.
“But my Pappa…’ she cried, raising her face to him,
“He was so angry, Philippe, you should have seen him…’
The Capo gently helped her into the house, an arm around her waist. Piers appeared beside him, looking grey and weary.
“What has happened?’ asked her brother who had obviously missed the showdown. Claude was beside them like a bull, his head and shoulders thrust forward.
“So help me but I really want to wring that kid’s neck!’ he snarled.
Philippe, who had moved a little away from Ria, dropped his hand and said, placing his hands on his hips, speaking slowly, calmly, ‘The Boss and…they have gone to the new Club.’
*
Proserpina
I had never visited the place where his new Club, the one in the countryside, was coming up although I had been to the one closer to town, the third one which would be completed a few months after the inauguration of this.
Now I gasped as I saw the rolling lawns, the gardeners already at work, trimming, planting, and generally preparing to turn the area into a vast woodland with plenty of small tiny secluded gardens where women and men could do what they wished. We began the steady climb uphill to the top where the massive outline of what looked like a castle appeared. Then the main building came into view. As it was set on a green, wooded hill, the grounds were below the stately building that appeared as we rounded the curve and came up the driveway, still at top speed.
It was a huge, sprawling building, reminiscent of an old castle. I recalled that Lucien had mentioned that it had 20 bedrooms, each unique in its architecture and design but I had not been too interested. And he had not offered to bring me along.
Almost before the car had skidded to a halt, Lucien was opening the door and pulling me out savagely.
As I was rudely dragged out of the car by my husband, I noticed that it was a Gothic-style building, with a medieval tower rising from one side. But then, I was shivering in the sudden cold as my husband pulled me into the warm interiors, the large wooden double doors opening as a concerned-looking commissionaire opened it, the sound of the gravel crunching under the tires of the large cars that had accompanied us, being shut off as the doors swung shut behind us.
It was dark inside and Lucien must have made a gesture to the attendants for suddenly, the place was flooded with light. I noticed people around the place, unfamiliar faces, observing me curiously and I realized that beside my impeccably dressed husband in his fine crafted wool suit in grey, I must look like something the cat had dragged in. But he did not stop for pleasantries although two rather scantily dressed women with heavy eye make up and painted red mouths, in short red tunics and skirts, were heading our way. They arched their brows at me as they approached but for once, I was glad to be tugged away as my husband merely nodded crisply and pulled me down a corridor on the right. The entire place had very few windows, I thought as I lurched behind him, trying to keep up though he had shifted to holding my upper arm, his thick fingers digging into my flesh.
“Ow…’ I cried crossly as he pulled me along and then threw open a door at the end of a deserted looking long, heavily carpeted corridor.
Most of the work in the place was complete, I thought in some surprise and stopped as I looked about the room we had entered. A large walnut desk, two sizes bigger than the one at home, was positioned in front of a huge window that ran the entire length of one wall. Bookshelves and the inevitable bar occupied another two walls. The leather armchairs, warm and deep maroon in color, were elegance personified, the tan-colored heavy floor-to-ceiling curtains totally in sync with the setting. Lucien flung me into the room and slammed the door shut, locking it and I turned to look at him as he stood, breathing harshly.
Wrapping my arms around myself, I moved away from him, my chin stuck out, ready for a fight. No, the Mafia Don had another think coming if he thought I would be cowed down by him this time too.