Caterina

"This is the worst pizza I've ever had." I complain as I plop a second piece on my paper plate.

"Then why are you eating more?"

I look up at Dolion to glare at him. "Because I'm starving, we haven't eaten in who knows how long. Plus, it's still better than your dry, flavorless chicken you were feeding me."

He finishes off his third piece before discarding his plate into the trash.

"Well, eat up. We need to get some rest," he turns and smirks at me. "We'll be having an eventful day tomorrow." I pause with the pizza halfway to my mouth. "What do you mean?"

He looks me up and down slowly with a mischievous glint in his eye, reminding me of a dangerous predator sizing up their next meal.

Cold chills pebble up on my skin just from his heated gaze alone. "Stop that." I ground out between clenched teeth.

"Stop what?"

"Looking at me like that."

"What do you mean?" He asks teasingly, trying to bait me into saying something stupid, I'm sure.

I swear to God, I'm going to lose it with him.

"Has anyone ever told you how absolutely unbearable you are?"

My question is met with Dolion's deep, smooth laughter. His eyes close, revealing small laugh lines at the corners. His full lips stretch into a heartbreaking smile that shows off his perfect teeth, and as he leans his head back I can't help myself as I admire his neck covered in tattoos, vines and skulls and words I can't figure out the meanings of, death dates, and an odd looking flower behind his ear that looks as though it never finished blooming.

His icy blue eyes snap back open to lock gazes with mine, my face heating as I realize I've just been caught admiring this doofus.

"What's wrong, princess?" He asks, his voice low and sultry.

"Why all the tattoos?" I ignore his question.

He approaches me slowly, the only light in the room currently being a small table lamp, making the atmosphere feel too cozy for comfort.

Shadows dance across his face as his back faces the only source of light, the angle making him seem more sharp and defined. More dangerous.

"Each tattoo has meaning. Most are for those I care about, some show respect for those that came before me, and some," he smiles darkly, "are for those who dared to cross me."

I can almost feel my face grow pale. "You keep track of all the lives you've taken?"

His smile only grows as he taps the thorny vines snaking around his neck. "Each thorn on the vine is a life that I claimed."

He leans in closer to me, a hand resting on each of the arms of the chair I'm sitting in, caging me in beneath his towering height. "I've never taken a life carelessly, princess. Every light put out by my hand was necessary."

I scoff at him. "And when is it so necessary?"

He leans his face closer, his breath caressing my lips. "Like when someone is holding a gun to another's head, and you have to choose."

The face of the man I killed flashes through my mind. His gun pointed at Dolion. Me pulling the trigger. The actions of my recent past making me go rigid with anxiety at the memory that I'm sure will haunt me for the rest of my life.

His expression softens at my response, and I hate it. "Sometimes we aren't given the choice to spare a life, Cat."

He pulls away and straightens his back as he turns and walks towards the bed closest to the door of our shared room.

"I owe you mine for what you did back at the safehouse." He says as he begins removing his shirt, revealing his toned back to me, also covered in beautiful inked art. I turn away and huff out a long exhale, not having anything to say.

"Get some rest, princess."

"You never told me what we're doing tomorrow." I state, annoyed.

He pulls the blankets back and gets in his bed, obviously about to try to pass out for the night. "We're going to my friends club, he has ways to get in and out of the area discreetly."

"I'm not going to a club."

"Don't really have a choice." He mumbles. "We'll get you some new clothes tomorrow to help blend in."

"Blend in? In a club?"

"Yes. Now get some rest."

I ground my teeth together and stare at Dolion's back as he lays in bed.

This fucking prick. I get up and put the pizza away before climbing, fully clothed, into my own bed before turning off the side table lamp and angrily mumbling to myself about how stupid Dolion is.

"I can hear you."

"I know."

"Hate me a bit more quietly, if you don't mind. I'm trying to sleep."

I glare at his back before turning and glaring at the ceiling.

I'm not going to any fucking clubs this man wants to drag me into. Hell. No. I lay in bed for what feels like hours before I hear the change in Dolion's breathing, indicating he fell asleep. I let my anger stew as unconsciousness slowly takes me into a fitfull sleep consisting of things that should remain locked and hidden away. The haunting memories of that day. With a different gun, and different choice, as I watched through the eyes of a child.

"Time to get up." Dolion's gentle voice wakes me up from my restless sleep. I begrudgingly open my eyes, the soft yellow light coming in through the pale curtains of the motel window indicating the early morning hours of the day.

I close my eyes and roll away from the source of Dolion's voice. "Why so early?"

"I told you last night, we have a lot to get done today. Now, time to get up. I'll even let you take up the bathroom first while I go get us some breakfast." I turn and open one eye to look at him. "Are you actually trying to be nice to me today?" I ask curiously.

He shrugs without facing me, seeming to look for something in his bag. I prop myself up on my elbows to look at him better. "Why?" I question.

"I need you to be on your best behavior today."

"Excuse me? My best behavior?"

He sighs loudly and turns to look at me. "You need to stay close to me and keep that bratty mouth of yours shut."

So much for being nice.

"Keep talking to me like that and see what fucking happens. I'm not your little pet you get to order around."

"Shame, you'd make such a good little pet, too." He smirks.

"You're fucking idiotic."

"And you're a brat with a loud mouth." Amusement dances in his blue eyes as I continue to get angrier.

"You sure to get a damn kick out of pissing me off, Dolion."

"I've got nothing better to do, sweetheart."

"Prick." I mumble as I get out of bed and go to the bathroom to get ready for the day.

"I want pancakes and eggs for breakfast." I declare before closing the door.

I hear Dolion's deep chuckle. "So demanding." His response comes from the other side of the door. I roll my eyes to myself and get undressed before getting into the shower, letting the hot water relax my muscles that seem almost constantly tense lately.

After getting clean I step out of the shower and wrap one of the small towels around my body. Using one hand to swipe it across the steamy mirror to look at my reflection. My hazel eyes stare back at me, looking so much like my mother's eyes.

I miss her so damn much..

Some days are harder than others when you look in the mirror just to see a younger version of your deceased mother staring back at you. But I also take pride in it, my mother was not just beautiful outwardly, she was practically an angel in disguise on this bleak planet. Her caring heart was what I always admired most about her.

I brush my hair out before deciding to put the same clothes back on. A shopping trip is definitely happening, I can't live in one pair of clothes for much longer before feeling gross. I reach out to grab my blue sweater off of the counter, shaking it out slightly before going to pull it on.

What I didn't expect was the small scorpion that fell out of my shirt while shaking it.

"Oh my God!" A loud shriek leaves my lungs as I toss my sweater to the ground, terrified of the small creature.

I dart towards the door just as it's being opened from the other side.

"Cat! Wha-" Before Dolion has time to finish asking me why I'm screaming like an idiot I'm crashing into his rock hard chest, sending both of us stumbling onto the floor.

"What the hell's going on? Are you okay? What's wrong?" A thousand questions pour out of Dolion as I lay sprawled out across his chest in my damp towel that's barely wrapped around me.

My face heats as I raise my head up and we lock eyes. "I-i saw a scorpion, and I-"

"You screamed like that over.. a scorpion?" He asks slowly as his eyes take in the fact I'm practically naked and straddling him. I scramble to my feet, trying my best to keep myself covered in the process.

"Can I help you?" I ask, annoyed at how his eyes roam my body without a hint of hesitation.

Even more annoyed at how my body responds to his gaze as it lingers on my exposed thighs.

He meets my eyes as he flashes a wicked smile at me. "There are plenty of things you could help me with- with a body like yours, baby, but I'm not sure you're ready for that." I can feel the heat creep up my neck and onto my face, painting my face a shade of red no doubt.

Dolion gets up and takes a step towards me, closing the small gap between us. Ever so slowly he raises his hand and cradles my chin between his thumb and forefinger, leaving me speechless at his bold actions.

"So pretty when you turn that shade." He looks me in the eyes before turning his attention to my lips. "Mm, but is it anger that has your face flushing red, or is it my praise about how absolutely sinful that body of yours is, Caterina?"

"You're delusional." I insist. "You do nothing but infuriate me."

The corner of his mouth lifts up, revealing his dimple. "And you do nothing but annoy the hell out of me, but I can't help but think of all the ways I could shut that bratty mouth of yours up." I open my mouth to reply, but nothing comes out at first. I have no snarky remark to his insinuation. His suggestion of..

I shove at his chest, pushing him away from me. "You're such a douche bag. Keep dreaming, cause I'd rather lay in a pit of scorpions before I ever put your cock in my mouth."

He raises a single brow. "I never said anything about my cock in your mouth."

"We both know that's what you were insinuating."

"Was it?" He tilts his head slightly to the side.

"You're a menace."

He laughs and shakes his head before turning and grabbing a couple take out boxes. "Get dressed and eat so we can head out."

"So early?" I ask as I watch him head into the bathroom to, hopefully, dispose of the tiny demon.

"We're not going directly to the club, we both need a few things." I hear a flush, and then Dolion walks back out of the bathroom. "That scorpion was tiny, Cat."

"I was naked and had no shoes on, what was I supposed to do?" I question.

"Fair enough, now get dressed, we need to get to the store."

"So, you're taking me shopping?"

"Yes."

Before he's even done speaking I'm already heading into the bathroom to get dressed, after making sure there's no sign of the small scorpion, before hurrying to stuff my face full of breakfast food and downing some black coffee. It's definitely not my usual Starbucks, but oh, how I've missed coffee.

Within twenty minutes I'm done and ready to leave.

"Well, I guess now I know how to motivate you to hurry up."

I ignore his remark and walk out the door and straight to his car. Thankfully he keeps his mouth shut as we drive.

An hour later and I'm pleased with my choices, grabbing more than needed knowing how this works. Everything gets put on a business card, one linked to my father's account. I plan to drain a good bit of that today.

"Is all this necessary?" Dolion grumbles.

"Yes, it is. It's not more than what I can stuff in a large backpack, so it should be fine." I pat the backpack I placed in my cart, reassuring him I'll be the one carrying all my own things.

He crosses his arms and just shrugs before placing all his own clothing on the checkout counter before adding everything I grabbed for myself.

Once in the car I can't help my goofy grin. It's been a while since I've had a shopping trip like this, living on my own funds are always low due to bills.

"Guess I should let you spend my money more often, huh? Got you in a damn good mood."

I whip my head in his direction. "What do you mean your money..?"

"Who'd you think was going to pay for it?"

"My dad usually gives his employees a card for any work related purchases! If I would have known it was your money I wouldn't have spent so much!"

"I have my own money, I don't need your daddy's."

"You work for him, he signs your checks. So, technically you do need my dad's money."

All I earn is a silent glare from Dolion before he turns his attention towards the road as he begins driving us back towards our motel.

Once back I immediately go to change into something, anything, other than my blue sweater and Dolion's ball shorts.

"What are you doing?" Dolion's voice comes from behind me.

"Getting ready to change, obviously."

"You need to change into something for this evening. Leggings and a tiny tee shirt aren't gonna cut it, princess."

"What kind of club is this, exactly?"

"A club where anything goes." He grins at me.

"Well you're out of luck, I didn't grab any skimpy little dresses." I grin right back.

He just smiles even wider at me. "And that's why I picked you out something myself."

"You-what?"

That's when I notice the bit of silky burgundy colored fabric he has laid out on his bed.

"There's no way I'm wearing that."

"What's wrong, princess? Scared to show a little skin, is that it? Little Caterina, trying so hard to act like she's so big and bad, but really you're as well behaved and innocent as they come. That's why you have such a bratty mouth, you hide behind your big attitude and words, but never have the actions to back it up."

"Fuck you, Dolion. You don't know anything about me. You're just some idiot who forced his way into my life to ruin everything I had going for me." I fume at him.

"Had going for you? You're the bratty little Sicilian Mafia heir who ran away as soon as she turned eighteen. You were living in a shitty part of town, with a shit paying job, and-"

"But it was mine! That's what you don't understand. It was my life, that I built to escape the prison of a life my father had set in stone for me! And you tore me away from it all! Like my life meant nothing!"

Dolion's mask of indifference slips, and I swear I see guilt flash across his features before slipping back into his role of a cold and heartless beast.

"You don't know the type of shit your dear father has gotten into, Cat. The Russian Mafia isn't the only ones looking to possess such an important person. You're heir to the Sicilian Mafia empire."

I've always known this.. I've always known I was just a piece in this game. An important piece.

"You act like this is the first time my life has been threatened, Dolion, but that's far from the truth." I walk past him and snatch the little dress up before grabbing my bag and going into the bathroom to get ready. Not bothering to give Dolion a minute longer to frustrate and piss me off.

I slip out of my clothes and into the dress before starting on my makeup and hair.

Dolion wants to act like I have no backbone and I'm just some scared, innocent little mafia princess?

I'll show him he's dead fucking wrong.