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“They are very handsome,” I tell my father to appease him. In theory, I guess these two men kind of are. It’s hard to tell exactly how old they are, because they could be in their 30s, or they could be in their 20s. They have that young look about them, but a maturity in the way that they hold themselves. They are both in designer suits, and they both have blonde hair that is unabashedly natural and shiny. No facial hair in sight. And they are both over 6 foot tall.
If my father wasn’t pointing them out due to their status in some way, I might look their way or give a little flirt, but I know that there’s probably nothing to them that I want anything to do with considering my father’s pushing it so hard.
“Their family, their parents, have been Catholic all their lives. They are very devout followers of God. They always contribute to the church, and the Ungurs are the most trustworthy of the Clans other than the king and queen themselves. If I were to ever trust anyone with my precious creation, daughter, it would be them. Especially Isaac. He is quite the gentleman.”
Now, here we go with this shit.
Of course, it has to do with the church. Why wouldn’t it? The church has been my father’s life, beyond that one little hiccup that gave him me. Luckily, he has yet to remind me that in the past couple of months. Though, I wouldn’t be surprised if it comes up in some stupid conversation today while he’s trying to impress people with the story of his life.
Who knows, he might even try to convert somebody at this party who isn’t already a “devout” Catholic.
What I find particularly hilarious about this is the fact that the Clans are all mafia. That is something I do know.
The Romanian Mafia has no right to claim any bit of devoutness to Catholicism considering they are the most violent, ruthless beings ever seen, and the men all probably cheat on their wives considering that the marriages are arranged. And yet, my father blindly believes that because they say they are Catholic, there is something redeemable about them. I would hate to think that he believes that all the murders they commit are doing God’s work.
My father pulls me over to the Ungurs, and I catch one of them eyeing me. I’m a little taken aback as he undresses me with his eyes, which seem a little cruel compared to the other one’s.
Both of them have these piercing green eyes, but one of them seems to have clarity, maturity, and kindness as he interacts with those around him, while the one that is looking at me like that, seems like he’s the wolf ready to devour grandma.
I get the feeling that maybe there is something a little bit untoward about these people even though they are supposedly are members of the church.
My father brings me up to them, and the niceties began, introducing me to them both. As I begin to talk with Isaac especially; the one that my father would want me to be with, I feel there is something about him that my father probably doesn’t realize.
It’s just the little things. The diamonds on his cufflinks, the way he talks, the fact that his suit is more well-tailored, his very perfect pocket square, and the flowery smell he has around him as if he’s put on perfume. Even the way he holds himself, I begin to believe that Isaac may be playing for the other team and I’m not his type at all. So, the other one of them is ogling me, and Isaac has yet to notice that I have a pair of tits.
So, not only is my father trying to marry me off to someone that’s going to run a mafia Clan, but he wants to see me with someone who doesn’t even like women. So, I would be a kept woman for somebody who doesn’t even like women. And what am I supposed to do for fun?
I go to say a few words to the other brother, Luca, I believe my father called him, but he has already walked away.
Annoyed at the way my father is gushing over me, I know I have to get out of here.
When I got out of the car, I spied a café just across the street, and I feel like maybe that is my current escape. I should’ve gotten some strong coffee before I came in anyway.
“Thank you, Father, for that brilliant and touching story about my life. But I think that I need some fresh air here, and maybe some coffee from across the street, so I’ll be back in a bit. Enjoy the party.”
I walk away and don’t even give my father a chance to come after me or tell me that I am being rude. I don’t really give a fuck if I’m being rude in the first place. These people, a lot of them put bullets through peoples’ heads for a living or worse, so I think me walking out to get some fresh air is not really going to cause any hurt feelings other than from my father.
I walk into the cute little café across the street, something that Rome is not lacking in; one of the best things about being here. I walk in and immediately spy what I need on the menu, though there is a line, considering the time of day.
It is lunch, and so everyone is here to get their pick me up in the middle of the day. I skim over the flavor shots I can put in my espresso, and I don’t realize that I’m being huffy and mumbling to myself until the woman in line in front of me says something.
“Been a long day already?”
“Is it that obvious?” The woman nods.
She has kind of a nondescript nice face and dark hair, but there’s also something strong about her. Like she doesn’t hold anything back at all even though she’s maybe 5 feet tall, if that, and she’s got on some spiked kitten heels even though it looks like she’s either pregnant or has recently given birth. It’s hard to tell which one. But she has that mom glow.
“Well, as long as we are stuck in line together, to be perfectly blunt, I fucking hate when life is decided for me. And that seems to be what’s happening whether I like it or not. By the way, I’m Elena.”
“I’m Ivana. That sounds like a doozy to me. I feel like I’ve possibly experienced something like that myself. I would love to hear more and maybe allow you to vent. If you’ll sit with me and my sister, that is?” She points to a table at the back where a woman who looks every bit the opposite of this one— thin, all angles, fierce, possibly even is openly a proud bitch— sits there looking like she’d rather be anywhere but here. Though, I can kind of feel that at the moment too.
“You know what, I could use a distraction and a reason to be away from where I’m supposed to be right now, so why not?”
“You know, you may find me strange, but I’ve always believed a bit in fate when it comes to meeting people. I feel like we meet the people we do, even the people that we pass on the streets every day, for a reason. That there is some connection waiting for us to reach out and grab it. I’m excited to see what this one brings.”
Normally things like that would sound incredibly cheesy, but part of me feels the same way about her. Maybe there is something to meeting Ivana here right now when I need someone the most to tell me what I can do to take back control of my life.
And I’m fucking determined to do just that.
