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Mary is getting desperate.Her planned nuptials are rapidly approaching, only days away and she’s no closer to figuring out a way to get out of them. Her father has kept a guard with her at all times. She rarely has a moment alone. She managed to call the detective on her mother’s case this morning. He wants her to meet with him this afternoon, but how can she get there without her guard who will report everything back to her father?
Mary’s phone rings indicating an incoming call. She picks it up to see a number she doesn’t know, but she answers the call, thinking it could be the detective.
“Hello?” Mary answers questioningly. She can’t imagine who’d be calling her. The voice on the other end of the line astonishes her.
“Mary?” a woman’s voice asks. The voice is familiar, but Mary can’t place it right away. “This is Gianna Russo. Can you speak freely?”
“Um, yes,” Mary answers. “I’m in my bedroom, alone.” A snort comes over the line.
“That doesn’t mean you can speak freely,” Gianna says. “Your room could and likely is bugged.” Gianna sighs loudly before continuing. “I forget you aren’t used to all this. Would you be able to get free to do a little shopping this afternoon?”
“I don’t know,” Mary replies worry evident in her tone. “My father has been acting strangely. I’m not allowed to go anywhere without an escort.”
“Leave it to me,” Gianna says after a beat. “I’ll make it happen. You be ready.” The connection clicks off. Mary looks at her phone in disbelief. What was that all about? She doesn’t know what Gianna is wanting, but Mary hurries to change into some comfortable jeans and a cable knit sweater. Thirty minutes later, there’s a knock at her door.
“Come in,” Mary calls softly. The door opens to reveal her brother, Tony in the doorway.
“Gianna Russo is wanting to take you shopping,” Tony says tersely. Mary looks at him closely for the first time in a long, long time. Despite his young age, Tony’s face is marred with worry lines. His jaw is set in a hard line, a muscle ticking as he grits his teeth. “She said something about getting you some things for your honeymoon.” Mary’s face flushes a deep shade of red, knowing what Gianna has hinted at to her brother.
“Oh!” Mary replies, not faking the shock in her voice. She never imagined Gianna would come up with such a clever ruse. “When would she like to go?” Mary does her best to act casual, knowing if her brother or father suspect anything they’ll not allow her to go with Gianna.
“Her car will be here in twenty minutes to pick you up,” Tony replies. Mary nods her understanding before turning to her vanity. She’ll spend that time touching up her makeup and hair.
“I’ll be ready,” Mary replies as she sits at the vanity, picking up her hair brush. She glances at Tony in the mirror. He dips his chin in acknowledgment before turning away, closing her door behind him. Mary brushes her hair and reapplies her lipstick. She makes sure she looks presentable then stands to head downstairs to wait for Gianna.
As she starts to turn away from her vanity, a picture of her and her mother from a couple of months ago catches her eye. Mary has the picture tucked into the frame around the mirror. She snatches the picture down and stows it in her back pocket. She opens her bedroom door to leave, instinct making her turn and look over her childhood room one more time. For some reason, she has the feeling she’ll never see it again.
Twenty minutes later, she’s in the back seat of a Russo car being driven to an unknown destination. She’d been shocked when she got into the backseat, and Gianna wasn’t in the car. Before she can ask where Gianna is, the driver is pulling away from her home.
“Where’s Gianna?” Mary asks the driver, fear clear in her voice. Is the Russo family planning to do something to her, using a shopping trip with Gianna as a way to get her away from the protection of her father and brother? She’s felt like she could trust Gianna, but she doesn’t really know this woman. She could be as bad and as creepy as the rest of the Russo family.
“Ms. Russo said she had some errands to attend to before meeting you,” the driver replies. The man is another over large goon-looking man. Broad shoulders, scarred face, and piercing dark eyes. Mary shrinks back into her seat when their eyes meet in the rearview mirror. He looks scary at first glance, but he smiles then, and his face transforms and softens. “She’ll be waiting for you at Bergdorf’s, Ms. Amato.”
Mary returns his smile and relaxes into the seat for the drive into the city. Her mind wondering to what has prompted this impromptu shopping trip by Gianna, who had seemed anxious when she’d called Mary. Over the last couple of weeks since learning of her planned marriage to Junior, Gianna has become a friend to Mary, trying to catch her up on their families and the activities of the families. Mary can’t lie; it has been a rude awakening to learn about the criminal activity of her family and the family she’s expected to marry into in a few short weeks.
The car pulls to a stop bringing her out of her musings. Mary looks out at the large building and all the people hurrying down the sidewalk. Her driver comes around and opens her door, taking her hand to help her from the car. “I’ll be waiting right here for you and Ms. Russo,” he tells her when she’s out of the car. She takes a moment to look at him again. His face is scarred, but his eyes are kind. Mary wonders how he’d been injured, but more importantly how a kind man could end up working for the mob.
“Thank you,” Mary answers him. He walks her to the door where a doorman opens the door for her. She enters to opulent stone building. She pauses to take a look around at the tall ceilings with the sparkling chandeliers. Expensive, glittering items lining the shelves merely waiting for someone to purchase them. Mary looks for Gianna but doesn’t see her anywhere. Her phone chimes with an incoming text.
Gianna: Meet me at the shoe display.
Mary makes her way through the store and its shoppers, passing displays of high-priced famous designer clothes, trinkets, and purses. It doesn’t take her long to find the shoes. She gazes at the beautiful heels on display. She lets her hand drift over a gorgeous pair of lavender Jimmy Choo heels. They cost a small mint, but a girl can dream.
As she moves on to the next display, someone grab her arm, frightening her within an inch of her life.
“Ohhh!” Mary screams, drawing the attention of several nearby customers. Gianna grabs her hand and drags her through the store. “Gianna what are you doing?”
“Getting you out of here,” Gianna says as they hurry through the store. They weave in and out of displays. Gianna keeps glancing over her shoulder from time to time. Mary wonders what or who Gianna is trying to evade.
“Gianna”– Mary grabs the woman’s arm pulling her to a stop– “what’s going on?” Gianna is breathing hard as they’ve been plowing through the store like they’re running a marathon. “You’re beginning to scare me,” Mary tells her honestly.
“Mary, we don’t have time,” Gianna says as she scans their surroundings nervously. “I overheard my father talking to some of his goons. He knows you’ve been in communication with the police. I don’t know what you’ve told them, but my father believes you will sell out the families to the cops. He won’t allow you to live, Mary. We have to get you out of here.” Fear like Mary’s never felt before hits her as well as disbelief. Her unknown survival instincts kick in, and she hurries through the store with Gianna.
“Gianna, I’ve done no such a thing!” Mary exclaims as they charge through a group of teenagers. “Why would he think that? I’ve only spoke with the detective once, and my father’s lawyer was with me the entire time.” Gianna shakes her head, again looking over her shoulder. Mary looks over hers as well, but doesn’t see anything suspicious. Just the teens, giving her and Gianna the finger.
“I don’t know, Mary, but we have to go.” Gianna takes her hand again, hurrying through the store. After a few minutes, they reach the other side of the store. Gianna drags her out the back door and into an alley. Mary looks up to see the car and driver who’d brought her here waiting for them in the alley. Gianna drags her toward him. He opens the back door of the car. Gianna climbs in pulling Mary in behind her. As soon as they are in, the driver shuts the door and hurries to the driver’s seat. He puts the car in gear and speeds down the alley.
“Where are we going?” Mary asks as the car merges into traffic. Gianna looks back like she thinks someone might be following them. Mary looks, too, but has no idea what she expects to see.
