Acceptance - Vivian POV

I slammed the door heading to my garden wiping away my tears. This was bullshit. How was I a prisoner to the head of the Mafia now? I was a normal person living my life and then one trip to the bathroom and everything changed. Tommy should have never talked to me knowing what danger it put me in. He really didn't fucking care one bit about me.

I went to my milkweed plants and watched the little caterpillars in the cocoons for hours. They were going to emerge any day now. I couldn't wait to set them all free.

"Ms. V we have a party tonight and the boss asked me to have you dressed." Marie was standing a few feet behind me.

"I don't really have a choice, do I?" I sulked slowly caressing the plants with my fingertips.

"With the party, no. You do have a choice whether you'll enjoy it though. Dominick and Sophia are already back and the Capo is still requesting your presence. It's better then sitting in your room all night."

"I guess I should be thankful my prison has parties to attend to."

"Stop whining child. Side women of a made men, let alone a Capo, are rarely treated with any kindness. Tommy made Nikola vow to protect you and the Capo has done so. The alternative would be that you are dead. This beautiful prison is better than death, my dear. Come let's get dressed and let's see if we can change this mood of yours."

I walked in my room and there was a large tray of little desserts. Marie had Russel bake me some comfort goodies and that made me smile. Some people seemed like they cared about me. I could try to embrace this life. How do I just let go of everything I was though? How do I let go of who I wanted to be?

"Thank you, Marie." I gave her a smile then looked back to my beige silky dress. It was low in the front with lace and pearls, open mostly in the back with an oval cutout lined with more lace, and went to my ankles with a slit all the way to my upper thigh. It was an elegant dress I would never imagine wearing. I simply didn't know anywhere I would ever need to wear a dress like this to.

"You are gorgeous, my dear. The men will have a hard time keeping their eyes off you tonight." Marie fixed a curl that hung down from my braided up do. The way my hair twisted on top and the few curly pieces that Marie left loose then curled all shined with my red highlights. I did look gorgeous.

"Marie? Is the only life I can have now is to be married to one of these men? Wife and mother, but no career?"

"Yes, child. You can find a lovely husband to care for you though. In time you can go out more and have gatherings yourself. There is a lot of fighting between the families right now, but it will settle soon enough. You can't have a career as a doctor but you could find other things to do. Maybe help at churches, orphanages, or other charity events. Create your own beautiful gardens that the other women would be envious of. It will take time, but you will find a purpose again."

"I'll try Marie. Thank you for always being so kind to me." I gave her a real smile this time because I meant it. This was my life now and I had two options. One, throw myself off the roof or two, make the best of it.

I wasn't against marriage and kids I just didn't want that to be life. I always imagined myself living in a high-rise apartment close to the hospital. My husband would probably work there too. Our kids would go to a top-notch boarding school and we would make a point for family dinners every night since we would all have such crazy schedules.

It was time to let that possibility go now. Now my only hopes were to eventually leave this house. I don't just mean living here but I mean actually going outside the property. I miss coffee shops and restaurants and dance clubs. I miss shopping with the girls at the mall and getting my nails done. I miss my freedom.

As I descended the stairs all eyes were on me. I found Niko's hard gaze on my body and gave him a smile. I didn't want to fight with him anymore.

"Damn V! Are you trying to get us all killed?"

"Shut up Dominick! I'm trying to be good so please don't make me slap you."

He actually started laughing at me. It wasn't that hard for me not to tell someone off. I wasn't usually this hostile before being kidnapped.

"You look beautiful, V." Sophia gave me a small hug. I thought she hated me.

"Thanks, you too Soph. Are we ok or is this because guests are here?"

"Oh silly." She laughed at me too. "Of course, we are ok. We definitely need to talk later too. I have questions." She whispered. Oh god I can only imagine what those questions are.

"I'm going to get a drink. You two children behave." I looked between Sophia and Dominick. Come to think of it they have been around each other a lot lately.

Fuck! He better not have deflowered that poor girl. I liked Dominick and didn't want to see his heart ripped out by Niko.

"Are you better now?" A strong voice spoke behind me with a hint of annoyance. One guess who that is? I turned towards him and took in his awkward position. He never looked like anything but a beast about to kill.

"Maybe. Marie told me I needed to accept I would never have the life I wanted. I'm at your mercy, beast." I couldn't help but add an eye roll. I know I said no fighting with Niko but his presence immediately got me worked up. His large muscular body and ice-cold eyes were annoying how dominating he was to everyone around him.

"Beast! That's a new one." He commented.

My eyes drifted over his tense body as he stood beside me. I saw his hands held tightly behind his back. He was trying not to touch me. Now that I found amusing. He made it clear he wants my body but he never took it by force.

"I've been calling you that since the first day I met you, just in my head. I also picture you eating little babies for midnight snacks. Using their little bones to pick the meat out between your teeth." I leaned a little closer to him. A small smirk appeared on his face making his rough exterior look a little less evil.

He simply grunted, keeping his eyes ahead, and I took a step away from him. I didn't need to start a fight and definitely can't while all these guests are here.

Then his hand grabbed my waist bringing my back tight to his front. "It's not children that I want to eat." He whispered then walked off.

My body rose at least ten degrees and my legs got a bit wobbly. How did that man affect me so much? Fuck, that was really hot though. I cleared my throat and continued in the other direction of Niko. I was determined to stay away from him the rest of the night.

I chatted with some of the guests realizing everyone called a parent Aunt or Uncle. It was strange when their kids could be married one day but I guess that was some Mafia respect or something. Dominick danced a few songs with me, mostly talking about Sophia, and I knew there was something going on there. It was actually cute how Dominick had no idea he liked her. He acted like he was watching over her because Niko said to but he got so smitten when speaking about her.

Once Sophia pulled me to the bathroom, I knew exactly what it was about.

"I need help V?" Sophia paced the bathroom tile in a cute hot pink dress. She looked like daddy's little princess and it was adorable.

"With Dominick?" I chuckled while reapplying my lipstick.

"How did you know? Oh my god am I being too obvious?" She buried her face in her hands.

"No Soph, actually he is."

"What? What do you mean? I didn't think he liked me at all. He is always making fun of me or pinching me. He says that's adorable like I'm a kid sister."

"He makes fun of you because he is nervous and wants to talk to you. He pinches you to steal little touches, and he actually thinks you're adorable. Trust me, not in a kid sister kind of way either."

"Really!" She jumped up and down. Why do I feel like I'm in high school gossiping about boys in the bathroom?

"Soph can you even date him? Would your father approve a new arrangement?"

She looked down at the floor. "No! He wants me to marry the Capo or at least someone in the higher families. Dominick would be a business operator or something."

"Ok, how about this? Continue your little crush with Dominick, but don't kiss him and definitely don't let him touch you naked. Trust me if a boy says just the tip, then run. Ok!"

Sophia scrunched her face at me. "What are you talking about?"

"Just nothing physical ok. No taking off clothes or bodies pressed close together. What you can do is hangout as friends but treat it like a date. Maybe after a few times together you won't even like him anymore"

"What if I want him to touch me or feel just the tip?" Oh god why did I say that?

"Then go home and pleasure yourself, Soph. I'm serious, if Dominick touched you, I truly believe your father would demand his head on a platter. Just take it slow for now and see what happens. In a couple of months Niko will probably find his wife and maybe your father will allow this marriage."

"What if he only wants to be with me and not marriage?"

"That's why you two hang out for a little while. You'll see if he really likes you or not. If he's hooking up with other girls then he just wants between your legs."

"Ok I'll take it slow. Can I kiss him though? I really want to kiss him."

I looked at her annoyed then it dawned on me. "Have you ever kissed a boy before?"

"No. My father sent me to an all-girls school then I moved straight here. Tommy put me in college and I was terrified. Last year was hell for me. Thankfully Dominick has been so good to me this year. I hung out with him and his friends. We all talk and study together. I actually enjoy college and don't feel like vomiting every time a stranger looks at me."

"You poor girl." I pulled her into a hug. She was seriously kept locked away and then stupid Tommy just threw her to the wolves. What was he thinking?

"Come on Soph, let's go dance and I'll teach you the art of teasing. It drives men nuts and you'll have them eating out of your hands."

"Really? I can't wait!"

Yes, I was creating a little demon child. Whoever her father married her off to will have his hands full once I'm done with her.

———

"Are you sneaking food to bed. Were there no small children to eat." I teased Niko walking out of the kitchen with more cake. That man had a serious sweet tooth.

"Want to join me?" He stood at the doorway leaning on the frame like he owned the world. He shouldn't be allowed to be so sexy.

"Nope! The sex was great, the aftermath not so much." I poured some water and headed back upstairs. Half way up I noticed Niko behind me and no Gio. He wasn't done trying to get me in bed.

"Niko stop staring at me ass!"

"But it looks more delicious than this cake."

I spun around approaching my door. "Seriously! What do you want from me Niko?"

"You know what I want kitten."

"You kidnapped me, took my life away, and then torture me every day. Why would I let you have my body too?"

He leaned closer with his lips above mine. "Because it feels good to give me your body."