CHAPTER 46

The soft moonlight illuminated Ellis and Vittorio's bedroom. The mafioso leaned over the brunette, his face close to hers, and she held her breath as she met those dark eyes that shimmered with intensity.

With passionate tenderness, he caressed Ellis's face, enveloping her in a passionate embrace. Their lips met in a kiss filled with desire, a fusion of passion and mutual surrender. The warmth of that moment filled every fiber of Ellis's body, leaving her yearning for more.

The kisses continued, each one more intense than the previous. Then Vittorio's lips trailed down, leaving a trail of his gentle touch and firm hands exploring every inch of Ellis's skin as she surrendered to the moment.

Each touch of Vittorio's lips showed the path he was trying to fulfill until he reached between his wife's legs. Then he looked back at her, and she leaned slightly towards him.

"Do you want me to stop?" the mafioso asked.

"No," whispered Ellis, lying back down, filled with desire.

The brunette sighed as she felt Vittorio's tongue slowly touch her intimate area. Ellis felt herself enveloped by Vittorio's magnetic aura, as if nothing else mattered but his lips taking her completely, with desire.

As Vittorio's tongue explored her, Ellis's desire to scream grew stronger.

Until her whole body began to tremble, she was almost there.

"AAAAAAHHHH!"

Then Ellis sat up in bed, opening her eyes and finding the room in complete silence. Her heart still raced as she sat on the bed, realizing that Vittorio had already left. She looked around the room and noticed the sheet they had spread to divide the bed showed the empty side where his warmth used to be.

Stretching her limbs, she yawned and observed the room until she noticed her phone's screen blinking. Curious, she picked it up, and it was a notification revealing Vittorio's recent bank transfer, reminding her once again that their marriage was based on a contract.

She stared at the phone for a few moments and then pressed the notification, which showed:

ACCOUNT BALANCE

USD: -400,750.00

MOVEMENTS:

AMORIELLE, VITTORIO ------- 04:21

+ $7,250.00

AMORIELLE, VITTORIO ------- 07:38

+ $65,000.00

AMORIELLE, VITTORIO ------- 06:00

+ $7,000.00

AMORIELLE, VITTORIO ------- 05:57

+ $20,000.00

Ellis held her breath, unsure if that amount was correct. She went to Vittorio's belongings, rummaging through his suitcase in search of the contract they had signed, but found nothing.

Taking a deep breath, Ellis decided that she could only trust the mafioso. But not only that, she would have to find a balance between the desire that was clear to her and the commitment that made her stop there. After all, in the world they were involved in, not everything was as it seemed.

***

Ellis walked down the stairs with her hair slightly tousled, wearing jeans and a white tank top. She headed towards the dining room, expecting to find Vittorio, but upon entering the room, she only came across Vittorio's aunt, Carmela, and her cousin, Sofia. The two women were sitting at the table, having coffee, and when they spotted Ellis, a mischievous smile played on their lips.

"Buongiorno, Ellis!" greeted Carmela with a slightly provocative tone.

"Good morning, cousin," Sofia said before taking a sip of her coffee.

"Good morning, Aunt Carmela, Sofia," replied Ellis, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the mischievous atmosphere in the air. "Have you seen Vittorio?"

"Yes, dear. He left early this morning," said Carmela with a smile and nod. "Vittorio is always very busy, especially being the mafia boss."

Carmela's response was not surprising to Ellis. She had already been informed by Antonietta about the priorities of a mafioso, and she certainly wasn't among them. However, frustration still appeared on Ellis' face.

"Well, Ellis, it's good that he went to work. That way, you have time to get ready and look beautiful for when he returns," commented Sofia, with a playful look towards Ellis.

Ellis felt her face blush slightly, surprised by Sofia's bold suggestion. She looked at her comfortable jeans and blouse and smiled timidly.

"I've already gotten ready," replied Ellis, pointing to her casual attire. "Am I ugly?"

Sofia let out a playful laugh, while Carmela looked at Ellis with a curious expression.

"No, Ellis. You look beautiful," complimented Sofia. "However, you need to understand that our family holds a certain influence in Pedesina. Vittorio is the Mafia boss in our region."

"And as Vittorio's wife, you need to dress according to the status and role he holds," continued Carmela. "Jeans and a casual blouse are not exactly what is expected of the Mafia boss's wife."

"I apologize, but I had no idea this would be a problem. I only brought the clothes I had," explained Ellis uncomfortably.

"Don't worry, my dear. We understand that you were not aware of our traditions and expectations. That's why we're here to support you," comforted Carmela. "After all, you're part of the family now."

"How about we go shopping?" Sofia suggested, excited. "I'm sure we'll find the perfect wardrobe for you."

"Thank you, Sofia. But I'm not sure if I have the money to buy so many clothes," explained Ellis. She definitely didn't intend to touch the money deposited by Vittorio.

"Money? Darling, you haven't understood yet, have you? You are Don Vittorio's wife," commented Carmela. "You own Pedesina now."

"Which means, money is not a problem. You can have whatever you desire," added Sofia.

"Okay, but I don't want to take advantage of the situation just because I'm his wife," Ellis declined. "That doesn't seem right."

"Ellis, my dear, no one expects you to change who you are. But in our world, this is how respect is shown for your husband and his position," explained Carmela.

"There's nothing wrong with you not paying..." Sofia argued with a smile. "You'll see how grateful the shopkeepers will be to receive Don Vittorio's wife in their stores."

***

The soft morning sunlight bathed the streets of Pedesina as Ellis walked alongside Sofia. It was Ellis' first time exploring her husband's hometown, and

she was enchanted by the beauty and charm of the place.

As they walked through the narrow streets, passing by old stone buildings and balconies adorned with colorful flowers, Ellis observed everything with admiration. The sounds of the Italian language, lively conversations, and laughter filled the air, creating a warm and vibrant atmosphere.

"Sofia, this town is simply wonderful. It's like a fairy tale," praised Ellis.

"I knew you would love it, Ellis. Pedesina has a unique charm. Let's find you some appropriate clothes. I'm sure you'll look even more stunning," reinforced Sofia.

Sofia had an excited expression on her face as she led Ellis toward a local clothing store. As they entered, the doorbell announced their arrival.

"Buongiorno! Siamo qui per la signora Ellis Amorielle, moglie del Capo di tutti capi Vittorio," announced Sofia, introducing Ellis.

The atmosphere in the store immediately changed. Customers and employees stopped what they were doing, and their gazes turned toward Ellis. A mix of nervousness and surprise hung in the air. Ellis noticed the shift in atmosphere and the tension in the room. She approached Vittorio's cousin and whispered:

"Sofia, we better leave. They don't seem very grateful."

"It's because you're Vittorio's wife," Sofia whispered back. "Here, they have a lot of respect for Vittorio."

"Yeah, I can tell," Ellis muttered to herself.

Then, from the back of the store, a lady approached with a cautious expression on her face.

"Buongiorno, signora Amorielle. How can I assist you?" the woman asked Ellis.

"Buongiorno, Donatella. I'm looking for some new clothes for my cousin's stay here in Pedesina," explained Sofia with a smile on her face. "Could you show me some options?"

Donatella tried to conceal her nervousness as she asked one of her employees to fetch some clothing pieces.

"Martina, help Signora Amorielle," Donatella ordered her employee.

Ellis tried to ignore the tension and began exploring the clothes in the store with the help of the employee, while Sofia conversed with Donatella in Italian.

Ellis navigated through the aisles filled with elegant clothes, but she couldn't help but notice the saleswomen whispering among themselves in Italian, with worried looks directed at her.

Vittorio's wife realized that the saleswomen's words were related to something more serious. She tried to approach one of the saleswomen, who was arranging clothes nearby. Curious and wanting to understand what was going on around her, Ellis approached the saleswoman with a friendly smile and the only Italian phrase she had learned before arriving:

"Scusa, parli inglese? I don't understand what you're saying..."

The saleswoman looked at Ellis hesitantly, then at Martina, who was coming right behind Ellis seeking guidance.

"Scusa, signora. Non parlo inglese molto bene," the saleswoman replied, quickly stepping away.

"Mrs. Amorielle, here are some options that I believe you might like," Martina said, catching Ellis' attention.

She picked up some items and headed to the fitting room, curious to see how they would look on her body. As she changed clothes, Ellis noticed that the saleswoman was speaking in Italian to another employee, engaged in a heated discussion. She tried to catch familiar words, but the conversation eluded her. However, Ellis understood one word that the saleswoman said, which intrigued her. She quickly opened the fitting room curtain, startling the saleswomen, and then tried to ease the tension by showing two random pieces of clothing. One of them stepped back, leaving only Martina.

"Hi, could you help me choose between these pieces? They're beautiful! Everything in this place is." Ellis began.

"I was just wondering while I was getting dressed, what it's like to live here in Pedesina. The city is so beautiful and seems so peaceful."

The saleswoman looked around as if afraid someone was listening to their conversation and then spoke nervously, "The beauty of this city can be deceiving, ma'am. Here, they control everything and everyone."

"They? Are you referring to the mafia, aren't you?" Ellis questioned the saleswoman. "By the way, that was the subject you were discussing with your friend, right?"

The saleswoman was surprised by Ellis' remark, as she thought speaking in Italian would prevent her from understanding, but she was mistaken. Martina had to find the right words in English.

"This is not a safe place to talk about it. But yes, we were talking about the mafia. I apologize if I offended you, ma'am."

"You didn't offend me. Why would you?" Ellis asked, not understanding.

"You are Don Vittorio's wife, you are part of it," Martina explained.

"I'm not a part of any of that, Martina," Ellis denied. "I ask you to help me understand what I'm dealing with here."

The saleswoman hesitated for a moment, appearing concerned about the repercussions of her words. But eventually, she decided to open up a little.

"You have no idea what it's like to live under the mafia's rule. It's a constant nightmare," Martina began. "It's a dark reality here in Pedesina. The mafia has powerful control over the city, and its influence is felt in every aspect of our lives. We live in fear... If we don't comply with what they want, we... Our family... We live for today, without the certainty of having a tomorrow, capisci?"

Ellis, impacted by the saleswoman's words, understood the gravity of the situation she was involved in. She looked around, realizing that the curious and tense gazes were still fixed on her. She was aware that Vittorio had his businesses and connections, but the reality of the mafia's impact on people's everyday lives was something she had never been able to gauge.

"I... I had no idea. I'm sorry for everything you go through. I'm willing to help in any way," Ellis said.

The saleswoman looked at Ellis with a mix of surprise and gratitude.

"Grazie, ma'am. However, there's nothing you can do."

Ellis furrowed her brow, unable to fully comprehend the meaning of the saleswoman's words.

Before Ellis could ask more questions, Sofia approached, noticing the tension in the air.

"Ellis, did you find something you like?" she asked, shifting the focus of the conversation.

Ellis smiled at Sofia, setting aside her questions for now.

"I'm still deciding, Sofia. But I appreciate Martina's help," Ellis said to the saleswoman.

"Alright. Choose quickly because we still have other stores I want you to see," Sofia informed her.

"Don't worry, I'll be faster than a bullet," Ellis commented.

Sofia nodded in agreement, but her eyes revealed a mixture of concern and care.

Ellis returned to the fitting room and made a silent promise to herself to find out more about what was happening in that city and to make a difference, even as the wife of the mafia boss.