Chapter 4

Veronica

I sigh as I look at pictures of golden retrievers on my Pinterest. I want a dog so bad but my mom is deadly allergic to them. Times like these when I wish I had my own house. Oh wait.

"Garryyy" I sing from my position on the couch.

"What?" He grumbles from the opposite side of the couch.

"Remember when I sacrificed my precious sleep to help you find the rat?"

"Mhmm" He leans back and flits his eyes over to me.

"You can help return the favour by convincing my dad to let me live alone"

"Fuck no"

"You said I can have anything I want, remember?"

"You are not living alone"

"I am. You owe me, bitch"

"It's too dangerous, Vee" He sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose.

"Its not"

"You are not living alone and that's final," He says sternly and I glare at him. He sighs again. "Fine but with full security. You won't refuse to anything we do for your safety."

I squeal happily and walk over to hug him. That was easy. "I hate you," He wraps arms around my waist.

"I know you do."

"Fuck you"

"Oh I'm sure you would love to."

"Go now. I'll talk to your dad today." I smile so wide my face nearly breaks into half.

• • •

Later that night I'm searching for apartments on my laptop when someone knocks. I shout a come in and Vince enters the room and sits beside me.

"Talked to your dad"

"Well?"

"Well thanks to the wonderful man beside you, you can now have your own apartment. What are you doing?" He leans towards the laptop.

"I'm searching for apartments. I'm going to make my whole house look like my Pinterest board."

"Are you thinking of any particular feature the house should have?"

"Yeah. Pool and big balcony facing the skyline. I can't have a private pool so maybe a public pool that only residents can access."

"Alright send me whatever you have on your Pinterest board and I'll see if I can find an apartment that matches your requirments. What do you say?" He stands up and takes my phone, opening it with my face and tapping on the screen. A second later his phone pings. He sent my Pinterest board to himself.

"I say that I'm perfectly capable of doing it myself."

He leans against the door frame with his arms crossed. "And I say I don't doubt you at all," he says lowly and locks his eyes with mine.

"Goodnight, Satan"

"Goodnight, Garry"

• • •

Vincent

I wait outside La Casa's main gate, waiting for Vee. It is the best apartment I could find for her and she will definitely love it. She enters the building talking to someone on phone and stands next to me. She raises her hand, indicating that she needs time to end her call, and I nod.

"Well goddammit, Ryan." She huffs. Someone speaks something on the other line. "Well fine I'll meet you at your house tonight or tomorrow night." She says and ends the call.

"C'mon let's go." She grabs my hand.

"Who was that?"

"My fuck buddy." Wow.

I lead her towards the lift and click on the 13th floor. It is the last floor on this building with an amazing penthouse.

We reach the floor and the guy who's supposed to be showing us the building is waiting there. He shamelessly eyes Vera up and down, barely acknowledging me. If he looks at her one more time, he will be six feet under the ground.

I clear my throat and he snaps out of his trance. "Hello Ms. Myers and Mr. Russo. My name is Rob and I'll be showing you the apartment today."

Vera sighs. "No need for that. I'll just look at it myself."

"But-"

"What she said." I step forward and glare at him.

"O-okay"

Vera steps around him and enters the apartment. I follow her. The door opens to a small brightly lit foyer. There is a shoecase at my right and hangers for hanging whatever on my left. The foyer leads to a huge living room with. It has one wall made of glass which opens up into a huge balcony with a swing and Vera beams at that sight. We next visit the master bedroom. It has a king sized bed with a glass wall leading to a big balcony. There is a big walk in closet just likee the one at her house but bigger. The bathroom is huge with a bathtub, a square glass shower, a big sink and plenty of cabinets. We next enter the game room I specially searched for her since she loves games.

"Thought you would like having the game room. It was um...on your Pinterest board." I say, trying to act casual.

"Like? I love it, G!" She exclaims and I smile. She's so fucking beautiful.

We look around the game room. A 2 television with side vertical cabinets, a big recliner couch in front of the TV, a pool table, a table tennis table, lots of arcade games and a chess table at the corner. Seems pretty good.

Next we visit three more bedrooms at the apartment and then I lead her into an office for her work. We reach an indoor gym which leads to an indoor pool. The indoor pool is made up of glass walls on all sides but they are tinted so no one can look inside. We then go to the living room and climb the stairs at the corner of the room. It leads to a big rooftop with an outdoor pool which has lights that turn on at night. There is space for sun loungers beside the pool. On the opposite side of the pool there is a giant sunroom with flowers surrounding it.

Vera jumps up excitedly. "How the heck did you find this place. I love it."

"It was pretty easy considering your Pinterest board. Do you want to look at more apartments or is this it?"

"No, I love this apartment. Definitely buying this. I'll ask Rob to give me the details. Thank youuuuu!" She hugs me tightly and I laugh.

She exits the rooftop, probably to ask Rob about the price and all. I call Killian.

"What's up, Big bro?"

"The apartment. Call Rob and buy it."

"You got it."

A few moments later Vera returns with an angry face. She stands in front of me with her hands on her hips and glares at me. I'm fucked. I can't believe I'm the most feared mafia boss but I'm scared of a 5'5 woman.

"Why did you pay for the house?"

"Huh? I didn't do anything." I play innocent.

"Don't try to fool me Vincent Garrison Russo. I will rip you apart." She had to go and use the full name. I raise my hands in surrender.

"Killian paid for it not me"

"He paid on your order."

"But still he paid for it. Not me."

"I hate you." She pounds her fist at my chest but I catch her wrist and pull her towards me.

"Don't be mad now. C'mon let's go. We have a lot to work on for the house." She doesn't protest as I lead her to my car.

• • •

I open the door to her house and freeze. Bianca is standing by the door in a short tank top and shorts which could be classified as underwear with a smile on her face. She hugs me tightly but I push her off.

"Vincy, how are you?" Fuck me.

"What are you doing here?" I try to keep anger out of my voice.

"Oh Vincent, she's here with her dad. They are signing an alliance with your dad and Vera's dad." My mom speaks up.

Alliance. Fuck. No no no.

"Vincent, Vera come on sit here. We need to have a talk." My dad enters the living room with Vee's dad and Bianca's dad behind. Killian sits on the couch with a glum look.

"What's this about?" Vera whispers.

"Something I'm not going to like. Come on." I grip her hand tightly.

She sits on the couch and I sit beside her, still gripping her hand. I might as well as be cutting her circulation by my grip but she doesn't say anything.

"What's going on?" I ask but I already know the answer.

"We have rivalry going on with Mr Navarro for years, as you know. We decided to end this rivalry by signing a mutually beneficial alliance. You are marrying Bianca in two months."

Vera bursts out laughing. We all look at her. She laughs and laughs some more, clutching her stomach and wheezing. When she is done laughing she looks up at us and raises her hand in a 'continue' motion.

"Why the fuck was I not told this before signing the alliance. I'm the fucking mafia boss and I think it's important to include me in what ever fucking alliance you are having."

I fidget with Vee's hand as she leans back, enjoying the whole show. We both know Bianca is not my type. Hell she is not even one percent of my type. We both also know that I don't believe in love and shit. Well she believes that since she doesn't know I'm completely fucking in love for her. There's nothing I wouldn't do for her. I thought I would get over it in the five years I didn't see her but seeing her again..god I'm so fucking obsessed with her.

"Look son, this alliance is important for us. What is done is done. You are getting engaged to her in a week. Prepare a good story for the media." He says leaving no room for argument and leaves the room with Jonathan and Mr Navarro with Killian following them. Mom sends me a smile and leaves the house with Lily, Vera's mom, and shuts the door.

Vera gets up but I pull her back. I am not fucking staying with Bianca.

"Incy can you help carry my luggage to your room?" She gestures towards the bags lying on the floor.

"Get a- wait what? You are not staying in my room."

"Your dad said I am. So help me." She smirks. Vera shakes with laughter. Fuck my life.

"Find someone else to do it. I'm not your servant." I stand up and drag Vera with me. She is still laughing when we reach my room. I grab all my stuff. Thank god I haven't unpacked most of it yet. I take most of my stuff and Vera carries some and head over to her room. I'm not staying with that bitch ever.

"Where are you going?" Bianca stands in front of me.

"None of your fucking business."

"It is since I'm going to be your wife soon."

"Fuck off."

"You can avoid me as much as you can but once your dad finds out about this, you're dead."

"Death is better."

We put all my stuff in her room and I lock the door before Bianca can enter and fall face first on her bed. It's barely 5pm and I already want the day to end.

Vera lies down beside me. "Long day, huh?" God, I love her so fucking much. I wish she was the one marrying me.

"Let's shop." I say suddenly. I need a distraction.

"What?"

"For your house. Let's shop." I sit up and take my laptop out. We both lie side by side on our stomachs with the laptop in front of us. I open her Pinterest board and search for some recliner couches for her living room.

It's been seven hours and we are finally done shopping. Well all the main furniture is done so rest can be done tomorrow. We don't have to worry about the furniture since it's fully furnished but I bought a recliner couch, a giant tv, sun loungers, side tables, refrigerator, lamps, oven, the led lights like the ones in her room, kitchen stools, new air conditioners, couch for her room, new mattresses, her favorite bean bags, swings, love seats, new computer, video games and god knows what for her. She threw a fit when I bought it from my amex card but she'll get over it.

As of now we're both hungry since we skipped dinner so I order some pizza for us. I lie my head on her lap while we wait for the pizza.

The doorbell rings and I jolt awake. I didn't even knew I fell asleep. I lift my head up from Vera's lap and she guves me a small smile before exiting the room to receive the door.

She comes back with three boxes of pizza and raises her eyebrow at me.

"Three boxes?"

"Two are for you since one isn't going to be enough."

"You know me" She chuckles as she settles on the bed and we both munch on the pizza.

"What's the date today?"

"6th November"

"Cool you'll move into your house on 26th. The day before your birthday."

"That soon?"

"Yeah. I'll have my people do the work. You can visit the house to tell them about the placements. You won't do any work, okay?"

"Ugh fine."

"Give me your phone." I give her my phone and she laughs.

"What?"

"You didn't even ask why." I shrug. I could kill myself if she asked.

"What's your password?"

"112797" It's been that for long. It's Vera's birthday. 27/11/1997.

"You don't have instagram?"

"No. I don't have time for that."

"Well I only use it for stalking so I'll create one for you. What do you want as your username?"

"I don't know"

"Random number"

"225181" Spells Vera.

"All right. Mines frenchfries279711 and yours is burger225181." I smile.

"You are crazy. Idiota." I shake my head. Shr gasps.

"Did you just insult me in two languages?"

"I did" I nod. She then proceeds to open my messages and save her name as 'Idiota'.

She returns my phone and I take it from her hand but she catches my wrist and stares at my tattoo.

"110810. What's that?" The day we first met.

"Just an important date," I shrug. "Come on let's dump these boxes. I have ordered ice cream for us. It's almost here."

We head down and I throw the boxes into the trash can. The doorbell rings and Vera goes to the door. She comes back with a bag in her hand.

"What flavor are these?"

"Sun kissed cream caramel."

"Oh my god I love that flavor!"

"I know. Come on upstairs." I take her hand as we climb upstairs.

The side of my arm collides with a wall as we walk towards her room and I groan. Blood seeps out of my arm as my stitches get open.

"What the fuck?" Vera clutches my arm.

"My stitches got open sometime ago and I just hit that spot again." I say. I deal with pain all the time this is nothing.

"Real nice. Don't think you are invincible or some shir because you are not. Come on let me stitch it for you."

"No"

"Don't fucking show all this attitude or I will beat the shit out of you. Get your shit together. Don't act like a child. Now either you sit and get stitches or we are gonna have to do this the hard way." Steam is practically coming out of her ears. I know better than to fight her.

"Fine."

"You don't need to act like you are his mom. He doesn't need a second mom."

We both turn around to find Bianca standing outside the door of my room.

Before Vera can reply with a snide comment I speak up. "You are just mad you don't have a mom to take care of you." Oops. Probably a bad thing to say since her mom is a drug addict. Bianca's eyes widen.

"You-" Vera drags me into her room before she can finish and locks the door.

"Jail Garry, jail. That's foul."

"I know. But she was pissing me off." I shrug but my arm starts hurting.

Vera places the ice cream on her bed and leads me to her bathroom. She takes out a medical kit and stands on her tiptoes to reach the top of my arm. Thanks to her short height, she can't reach me so I lift her up and place her on the counter beside the sink. I pry apart her legs and stand between them so we are the same height.

She takes off my shirt and cleans my wound with cotton. Then stitches and does whatever shit but I don't pay attention. I watch her beautiful face as she does her magic. She cannot be real.

She finishes her work and looks at me. "What?" I love you.

I shake my head. "Nothing. You're just beautiful." She smiles at me and my heart does that funny thing. Goddammit.

We go back to her room and talk about random shit. I take our cartons downstairs and check the time. 1:30 am. Time does pass quickly with her.

I enter her room to find her asleep with Bianca at the doorframe, staring at her.

"What are you doing Bianca?" She startles.

"N-nothing," I walk over to her and lean closer to her face, her scent wraps me but the only scent I want is Vera's. "Don't even think of hurting her or you will be dead. If there is a single scratch on her body you won't be living to see another day. Got it?"

"Yes." She leaves and I enter the room and shut the door behind me. Vee is lying on the bed on her stomach, hugging a pillow. She looks so fucking beautiful.

I change my clothes and switch off the light before lying beside her and pull the comforter over us.

• • •

I wake up at the sound of my phone ringing and see it's 7:00am. My arm is wrapped around Vera and other is being used by Vera as her personal pillow. Our legs are entwined together and her face is buried in my chest. She stirs at the sound of my phone and I stroke the back of her head.

"Go back to sleep, sweetheart." I answer the phone.

"What?" I say, my voice still laced with sleep.

"Vincent. Why are you not with Bianca?" My dad speaks from the other line.

"Because I don't fucking want to be." I keep my voice low, careful not to wake Vera up.

"Your engagement is fixed. Quit acting like a child. Wake up right now. You are going with Bianca to shop for your engagement party. Our new house is ready and all our stuff is moved there. Yours is left." My dad is retired but still acts like he is the mafia boss.

"I'll go shopping when Vera is awake. I'll have someone move my stuff to our house."

"Veronica is not going to be your wife. Bianca is."

"See if I care." I hang up

Vera's scent fills me as I hold her tightly to me.

I wake up when Vera's alarm rings. She stirs in my arms before sitting up.

"Good morning." I say still sleepy. She just hums. I forgot I shouldn't talk to her after she wakes up.

"Get ready quickly. We are going for my engagement shopping with Bianca."

"Excuse you. There's no we. I have work."

"Don't do this to me." I groan.

"You're acting like it's my engagement. Buy whatever you want with your future wife." She smirks.

"Fuck off." She ruffles my hair before leaving the room.

"I have some work in Brooklyn so I'm driving there. I'll drop you on my way there and pick you up at 6 from your work." I offer. When she doesn't reply I go to the bathroom and find her brushing her teeth. She rinses her mouth and speaks.

"No. Buy your things yourself. Or Bianca would be happy to help you."

"Lynn, pleaseeee." I sound pathetic but I don't even care. I rest my chin on her shoulder. "Please."

"Fine"

"Thank you. I don't know how I survived without you." I say as I apply toothpaste to my toothbrush.

"Yeah yeah whatever. Now I need to shower so get out." I take my time brushing my teeth and head out, giving her a lazy wave on my way. The door shuts behind me and I call one of my men to inform him that I'm coming.

A while later she walks out of the shower with a towel on her body and walks to her walk in closet and I watch her go. Fuck I'm getting hard. I enter the bathroom and quickly shower. And jerk off.

• • •

I wait outside Vera's office as she takes her sweet time to come. She exits the building, talking to some guy and I feel jealousy burn in my blood. She bids him goodbye and walks over to me.

"Come on. Let's get over this. I'm tired." I open the door for her and she gets in and enter the driver's seat.

Thank god she is sitting here and not Bianca. She wanted to sit here but that's her seat so I sent a driver for her.

"So," I begin. "How was your day?"

"Shitty. And do you know what even happened today?" She crosses her legs and turns her body at me. "There's this guy at my office and today he..." She goes on and on about her day during the whole ride, continuously making me laugh with her twisted humor. God, I love her.

We reach the boutique or whatever the fuck it's called and Bianca stands outside the huge building. The three of us enter the building.

"Hi Vincy" Bianca starts. I don't reply.

"This place is so expensive and I'm wearing leggings and a hoodie. I look like a witch entering a Christmas party. Man, I hate rich people." Vera whispers as an assistant comes over to us.

"Hate to break it to you sweetheart, but you are richer than anyone present here."

"You are richer than me."

"Technically, you own the wealth of the Italian mafia and the American mafia." You own me. She rolls her eyes.

"Hello, Mr Russo. How can I help you?" The assistant asks.

"Uh.." I start but I don't know what to fucking say. I nudge Vera.

"We need an engagement dress and a suit." Vera speaks for me. Thank god for her.

"Okay. Are you two getting engaged?" She looks at me and Vera. I wish.

"Oh no him and her." Vee points over to Bianca.

"All right this way." We follow her as she leads us into a big hall lined with suits.

"You can choose from here. Call me if you need any help." She leaves and I look at Vera.

"I'm leaving to find dresses for myself." Bianca announces and leaves. No one cares bitch.

"Buy whatever suit you think will fit me." I hand her my card. I trust her judgment more than mine.

"Excuse you. I'm not your servant. You are choosing it with me." After choosing for a while we decide on a three piece suit with a white shirt and blue tie.

"What are you wearing?" I ask her.

"Oh I don't know. I'll check something out later." Sure.

"Come on. Let's find you something." I tug at her hand.

"Noooo. Later please." She whines but I drag her towards the dresses' section anyway.

I search for dresses with her for a while and find the perfect Versace dress for her.

"Vee. You like this one?"

"Oh my god! It's amazing. Are you sure you want me to wear this at your engagement party?"

"Obviously." I roll my eyes. Bianca comes up beside me.

"I like this dress. I'm buying this." She points to the dress I chose for Vera. No fucking way. She would look ugly in this honestly. Only Vee can slay it.

"Go fucking find another one. This is for Vera."

"I can find ano-" I cut off Vera by placing a hand on her mouth. "Go," I glare at Bianca. She huffs and leaves.

A while later Bianca comes with a green dress. She's gonna look like a fucking blonde toad.

"Found a dress. Let's go." She grabs my arm but I shake her off. "Don't fucking touch me." I grab Vera's hand and walk towards the assistant from earlier.

"Shouldn't you buy a green tie matching you fiancee's dress?" Vera bumps her shoulder with mine. I may or may not have changed my tie to black after choosing the black dress for her.

"Fuck off." I instruct the lady to deliver the clothes to my house and head for my car.

I get into the car and Vera gets in beside me. The car door opens and Bianca happily shimmies inside. Should've brought my Ashton Martin today.

We drive silently until Bianca opens her mouth.

"So," She begins and I already want her to shut up. "Vera, do you have a boyfriend?"

"I don't do relationships."

"Oh, but I think I know someone who will have to oppose to that. Someone whose name starts with S. Ring a bell...?" Vera visibly stiffens beside me and I grab a hold of her hand. Bianca smirks.

Before I could tell her to take her shit and shove it up her ass, Vera speaks. "Speak about him again and see what happens." Her voice is calm but you could see the danger lurking beneath it.

Bianca's smirk disappears and I feel proud. That's my girl. Who is the lucky guy though?

I look at Vera. Her jaw is tight and she is constantly fidgeting with her hands. I take one of her hand in mine. I feel her eyes on me but I look straight ahead.

"Are you okay?"

"Fine"