DRESSED FOR THE PART

ADRIANA'S POV

I have been staring at myself in the second mirror for about 10 minutes, and I still don't get it.

Why the hell was I dressed like this? The gown was definitely beautiful, but it wasn't exactly my style.

The black, floor-length gown hugged my curves in all the right places, showcasing my toned figure. The satin material gleamed in the light, accentuating the subtle curves of my breasts and hips. The neckline was high, almost conservative, yet the cutouts on the sides exposed a tantalizing glimpse of skin.

It wasn't slutty, but it was...exposing. The designer had managed to walk the fine line between elegance and seduction. I couldn't help but feel like a mafia don's wife, dripping in sophistication and poise.

Maybe that was the image I was supposed to portray.

I looked back at the space for the first mirror now missing and I frowned. Did Vincenzo remove it? He was the last person here after all. It didn't look like it was removed anyway but rather…broken? Huh. That was weird.

The door to the dressing room was pushed open and Vincenzo walked in, his eyes taking in the sight before him with a bored look in them.

"Suited you after all" he muttered to himself.

"You can't just barge into the dressing room when I'm in it, you know? What if I was naked?" I asked, returning my gaze to the large mirror rather than to the man standing behind me.

"You've been in here for 20 minutes." His voice of honeyed poison suddenly seemed closer than ever and I realized he was standing right behind me, his eyes staring at me through the mirror.

I took a deep breath and turned around to look at him, crossing my arms over my chest and putting on an expressionless face.

"Well it takes women longer sometimes to get ready on a daily basis" I reminded him even though I desperately just wanted to bolt out the door.

I shouldn't let him still get to me not after all these years but he still managed to instill fear in me, he didn't even have to try, all he had to do was look at me and the memories came rushing back, and the voices, the pain of it all. Just like now.

He raised his hazel eyes to me and he frowned even deeper. Maybe he was still mad about the fact that I had pointed a fucking gun at him.

Yeah, not exactly my best work yet.

"Well here, you shouldn't take more than 15 minutes, there's no such luxury" He stated simply.

"So what? You'd rather walk in on me naked?" I asked, a brow raised.

"I don't really mind. Am I supposed to care?" He asked bluntly.

Bastard.

I resisted the urge to retort and instead, I looked back at the mirror, staring at his clothes through it.

He wore a sleek, dark gray linen shirt, its top buttons undone, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of his chest. The fabric hugged his broad shoulders and chiseled torso, accentuating his powerful physique.

His black trousers were tailored to perfection, fitting snugly around his lean legs. A thin, silver watch glinted on his wrist, adding a touch of sophistication to his overall look.

His outfit was polished yet relaxed as if he'd effortlessly thrown on the perfect blend of style and nonchalance. The unbuttoned shirt added a hint of sensuality, making me wonder if he'd intentionally left it that way to unsettle me.

As he moved closer, his scent wafted toward me – a subtle blend of bergamot, cedarwood, and smoky leather. The aroma was intoxicating, evoking images of a luxurious, smoke-filled room. It was a scent that commanded attention, like the man himself.

With each movement, his shirt gaped slightly, offering fleeting glimpses of his chest. I found myself drawn to the subtle glimpse of skin, my gaze lingering a beat too long.

Okay, I needed to get out for some air.

He seemed to notice the way I had become tense because his features hardened and he sighed.

"You look ready to go, one thing, Tesoro" He suddenly spoke up, his voice loud and clear. "Don't open your mouth to talk during the meeting, I can't put up with any word vomit"

I turned around to look at him and that was when I noticed what he was putting into his holster.

A fucking pistol.

More specifically… a Sig Sauer P226.

Suited someone like him.

"Do you have to carry that?" I nodded towards the gun which he had tucked into a holster.

"It's a meeting, Tesoro. Of course, I'm going to be armed" He looked at me like I was the most obvious idiot he had seen in his life.

Maybe I was.

Ugh, I needed to get a grip. Nice one, Adriana.

His phone suddenly beeped and he smirked slightly, the corner of his lips twitching. "Oh, would you look at that? It seems our guests are at the gate already"

Right. The guests.

"Your guests, you mean" I corrected him, my voice coming out as a squeak as my gaze darted to the gun peeking out.

"No. Ours" He said under his breath, his eyes hardening.

"Bㅡ"

"Enough with the questions, Tesoro. You're married to me, you're the wife of the Don, get used to it and act the part. I don't want to repeat myself" He growled, his voice lowering an octave.

Instinctively, my eyes shut and I had visual flashes from when I used to hear him in high school, the scars on my body a testament to what he had done to me. It continued long after he left but he started it.

Every single attraction or curiosity I had for him quickly morphed into another one.

Hate.

I hated every inch of his being.

Maybe he noticed the shift in my expression because his expression also shifted to something indescribable before he turned on his heels and gestured for me to follow him.

I took a deep breath, looking at myself in the mirror.

Calm down, Adriana. He hadn't tried anything… yet.

I had used my tour around with Val to check for any openings in this place for me to escape but security was fucking tight. If I could use the resources here to find my father and hightail it to Alaska, that would be good.

Damn, I liked the sound of that idea.

The sound of steps down the stairs made me jerk and I quickly left the dressing room and the bedroom as a whole, my boots clicking against the floor as I walked down the stairs.

I sighted Vincenzo and someone talking at the bottom of the stairs. The man he was talking to was in a blue suit and his slightly graying hair was slicked back.

Who was that?

As if on cue, the man raised his beady eyes to look at me and his eyes darkened, his gaze running over my figure in a predatory way.

I stopped at the top of the stairs, my eyes wide and filled with fear. That look was sexual intended and the hag wasn't even trying to hide it.

Vincenzo also looked up and caught my gaze.

The man didn't bother to whisper or maybe it was because I was nervous but I could hear what he said and the words sent a chill down my spine.

"How much for that one?" His voice was laced with a heavy Spanish accent.

I refused to move, wondering if I could hightail it back down the hallway and lock myself in the room.

Just as I was thoroughly contemplating that, the voice of honeyed poison filtered into my hazy mind.

"Adriana, come down here now" Vincenzo commanded.

Did he… was he actually planning on selling me out?!

No. He wouldn't, he couldn't.

Wrong. He could.