Stella's Own

Part 4

Tonight was the gala her mother had bought the blue dress for. She walked down the stairs and the blue folds around the bodice complimented her auburn curls as they were swept to one side of her neck. The gold eyeshadow helped to accent the hazel eyes that Stella adored about her mother. 

"You look amazing, mom." She said in awe. 

Her father appeared next to her from his study and looked up at his wife. "Darling, you look wonderful." He ravished, pecking her on the cheek. He was fiddling with his cufflinks on his writs.

Her mother took them from him fixing them herself. "We'll be gone all night and we are taking most of the men with us. Dante and you can order in. But its safer to stay in tonight, okay?" He ordered. 

"I'm not going anywhere tonight, Papa. " Stella assured.

Her parents hurried out the door and down the long driveway they rode off. Leaving her and Dante to themselves. It had taken her all her willpower not to corner him and put his muscles to work. He hadn't even mentioned the kiss in those few days after. Was he trying to keep it together as well? Better to forget about it anyway.  

Shutting the door and walking to the kitchen she found Dante looking over a few menus on the stainless steel counter. Stella sat down across from him picking up one of the menus. "Found anything you like yet?" 

He continued pondering the menu and shook his head, "I could really go for anything. What do you want?"

Stella shrugged casually, "We could order sushi, that's always good." 

Dante nodded and called the sushi restaurant to have it delivered. While he was ordering, Stella walked to the cabinet and pulled out two high ball glasses and a decanter of her favorite Scotch. She then pulled out other assortments of ingredients all needed to make an old-fashioned. She whipped it up in no time as Dante sat in quiet watching her. 

She strode back over to him and handed him the glass. "Why are you always so quiet?" She asked sitting next to him, sipping her drink. Stella had had a weak spot for dark mysterious quiet men. They had something to hide, and were fun to play with.

Dante sipped his drink and licked his lips while examining the glass. "I just haven't settled in yet. Also, I don't want to say something I shouldn't." 

She looked at him with a furrowed brow. "I doubt you could say such things. As long as you don't challenge me or contest my decisions we should be okay." 

He snarked and took another drink smiling at her. Their eyes locked again, and he became entranced with her light blue eyes. He shook it away by taking another drink. "I know how many men you have under your control here. It's intimidating to think that all of them are that loyal to you." 

Stella swirled her drink and looked out the kitchen window. "My mother prides herself off of keeping this regime so strong by treating our men like they are humans. Not..." She paused, "disposable war machines." Stella stood up and walked to the door to the patio and Dante followed her. She walked down the path to the garden, and it was starting to get darker out, but the path around the garden was lit with lawn lights. "Everyone that's in our mafia has a life, a family, and their own goals. We don't hold threats over their heads or try and blackmail them to be loyal to us. They come to us when they need help, but it's always a two-way street of them helping us in exchange." She explained as they walked. 

The garden in the back was lined with hedges and at the center was a fountain that had a cherub at the top holding a harp. They stopped at the fountain and Stella finished her drink staring at it. "Other mafias in town threaten their men with killing their families or ending their bloodline. It's sickening to think that they only think of them as troops not friends or allies.  

Dante downed the rest of his old-fashioned and began to talk, "My father suggested that I join so that I could get money for school. He never pushed me to be a part of it, but part of him wanted me to carry on the family legacy of being in your mafia." He looked over to Stella who was quietly listening with eyes of curiosity, intriguing him to continue. "I now realize why he stayed. He had a family and it was good income, and you treated him like a person." Dante looked up at the fountain and continued. "I know that it's unusual that a woman is going to take over the reins when your father passes, but I'm completely behind you." He reassured her. 

She grabbed his elbow and gave it a loving squeeze of appreciation. "Thank you. Hopefully, my uncles see that as well." She sighed. He was beginning to open up to her. Maybe more alcohol will help, she thought. 

"If they don't, there won't be many people for them to try and overthrow you with." He reminded. 

She laughed, knowing he was right.  She turned to walk back to the house and Dante followed. Staring at the ground as she walked she said, "When we get to Boston in the fall, I want you to have your own activities. I don't want you having to wait on me hand and foot. Find classes or an intramural sport. We'll make it so that I'm at the apartment when you have activities, or I can come with you. But I won't let you sacrifice your happiness for my safety. Got it?"

His eyes showed relief and thankfulness. He knew his job was to protect her, but it was comforting to know that she saw him as a person, not a bodyguard. He nodded his head in understanding. 

Stella slid a hand under his bent elbow holding it as they walked. Climbing back up the porch he turned to her, "If you don't mind me asking, why is this Antonio guy so scary?" 

She smiled at him, "See, you aren't going to say something you shouldn't." Her tone then changed and she looked back out over the garden. "A few years ago his father died suddenly, leaving his empire to Antonio. They deal in the arms industry, under imported liquor." She was silent for a moment before continuing. "Antonio is about 5 years older than me, and he's always had it out for our family. His father didn't like us much, but we never did anything to entice it. But Antonio thinks that he can make his empire more powerful by stealing our imports. We get our opioids from Greece and our liquor from various European vendors." She turned to him seriously, "He wants our opioids." 

Dante nodded understanding. "Them being in the arms industry makes it more difficult doesn't it?" 

"Absolutely." She sighed. "So if you haven't already, I'd suggest you start going to the shooting range and practicing. If he's going to come after me, a vulnerable pawn, he's going to do it guns blazing." 

"Noted. But I don't think you're a vulnerable pawn." He mused. Stella stared at him debating if it was a compliment or an insult. "You're the queen in this operation. If he kills the king, you're father, game over. The men flock to you and you obliterate him. He's targeting you because if he takes you out first, then you're father is grief-ridden and the men would be in low morals."  

Stella stared at him amazed. His thoughts were so deep and intriguing. "I had no idea how smart you were." A smile tugged at her lips as she stared into his brown eyes, wondering what else was hiding in that mind of his.

The doorbell rang, pulling them out of their trance. Dante led her inside and headed to the door. Stella walked down the hall into the parlor. She began moving chess pieces around to their starting positions.

Walking into the parlor he saw what she was doing and stopped to pull the coffee table closer to the chairs between the chess table. It was a small white marble table that had just enough room for the chessboard. Opening the boxes they sat down in the chairs facing the chess table.  

"Do you play?" She questioned popping the wooden chopsticks apart.

He winched at the board, "A little."

She laughed swallowing a sushi roll down. "I'll go easy on you."