Sinful Addiction

III

        ONE YEAR AGO

ELENA CASSANO

        The first time I met Vetrov was the night my second husband died. My twenty-second birthday. A night that ended with my bloody hands firmly pumping Leonardo's chest while I called Vetrov an asshole, and other colorful words.

I couldn't remember exactly how it all happened, but it played somehow like this.

        It began with a simple conversation, a joke if you might call it. A harmless one that nearly ended with my death.

         "Ay!" Mamma gushed as she walked into my room. "Che bella! You look beautiful." She told me. Her fingers weaved their way into my black hair, gently threading through my locks.

A thoughtful expression lingered on her face. I knew what she wanted to say. Let your hair down, bella.

        Mamma believed that if I wore my long, black hair out, it would incite Leonardo's interest. Perhaps he would finally claim his right and take me as his bride.

        I sat down in front of the vanity and started applying a coat of dark red lipstick across my bottom lip. Perfect. It had to be perfect. Mamma watched from the corner of my bed, silently. "Yes, Mamma?" I sighed heavily.

        "He hasn't—"

        "No. He hasn't." I answered. No, my fucking husband hadn't had sex with me. "He's busy." I spat out those words with disgust. Leonardo was never too busy to go out with his friends but when it came to laying down at night with me, he found excuses.

        Mamma shrugged like she always did whenever there was something bothering her. "He's probably just getting used to the marriage. You've only been married for a week, bella."

        "Valentina was pregnant one month into her marriage and we both know she didn't wait for the 'I do's.'" I eyed Mamma as I zipped up my black dress and she started splattering, at a complete loss for words.

My sister hardly waited after her marriage before she announced she was pregnant with her first son.

        "You should talk to-"

        "I'm not asking my husband to fuck me, Mamma. If he doesn't want to, then fuck him. I'll fuck myself. I'm perfectly capable of that."

        "Bella!" Mamma gasped at my obscene words before reprimanding me for my lack of indecency.

A few years ago, Mamma caught me with my hands between my legs at night and threatened to disown me if I did it again.

"Watch your mouth. I'm sure Leonardo thinks you're an extremely attractive woman. He's probably just busy and your father's been having trouble with the Bratva lately."

        "What does that have to do with Leonardo fucking me, Mamma?"

        Mamma threw her hands up in surrender at my language. "Mamma mia! If your father heard you, he would throw a fit. He thinks I'm spoiling you, bella. After Pietro, he doesn't want any more mistakes." Mamma walked towards me, turning my body swiftly towards the mirror.

        Then she zipped my black dress effortlessly, causing me to choke on a gasp at how tight the dress was. "You've always been wild with your outfits, huh? Look at all this skin, Elena. What would your uncles and father say?"

        I rolled my eyes as I glanced at my reflection in the mirror. "Yes, Mamma. Your daughter is a slut. She loves dressing up for men, and the attention they give her." It's my fucking birthday, Mamma.