The Don's Daughter

Chapter 54

RIA'S  POV

I don't know why I feel anxious today. It's not like I'm getting any sort of status or my life is going to change in any way; but for some reason I can't get these butterflies in my stomach to calm down. I didn't even go shopping this morning with my friends. I just wanted to stay home and prepare. I'm currently showered with my hair and makeup done but I'm in a pair of Cole's joggers and a cut-off Slayer tank top, trying to pick out an outfit to wear. So the preparing didn't go as planned either.

*knock knock knock*

"Come it."

Remo pops his head in the door before walking in. I was expecting Cole and was wondering why he knocked. I give my cousin a tight smile.

"Hey sorella. You almost ready? Big boss and little boss are waiting on you."

"You think anyone would care if I go down like this?" I wave my hand up and down at my outfit I'm currently wearing.

"Umm," he cocks his head to the side "everyone is still sober so they are expecting a mafia princess not Malibu metal barbie." He chuckles at me. "Plus Cole would go on a killing spree."

"How drunk can we get them in the next 3 minutes?"

"Sergio? We'd need another 3 hours. Cole there is not enough alcohol. Everyone else mhmm we'd probably do ok."

I just give Remo a sad smile.

"Hey." He says gently but loud enough to make me look up at him. "We can leave. You say the word and I'll drive you. You're not initiated yet."

"You really want me to go?"

"No." He looks me in the eys letting me know he's dead setious. "Not at all. You're practically my baby sister. I'd miss you like crazy. This family would suck without you. At the same time I don't want you to put yourself in danger or do anything that's going to make you miserable."

I laugh through my nose. "Cole would kill you."

"I'm not afraid of your boyfriend." He scoffs and grins at me.

"Sergio would kill you." I say with more conviction and raise my eyebrows.

"Unc would beat me to the brink of death not actually kill me. I'm the only one who could get away with it." He shrugs again like it would be nothing.

I smile at him. "I'm not miserable. I just want to be who everyone needs me to be." I look at my reflection in the mirror and begin to be overly critical of myeslf. "I spoke with Cole regarding my role and I want to work behind the scenes in accounting. I should be able to take college courses online and work at the same time."

"So you no longer want to coast by on your looks? But that's why God made us look like this. It's the Bottero way." He lightens my mood. "Seriously though you are Victoria Bottero. You are the Don's daughter, but you are also Deluca's backbone, the light of la famiglia, my cousin and best friend. That is who you are, and you are EXACTLY who we need you to be."

I hug him startling him a little bit. "I don't know what I did to deserve you but I'm grateful and I'd take a bullet for you Remo."

"How about we try to avoid getting shot?" He says hugging me back and kissing the top of my head.

"Deal."

"Good, now relax, take a deep breath, and wear the maroon skirt."

"You hang out with Enrica and me too much." I laugh and roll my eyes.

"No that's just the outfit that's going to show the least amount of skin. I know my role too sorellina." He winks at me. "C'mon hurry up I'll start pouring drinks down everyone's throat for you."

"Grazie, I'll be down in 3 hours." He chuckles and shakes his head and kisses the top of mine as he leaves. Well it's time for me to become a Bottero.

I walk down the stairs in the outfit Remo approved. I'm wearing a black body suit with quarter length sleeves, the leather maroon pencil skirt some black tights and some black wedges. I have my hair back in a low bun with some peices hanging down. Tattoos covered, no skin showing, behaving for my father's sake.

Walking down to my initiation my eyes connect to those dark brown ones that I love so much. Cole moves towards me meeting me at the bottom of the stairs.

"You look beautiful." He takes my hand and starts walking me through the crowd. "You have a naughty librarian vibe going on I like it." He whispers in my ear.

"I'm going to go change into some fishnets and my stripper heals from Charlie." I say pretending to walk back to the stairs. Cole grips my hand harder and pulls me back.

"I know you're joking but please do that later when it's just us two. I'm buying you new shoes though I don't want you having ones from Charlie."

"But they look so good on me." I pout teasing him.

"They would look better up by my..Sergio!" Cole is startled when my father approaches us.

"Buon pomeriggio papà" I say trying to hide my laughter as he kisses my cheek.

"Hello angel...Nicolo." He smiles at me and glares at Cole. His expression softens when he turns his attention back to me. "Before the ceremony I'd like to give you your birthday present."

"Papà the use of your club was my gift I don't need anything else."

"Nonsense you are my only child." He then holds up a tiny black square. I take it from him to inspect it. It's a black key fob with a T on one side and model X written on the other.

"You bought her a Tesla?" Cole says surprised taking the key fob from me. I immediately snatch it back from him.

"Now I won't have to worry about her totaling any of my cars." My father says while shrugging. "Plus this practically drives itself."

"I'm right here." I glare at the both of them.

Cole just grins at me and my father chuckles. "Go have a look principessa it's in the spare garage. Next to the charging port I needed to install." He directs that last comment to Cole who just snorts. My father has a private garage for his cars and a spare one for everyone else's.

I roll my eyes and head to the garage. I see Remo on my way there and pull him along with me. I see it as soon as I enter the garage. There it is wrapped in matte black with overly tinted windows just like all the other cars. Unlike all the other cars mine is plugged into the charging port.

"Holy shit." Remo says. "This is a fast car though that's scary with you." He looks at my father and Cole who have now joined us in the garage.p

"Oh my God you too? I can't be that bad?" I say now looking at the three main men in my life.

Remo and Cole are actively avoiding eye contact with me. Both have given me driving lessons and both of them are still alive. I don't know what they are so whiny about.

"Angel you just haven't practiced as much as you should. I'll set out time with you this week." My father is the only one not afraid to address me.

"Thank you papino. I love my car." I wrap my arms around his waist. I do continue to glare at Cole and Remo.

"Prego angel." He kisses the top of my head. "Let's go back in. This crowd will notice us all missing."

I smile and nod and walk in with my father. Ignoring my handsome ass boyfriend and dopey ass cousin.

"Time to become a Bottero." I hear Cole say behind us. Funny he made the same joke I did.

"She was born one." My father says harshly but smiles down at me.