Mafia Prisoner

Ch. 20 - Acceptance

Vivian POV

I slammed the door, heading to my garden while wiping away my tears. This was bullshit. How was I a prisoner to the head of the Mafia now? I was a normal person, just living my life and then one trip to the bathroom and everything changed. Tommy should have never talked to me knowing what danger it put me in. He really didn't fucking care one bit about me.

I went to my milkweed plants and watched the little caterpillars in the cocoons for hours. They were going to emerge any day now. I couldn't wait to set them all free.

"Ms. V, we have a party tonight and the boss asked me to have you dressed." Marie was standing a few feet behind me.

"I don't really have a choice, do I?" I sulked, slowly caressing the plants with my fingertips.

"With the party, no. You do have a choice whether you'll enjoy it though. Dominick and Sophia are already back and the Capo is still requesting your presence. It's better then sitting in your room all night."

"I guess I should be thankful my prison has parties to attend to."

"Stop whining child. Side women of a made men, let alone a Capo, are rarely treated with any kindness. Tommy made Nikola vow to protect you and the Capo has done so. The alternative would be that you are dead. This beautiful prison is better than death, my dear. Come, let's get dressed and let's see if we can change this mood of yours."

I walked in my room and there was a large tray of little desserts. Marie had Russel bake me some comfort goodies and that made me smile. Some people seemed like they cared about me. I could try to embrace this life. How do I just let go of everything I was though? How do I let go of who I wanted to be?

"Thank you, Marie." I gave her a smile then looked back to my beige silky dress. It was low in the front with lace and pearls, open mostly in the back with an oval cutout lined with more lace. The dress reach almost to my ankles with a slit all the way to my upper thigh. It was an elegant dress I would never imagine wearing. I simply didn't know anywhere I would ever need to wear a dress like this to.

"You are gorgeous, my dear. The men will have a hard time keeping their eyes off you tonight." Marie fixed a curl that hung down from my braided up do. The way my hair twisted on top and the few curly pieces that Marie left loose then curled all shined with my red highlights. I did look gorgeous.

"Marie? Is the only life I can have now is to be married to one of these men? Wife and mother, but no career?"

"Yes, child. You can find a lovely husband to care for you though. In time you can go out more and have gatherings yourself. There is a lot of fighting between the families right now, but it will settle soon enough. You can't have a career as a doctor, but you could find other things to do. Maybe help at churches, orphanages, or other charity events. Create your own beautiful gardens that the other women would be envious of. It will take time, but you will find a purpose again."

"I'll try Marie. Thank you for always being so kind to me." I gave her a real smile this time because I meant it. This was my life now and I had two options. One, throw myself off the roof or two, make the best of it.

I wasn't against marriage and kids I just didn't want that to be life. I always imagined myself living in a high-rise apartment close to the hospital. My husband would probably work there too. Our kids would go to a top-notch boarding school and we would make a point for family dinners every night since we would all have such crazy schedules.

It was time to let that possibility go now. Now my only hopes were to eventually leave this house. I don't just mean living here but I mean actually going outside the property. I miss coffee shops and restaurants and dance clubs. I miss shopping with the girls at the mall and getting my nails done. I miss my freedom.