Bella Donna

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Present day

It was nearly noon on Sunday morning and Hiccup was so goddamn nervous. He once again straightened his polo shirt and sat waiting on the barstool in the very deserted pub.

"Ma'am," He'd heard Ryker say from where the burly man was guarding the doorway.

"Oh, it's you," He could hear Astrid say as she recognized Ryker. It was one of the reasons he'd asked the man to be here. Hoping that if Astrid saw a familiar face she'd feel more at ease. However, his mind sassily uttered 'Sure she'd feel safe while seeing the muscled man that had brought her car back yesterday. She's totally not going to be intimidated."

"Hiccup?" Astrid asked as she looked around the closed establishment. "I didn't think you'd choose a pub for our meeting."

"Eh... it's one of the establishments I own," Hiccup tried to shrug casually but deep down he was nervous.

"And you named it The Prancing Gosling?" Astrid questioned with a raised brow.

"I was drunk.... It was a long story," Hiccup mumbled as he walked to a table and pulled out a chair for Astrid.

'Ever the gentleman,' she thought.

"Do you want anything to drink?" He asked.

"No... I... uhm... I have something to ask you," Astrid muttered "Though I don't know if I should now,"

"You can ask me anything," Hiccup stated as he sat at the table.

"No really, I don't know what I was thinking yesterday. I should probably not say anything about it." She continued.

"Astrid, do you need help with something?" Hiccup now questioned seriously while at the same time, she uttered "You're a great guy and I hate to screw this up,"

"Wait, no you go first," Both said at the same time.

"No, you," They did it again.

"Okay okay," Astrid scooted back a bit while clutching her purse. "I just, well... this might sound totally awkward and probably crazy and you might think that I've gone bonkers," she babbled. "But are you a member of the mafia Hiccup?"

"Yes," Hiccup deadpanned not even taking a few seconds to think about how to phrase it.

"I'm sorry what?!!!" Astrid sputtered.

"I am a member of the Mafia," Hiccup told her calmly. "In fact, I am the son of the Don and run the Berk branch, so to say,"

"I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO DENY IT!!!" She exclaimed.

"I am nothing if not truthful," Hiccup replied. "Also why would I deny it? I like you, we have good chemistry and you were quite frank about your situation as well,"

"That was about being a single mother not running the City's underground!" Astrid shot back.

"Well I quite like you and I don't like lying to the people I like," He stated.

"We only went on one date!"

"I'd say it was a pretty great date. Exceptional even, You didn't try to kill me at all,"

"Kill you?! Why would I try to kill you?!" Astrid now asked as she stood up and slammed her hands on the wooden table.

Hiccup awkwardly muttered, "Because my last date tried to off me?"

"Hold up," Astrid backtracked. "Your last date tried to KILL you?! You said you two didn't get along!"

"Who would get along with a date that tries to take your eye out with a steak knife?" He asked.