❝𝒱𝒾𝒸𝓉𝑜𝓇𝒾𝒶, 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓆𝓊𝑒𝑒𝓃 𝑜𝒻 𝓂𝓎 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓂𝓎 𝑒𝓂𝓅𝒾𝓇𝑒.❞
˜*°• 𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐇
Victoria Russo grew up in a world full of money, crimes and powerful families. Being a part of the Sacred Eight families she knew what it mean...
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MOMENTS OF CALM
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BOTH OF THEM WENT BACK TO ARGUING THE NEXT MORNING and continued to do that whenever Lorenzo was home and the staff was not working. The anniversary of Victoria's parents' passing and Enzo's cupcakes (which were delicious!) did not solve their difficult relationship. However, it did lead to a minor breakthrough – sometimes they managed to have brief, yet civil conversations about work or their families and friends. Those conversations were not long and did not happen every day, they would be back arguing about something in the next few minutes, but it was a very small step between them.
Nicoletta and Fernando's death anniversary day was two months ago and their occasional conversations started five weeks ago. Victoria found some solace in the fact that Lorenzo was working much more, with numerous affairs accumulating and requiring attention. He was not home from early morning to late night, so they rarely saw each other on the weekdays. Also, it helped that she finally had her car here and could leave the house. It provided a sense of relief, even if it meant being followed by a bodyguard or two.
During those conversations, they would discuss what Eddie and Gabriella said about the baby, their progress with the nursery, or what their friends had shared with everyone. The latest news was that Harper had met a couple of years older boy and had been on three dates with him. They also spoke about Lorenzo's parents and Alessandro's preparations to take over the Russo family businesses. Or she would ask how was Lorenzo's day and he would briefly tell her, not getting into a lot of details. It was not because she did not know what he did. She did. After all, they both grew up in this world, surrounded by crimes, guns and money. But their relationship was not at that stage to tell her everything. And then they would be arguing about her hair everywhere or how she hated to live with him under one roof.
Before she went out of the door, Victoria tied her shoes, grabbed her bag and looked at the mirror that was hanging in the entryway. She fixed her curly hair which was falling into her eyes and left the house, meeting her two bodyguards, Axel and Joey, by her car. Victoria unlocked her vehicle as she greeted two men whose job was to protect her. Axel finished his cigarette and Joey climbed into Victoria's car while Axel took his place in a separate vehicle to tail them.
When Lorenzo informed her that she would be assigned personal bodyguards, it was not strange or new to her. Throughout her life, she had always been surrounded by people who protected her. Being the part of mafia's world and a member of one of the Sacred Eight families, her safety was never guaranteed. They had enemies. And a lot of them. So, she needed to be protected in case someone decided to do something to her. If there was no protection, she was vulnerable. Even tho she knew how to protect herself.
•••
Axel and Joey were walking close behind Victoria, Harper and Gabriella, the faces of the two men serious and on alert. This was New York and no one questioned two bodyguards following three girls. As they were walking to another clothes store in this shopping mall, Harper told everything about her fourth date with the guy whose name was Ethan and how he finally asked her to be his girlfriend. Victoria was happy that her best friend found a nice boyfriend, but it also made her feel a little bit sad. Because she never had and never would have this. She was an almost twenty-one years old girl who was already married to a person she did not like. She had one boyfriend when she was sixteen and they were together for only two weeks. Victoria never dated after that because there was no time. She has been busy studying and learning different things.
" Look! " Victoria excitedly exclaimed when they walked into the store and grabbed the item that caught her eye. " How cute! " she showed Harper and Gabriella a cute, long-sleeved, cow-printed onesie for a baby. There was a big and excited smile on her face and her eyes shone. Harper and Gabriella exchanged glances.
" Maybe you should tell Enzo that you're ready for a baby, " Harper said, a teasing tone in her voice and a small smile on her face.
" Ew, no! I meant for my niece or nephew. "
" Oh, no. You're not dressing my baby as a cow. "
" Why not? " Victoria asked her sister. Gabriella just shook her head and Victoria put the onesie back, but she made a mental note for herself to come back here when she was not with them and buy it anyway. She will see her niece or nephew in that cute onesie.
Victoria was looking over different summer dresses, searching for something that was her style, when she saw Axel answering his phone. She was pretty sure he was talking with Lorenzo because he was telling their whereabouts while Joey was standing next to him, looking left and right and not losing Victoria from his sight.
" Yes, boss, " she heard Axel's reply and the call ended. Victoria glanced at them and something in Axel's eyes said that it was not good. She watched as he whispered into Joey's ear and then walked closer to her.
" I'm sorry, Mrs. DeLuca, but we have to bring you home. Right now, " she gave up on asking them to call her Victoria when she asked for it twenty times and they still called her Mrs. DeLuca.
" What's going on? " Victoria asked, hanging the dress she found back on the rack. Axel did not answer so she said goodbye to Harper and Gabriella, telling them that she needed to go home and let her two bodyguards lead her out of the store and then shopping mall.
" Am I allowed to know what's going on? " Victoria asked again but this time it was Joey who received the question when she and him sat in her car, Axel tailing them in another vehicle.
" Some problems with the rebels, ma'am. Boss wants you safe home. "
" Understood, " she nodded, keeping her eyes on the road. Joey kept looking around, making sure that Axel was the only one following them. Victoria did not panic, knowing well that it would not help the situation. Besides, she did not have a reason to start panicking. It was not like rebels were following them home or waiting for them there, right?
