Unknown Territory [Mafioso Book#3] (SAMPLE)

Chapter VII: Hades and Persephone

"Before we go to your place, can we drop by home for a second, I need to pick up Percy." Nicole looked away from her window and towards Salvatore who was driving the car.

"Percy?" He inquired dubiously. 

"My husky, Persephone,"

"You...you have a Siberian Husky named after the Greek goddess of spring?" Salvatore turned to her with a raised eyebrow. "Why not Khione - the Greek goddess of winter?"

"Ha-ha, make all the fun you want, I need to pick her up. And I named her Persephone because she loves spring and rolling around in flowers," Nicole scrunched up her nose at his teasing. "You don't mind dogs, right?"

"Not at all, have one at home myself."

"Oh! What breed?"

"You'll see when we get there."

Before going to Salvatore's estate, they stopped at her parent's chateau to pick up her husky. Staying long enough to greet her mother and pick up the Husky. Loading her into the car, they resumed their journey. Nicole watched as they drove to the outskirts of Tuscany, wanting to ask him if they had lost their way, but thought it better not to when they began their ascent onto a hill; and she was mesmerized as a massive mansion came into view. Nicole's eyes widened and her mouth fell open as they pulled up at the marble circular porch. 

The house was huge with white Greek columns lining the entrance; it stretched out to her right and to her left, leaving Nicole to wonder where the house ended. It glittered in the morning sunlight and made everything look surreal. Three-stories tall, white marble driveway, luscious gardens, a porcelain fountain at her back, and numerous luxury cars lining the driveway. The only thing which blemished the magical ambiance were the armed men patrolling the grounds. 

She never heard Salvatore order the men around him, and much less did she notice him wakl towards the massive carved entrance doors until Persephone began barking, bringing her out of her stupor before she jogged up behind her husband, grabbing hold of his arm to stop him in the doorway. 

"What?" He turned around at the touch. 

"You...you wouldn't have a map, would you?" She asked him quietly, suddenly feeling very daunted by the massive size, never having lived in a house so big. 

"Of Italy?" He looked at her in bewilderment. 

"No, uh...here," 

"Tuscany," 

"No, no," Nicole shook her head, feeling not only daunted and overwhelmed but embarrassed now too. "No, uh, of this...estate?" 

"The..." He trailed, looking at her with cold unnerving eyes and forcing her to resist the urge to squirm. "Blueprints?" 

"Yes, or a map, or whatever to help me around," 

"To help you - You're...joking, right?" 

"No..." Nicole pressed her lips into a thin line. 

"Dio mio," Salvatore shook his head in abashment. "Questa donna, onestamente," He began walking inside. 

Groaning in resignation, Nicole followed after him, shrieking when her foot slipped on the polished marble and closed her eyes tight, waiting for the impact and the inevitable embarrassment. But that never came, because before she could even hit the ground, Salvatore wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her up. Slowly peeking up, she noticed his impassive mask and couldn't help but look away with flushed cheeks. 

"What are you doing?" He asked her quietly. 

"I slipped," She murmured. "I didn't think the floor would be this slippery,"