Checkmate

Priceless

The bag in my hand feels heavy but so did everything else. The air, the noise, even the fleeting conversation that people had before and after passing me.

I wait exactly where Rizzo and I agreed to meet. A local coffee shop, not quiet enough to speak freely but busy enough to remain unnoticed.

I take a sip of my tea and look at my watch. He would be here in five minutes and I didn't even know what to say.

Thoughts ramble through my temples and a headache starts to form.

"Your majesty" he mocks sitting down in the chair across from me.

"Rizzo" I give him a curt nod.

"So the great monarch wants to take my deal?" He chuckles

"I'm glad you find this amusing considering I could kill here right here" I sigh " there may be a way for the both of us to win..that way the mafia can remain whole and out of war"

He adjusts his posture "I agree..but how can I trust you?"

I shrug "you can't..you just don't have a choice. Besides I'm a woman of my word Rizzo"

He nods and stands up gesturing to a black car parked a few feet away.

"Shall we?"

************************
The house was honestly stunning and the bedroom was huge.

"So let me eat this straight..you want to marry me so I can become king and you're throne will be protected?"

"When you put it that way it does seem quite simple" I say putting my bag onto the bed.

It's white silk sheets are intimidating and the huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling looks like one nudge and it could kill me where I stood.

"I'll wait for you downstairs.. there's much to discuss.. over dinner of course." he leaves the room.

I sigh and dials Alessandro's number, it rings twice before picking up.

"I'm in" I say when he responds.

"Good, he'll probably want a contract or some form of payment for just meeting you" I can practically see him roll his eyes.

"How are you feeling?" I ask last I saw him he was still shivering in bed.

"Doc says the fever is broken and I should be in the clear soon"

"Good" I sigh "I should go before they suspect something."

"Be Safe. I love you"

"I love you too" I hang up and open my bag. I pull out a thin black dress, the back loops open and the skirt reaches down to my ankles. The leather hugs my figure a v neck leaves space for my cleavage to show. The dress dips low and opens again in a leg cut coming up both my left and right legs.

I change quickly and match my outfit with a gold bedazzled black clutch and black pumps.

I walk down the steps carefully and find Rizzo standing in the dining room next to a beautifully lit fire place.

"So you decided to join us" he says pulling out a seat on the far end of the table.

"Priceless" He says commenting as I move towards him.

I take my seat with a smile and push in my chair as he sit down across from me.

"I take it you've found everything suitable?" He asks gesturing to the room with the flick of his hand.

I smile as best I can "of course everything is so beautiful"

We start dinner, a beautiful steak and for dessert a Alice of red velvet cake.