Little Queen

21

Men filled the large room sitting in tight-fitting lines from a few feet in front of Draven and me all the way to the back. My fingers were knotted in my lap and I kept my gaze locked on the twisting extremities, too nervous to look up. Hushed conversations continued until the back doors closed with a bang.

Draven stands confidently to my right with his hands locked behind his back.

"Attenzione!" The men immediately stopped talking.

"This woman right here," He claims motioning towards me, "is a personal guest of mine. You will treat her with the same respect you give me and if I find you bothering or upsetting her in any way you and any bystanders will be sent to the pit indefinitely, inteso?"

The men all nod along but the three men from the kitchen look like they've seen a ghost.

"Ahhh, I see some of you seem a little worried," Draven drawls with a smirk. His smirk looks different from the ones he gives me when we're playing. He looks more like the mean man from the kitchen.

"Mateo, Dante, Emilio porta qui i tuoi culi," he snarls, his tone going from calm to livid in a split second. The three men stand and approach the raised platform we're on.

"Don I-"

"Sta 'zitto, Get on your knees and beg for her forgiveness."

My head whips to look at Draven but his gaze hasn't left them, I don't want them to beg. The two other men drop to their knees but the mean man reluctantly stays standing.

"Inginocchiarsi!"

He glares at me but slowly drops to his knees. They go one by one apologizing and asking for my forgiveness. I try to give them my kindest smile, knowing that they must be mortified to be kneeling like this in front of the family.

"These men, your fratelli," Draven snarls the last word like it's an insult, "harrassed my guest this morning, intentionally making her scared and uncomfortable in her new home."

"Don I didn't know-"

Draven storms off the platform and grabs the mean man by his shirt, dragging the stumbling man up in front of the crowd.

"You didn't need to know! Non ho mai permesso alle puttane di entrare in questa casa. Lei non e qui per il tuo divertimento. Se desideri bagnarti il cazzo, vai in una fottuta casa di puttana!" He turns to the crowd still gripping the mans collar, "The women in this family keep us running and if I find a single one of you think this type of behavior is acceptable I'll take you to the pit myself for some fun, INTESO?!"

A single 'Yes Don' is given in response from the crowd. They watch as Draven throws the man down to the floor at my feet. I flinch but try to keep it from being too noticeable. I had seen Papa punish men before. I was peeking through a crack in the doors, eavesdropping on the family meetings like always when someone spoke out of turn and Papa had to set an example. I was shakey and hyperventilating for an hour after the meeting but I knew he would not do it if it weren't necessary, I have that same faith in Draven.

"Bacia il pavimento su cui cammina e supplica," Draven snarled standing over him.

The mean man stares at me from his spot on the floor and I'm begging that he does as he's told. Any more resistance and Draven will lose it.

He glares at me with evil eyes but leans to the floor and presses his lips against the ground.

"Ti prego, perdonami."

I smile in relief, "Sei perdonato, grazie amico mio."

The man scoffs as he straightens and suddenly he's being dragged again.

"Take him to the pit," Draven says tossing him into the hands of two other men.

"You two," He says pointing at the two men still on their knees, " Disposal duty for two weeks and you'll be making and serving the maids every fucking meal for the next month. Learn some fucking respect. Ora tutti voi vattene."

I watch as the men exit the large room in a single file, their bodies held at attention like the soldiers they were trained to be. Draven lightly grips my bicep and leads me through the entrance we came in from.

The second the door closes behind us his large hands are cupping my face, forcing eye contact.

"Are you okay? I didn't mean to scare you in there but I had to make sure they knew not to mess with you again."

I smile and lean my face into his warm hand, "I trust you, I know you would not hurt someone if you didn't have to."

He presses a firm kiss to my forehead, making me exhale in content.

"And I would never hurt you," he whispers against my skin.

I nuzzle my nose under his chin playfully, "I know that silly."

He chuckles and in one swift movement, I'm tossed over his shoulder with his thick arm wrapped around the bottom of my thighs. I squeal with laughter gripping the back of his suit coat to steady myself.

"Draven!" I shout through the laughter.

"Yes, my little one?" He says as if we were having a totally normal conversation and he hadn't just thrown me over his shoulder.

I laugh harder as I bounce up and down while he walks, "Draven where are we going?!"

"Well I don't know about you but I'm going for a walk on the terrace."

I can hear the playfulness in his voice and giggle along, he has me over his shoulder of course I'm going to the terrace with him.

I giggle quietly letting my head sway exaggeratedly from side to side each time he steps. My stomach growls making me laugh even harder.

"Hmm, maybe we should get that little monster fed before it eats you up hm?" He says patting the back of my thighs.

"Mmm food!" I sigh happily. I gasp loudly, shoving my hands into his back to lift my body up, "THE BACON!"

I feel him exhale heavily, "Merda, mi hai spaventato."

"You should be scared your kitchen is probably on fire by now!" I say wiggling to get down so I can go turn off the oven.

He slaps my thigh harshly sending a sharp sting up my legs, "Stop wiggling like that I don't want to drop you."

"I have to go turn it off!" I say shoving away from his body harder. My body starts to tilt off to the side but his firm hand rushes to balance me again.

"Idalia!" He growls making me stop. He swings me off his shoulder so he is holding me behind my back and knees. "If I say stop moving, stop moving chiaro?"

"Si, signore," I whisper breathlessly, staring up at him. His light playful expression from earlier is gone making me nibble at my lip.

"The oven is off, I had a maid deal with the kitchen. I do not appreciate being doubted Little One."

"I wasn't doubting you Draven," I say twisting my fingers together.

"You were, when you thought I would risk a fire by leaving the stove and oven on. I will take care of everything Little One, you don't have to worry about anything, si?"

I glare at my fingers as if they were the ones that did wrong, "I did not mean to doubt you..."

Draven smiles softly at me, "I know Little One, just try to remember that I will take care of these things from now on."

I nod, untwisting my fingers now that I know he isn't upset with me.

"Good girl," he says kissing my forehead. "Now, how about breakfast on the terrace before I get back to work, hm?"

"Can I still make you breakfast tomorrow?" I ask hoping he won't say no.

He chuckles and presses another quick kiss to my head, "Sure my beautiful girl."

I give him a big smile and drop my head against his shoulder, "breakfast on the terrace sounds good then."

~~~