I slipped into the smooth purple fabric of my dress. Skin-tight silk, hugging my body and leaving my back bare, allowing everyone to see the tattoo between my shoulder blades. I’d considered hiding it under a layer of cloth, but it wouldn’t make people talk less. Everyone who’d come to see my fall would see me rising from the goddamn ashes. I was my father’s daughter.
I brushed my fingers across the selection of earrings Dad, Matteo and Mom had bought for me over the last few weeks. My ear had completely healed by now and wearing jewelry wasn’t uncomfortable anymore. I chose an eye-catching white gold piece that ended in a diamond-studded teardrop and snaked all the way up my ear. I put on a matching necklace and wore my hair up so the earring as well as the tattoo would be prominently displayed.
A soft knock sounded and Mom poked her head in. She too was already dressed for the party, looking angelic in a pearlescent dress with her blonde hair framing her face. The contrast between us couldn’t have been bigger than in this moment. Me with the tattoo and dark eyes, purple lipstick, and nail polish.
“Femme fatale,” said Mom with a look of awe.
“You really like it?” I asked, turning around so Mom could see the back and my tattoo. Of course, she’d seen it before but I’d never displayed it for the public eye.
“A crown for New York’s princess,” Mom said and came in to touch my cheek. “You are you, Marcella. You aren’t me and you definitely aren’t what people want you to be. Be you, unapologetically, all right? Your father and I have your back.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I said quietly, trying not to get emotional and ruin my makeup.
“Oh, and a bike just pulled up. I assume it’s your Maddox.”
My Maddox. Mom still hadn’t met him yet. Dad had refused to let him near her or Valerio. “I asked him to accompany me as my bodyguard.”
“Your dad mentioned it.”
“But he doesn’t approve.”
Mom gave me a knowing smile. “You know your father. I’d like to meet him.”
My eyes widened. “You mean now?”
“Yes, why not? Or don’t you want me to meet your boyfriend, that’s what he is?”
“Yes, he is. Not officially, but I want him to be…”
“I’ll ask him in so he and I can get to know each other.”
“You sure Dad will approve?” I asked, smiling ironically.
“I know how to handle your father,” Mom said before she slipped out of my room.
As if I hadn’t been nervous enough about my first social appearance, now Maddox would meet my mother for the first time. I wanted Mom to like Maddox, and Maddox to like her. I wanted my family to accept Maddox one day and for us all to gather around the dining table and celebrate family festivities together like one happy family.
I took a deep breath, gathering my courage for what lay ahead.
I pulled up in front of the Vitiello mansion, ready to wait until Marcella emerged with her bodyguards. I’d gotten many curious looks as I’d rode my bike through New York in a business suit, tie, and cufflinks and all. I had never worn a business suit in my life, but for Marcella, I’d walked into one of those fancy Italian designer stores and bought a slim-fit tailored two-piece, according to the vendor. For Marcella, I would have worn a fucking clown costume if it would have made her happy.
That she took me to this party meant a lot to me.
The door opened but instead of Marcella with her entourage, Luca stood in the doorway. At once worry overcame me. Had something happened to Marcella? Wouldn’t she attend the party? Or maybe she’d decided not to take a simple biker with her after all. Even if I only paraded as her bodyguard, people would think what they wanted and probably come closer to the truth than Marcella wanted.
Luca surprised me again when he motioned me in. I got off my bike and hurried toward him. “What’s wrong?” I asked as I entered the mansion.
Luca’s expression was so tense it only increased my concern.
Then my eyes landed on Aria Vitiello, in all her blonde glory, smiling at me. No wonder that Marcella was too beautiful for words. “Now I know where Marcella got her beauty.”
Luca’s eyes sharpened in warning. “My wife wants to meet you.”
I could hear that he definitely didn’t approve of the meeting.
Aria strode toward me, her long dress letting it look as if she was gliding over the floor without actually touching it. She extended a hand, and I didn’t miss how Luca took a step closer to us. What the hell did he think? That I’d attack Marcella’s mother right in his mansion? There were more pleasant ways to commit suicide.
“It’s nice to meet you, Maddox. Marcella told me a lot about you.”
I shook her slender hand and gave her my best son-in-law smile. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Vitiello.”
Her eyes seemed to see all the way into my soul. She wanted to see for herself who I was and if I deserved her daughter. And fuck it made me more nervous than Luca’s murderous glare ever had. I never cared for Luca’s approval. But I wanted Marcella’s mother to like me.
“Are you nervous about tonight?” Aria asked pleasantly. She was definitely warmer than Luca—which really didn’t say much—but she, too, was still wary of me.
“Not really, ma’am,” I said. “Everyone’s focus will be on Marcella, and mine too. All that matters for me is to make tonight a success for Marcella.”
“Everyone will be looking at you and her. It won’t go unnoticed that Marcella chose a former Tartarus biker as her company.”
Former Tartarus biker. It still sounded strange to my ears. Part of me was still a Tartarus biker and would always be.
I shook my head. “I’m not her company. She asked me to join her as a bodyguard.”
Aria gave me a look that suggested I couldn’t really believe that. “Luca’s bodyguards would have sufficed. She wants you by her side.”
“That may be, but as long as she isn’t comfortable to call me her company, I’m her bodyguard. Marcella makes the rules and I’ll follow her, if necessary, to the gates of Hades.”
Aria’s smile became warmer and she squeezed my forearm.
“Where is he?” a boy called, thundering down the steps like an avalanche.
“Valerio,” Luca growled.
But the boy didn’t seem to hear him as he stumbled to a halt beside his mother. He was tall and lanky, with blonde slightly curly hair and big gray eyes. “You are the biker who kidnapped Marci.”
“That’s a rude greeting,” Aria scolded him.
“But he’s right. I should own up to my sins,” I said. “And you are Marcella’s youngest brother.”
“When can I ride your bike?”
“Whenever you want,” I said but amended when Aria’s scolding glare hit me. “After you get your mother’s permission of course.”
Heavy steps sounded and Amo appeared up on the landing in a dark three-piece suit. He groaned when he spotted me before he sauntered down the staircase. “Now I have to see him in my own home too?”
“As long as I live, it’s my house,” Luca said.
“If you keep inviting enemies, that’s not going to be long.”
“Amo!” Aria shouted.
Valerio’s wide eyes slanted to his father whose face was stone. “Let that be my concern,” he said.
“What is your concern?” Marcella asked.