The Don's Unexpected Princess.

Joined by a door.

It was still pretty bright outside by the time we had landed in Italy on a private landing strip . The sky still held it's blue colouring but , seeing as it was the latter part of the afternoon , the air had gotten a tad bit chilly . I felt dirty and grimy and in desperate need of a shower .

I stayed as far away from Marco as possible. He walked at the front , as a leader , their boss , while I was just a few steps behind him . His side kicks , Alesso and the two similar looking men , were right behind me . It felt purposeful to me . Like they were told to be prepared for anything from me . It would explain why the fuller lower lip man hastened his pace so he could block my right side or why Alesso eyed be every ten seconds .

I really couldn' t care right now . I was out of tricks and had no option but to go with it . Italy was not my place of speciality . I wouldn' t know what to do or where to go even if I was successful in an escape . Unlike Esmond , where I actually knew my way decently enough to hide , I didn' t have that knowledge here . It would be easier to just go along with it .

We had finally reached the SUV' s parked at the end of the landing strip . Immediately , Marco moved to the first one where a chauffeur held his door open for him . Alesso followed him and got into the back but I didn't move . There were two vehicles going to the same place . If he was going in that one then I will take the other with the almost looking twins .

Marco , who still hadn' t got into the SUV yet , threw me a questioning look by raising his brow . My eyes darted to the other car and back to Marco who unnervingly scoffed .

" You are free to take whichever one you want , princess . " He said , giving me his permission which only infuriated me more . I didn' t want to go there now that he was okay with it . I didn' t want his permission . I didn't need it his permission , dammit !

I was tired and annoyed and dirty . So , to hell with his permission . I got into the SUV that he was not going to be in . Whatever it was , I was better of away from him . Soon after , the twins got in in the front with the one that had the fuller lower lip in the drivers side .

Once the engine roared to life and the car began to move smoothly , I rested my head against the window . I didn' t know what awaited me today or the coming days for that matter . I just needed to take it one torturous day at a time .

I looked out at the lights glittering in the distance . It only told me one thing , that we were staying far away from the city and the hussle and bustle of the people . Secluded . It would make sense though . Murders , shootings , violence and whatever gruesome activities occured within a Mafia , would not be tolerated by the simple folk . Sure , no one could mess with the mafia but it was better for the mafia to keep their business as far away from innocent people as possible .

The car , following the curve of the road , removed my view of the city and was now replaced with tall , hedge bushes . It was all neatly cut and well maintained and I guess it was leading us to out destination because the cars slowed down . Of course there were heavy metal gates at the entrance of a Mafia' s estate . It didn' t take long for the gate to full open by itself and the car move through and back onto a long, tarred roadway .

The place was crawling with armed security . None of them of small body build . I had no intention of escaping whatsoever but even if I did , I wouldn' t even think of executing it because there was simply no way to get out of here undetected .

The car circled a huge white stone fountain before coming to a complete halt in front of a massive mansion . I couldn' t see to the top from my window but what I could see is that this mansion was antique . Passed down from generation to generation of Don' s and Mafia leaders . It was still quite tasteful in its design and, by no means , did it appear to be outdated .

I undid my seat belt to to get out and as I slid against the leather seats , the flimsy chiffon of my balloon pants ripped from my left cheek down to the back of my thigh. I instantly felt the air brush against my skin and swore under my breath .

The two men at the front clearly heard it too because one of them turned back to me . " That can' t be good . " The fuller lip man said to me in half amusement and half pity .

" Leave her alone , Dino . " The one in the passenger seat admonished his friend lightly .

Dino laughed but didn't turn back around . " Listen , Princess , word of advice . Don' t get on the boss's nerves. He does not take likely to being challenged or defied . Tell her , Vanni . " Dino nudged his friend after his sincere warning for reinforcement .

" I rarely like to agree with this i***t but he's right, princess . Just keep your head down . We mean you no harm . If you corporate , you' ll be returned to Esmond safely but get on Capo's nerves, and you may just find yourself in difficult conditions. " Vanni added gently . I looked through the front of the car and saw Marco get out of the SUV .

He threw Dino a curious look because we didn' t seem to be making a move to exit the car . Not willing to anger their boss , Dino and Vanni got out of the front and Vanni held my door open for me while he helped me down since one of my hands were clutching at the ripped material to cover my derriere .

Once the car door was shut and I was on full view of Marco , he obviously noticed my hand trying to keep my clothing together and started to stroll over . He couldn' t just leave me be especially right now when I needed to be left alone ! I didn' t want his mocking or suggestive commentary .

He spoke in Italian to Vanni and Dino who motioned to me now and again so I assumed they were narrating the issue to him . The three of them went silent for a moment until Marco handed his blazer to Dino before saying something else in Italian then walked away .

Once he had left , the two men seemed to exhale and then Dino handed me the blazer . " Here , for you . Courtesy of the boss . " He said but I still didn' t take it . Not because I was being petty but because I didn' t want to let got of the fabric .

" Can you place it around my shoulders for me please , Dino . " He nodded and instantly held the coat open and draped it securely over my shoulders .

The coat was huge for me and , for that , I was glad because it reached the back of my thigh and covered up my ass . With that taken care of , the men lead the way up the mansion stairs and into the big entrance doorway .

Marco was standing in the foryer at the base of the staircase . I waited for either Vanni or Dino to lead me to my room but the of them merely walked passed me and disappeared into a hallway under the staircase .

I looked at Marco who was already looking at my tattered state or disorder . " I would like to be shown to my room . " He scoffed at my tone and crossed his arms .

" If anyone else said that to me , I would have a bullet placed right between their eyes . " He said seriously but still remained calm at the same time . His comment took me by surprise and I was in a state of uneasiness . " But sure , you' re new here . " He said tiredly and just lead the way one stair at a time .

I followed behind him , holding his blazer close to me so it didn' t fall but with each movement , I caught the scent of his cologne on it . It had a hint of spice to it mixed with a heady male scent . It was nice , really . No reason to deny that .

We finally reached the last stair but I didn' t see that and bumped into his back causing me to lose my balance slightly but righted myself quickly and caught Marco shaking his head but more to himself than to me. Ignoring his judgmental as always behaviour , I followed him down a brightly lit hallway and he stopped at the first door on our left . He pushed open the door to reveal a decent looking room .

It had a bed , a vanity table , a wardrobe and a door to the left which I assumed was a bathroom but then there was also a door at the right side of the wall where the bed rested against . I frowned at that and Marco must have noticed because he walked over to it and pushed it open too .

" This - " he said . " Is my room . It is joined to yours , Princess . Any suspicious movement or noise and I will be right here . It would be better for you corporate but honestly speaking , even if you do not , there' s no way you' re escaping from here unseen . " He said in warning .

This really did annoy me but through his eyes , I was the captive and he , my captor . Of course , he felt entitled to do such a thing . Had I not been exhausted and my bones not begging for some rest , I would have infuriated the man .

He then pointed to the bed where I saw a set of clean clothing . " There is nightwear as well as day clothes . We will be going shopping tomorrow at eight a . m . See to it that you are awake and ready . If you are hungry , Greta , our housekeeper , will have something prepared downstairs . Just go through the doors you saw Vanni got through and you' ll get to the kitchen . " I merely nodded because as good as hot food sounded right now , I just wanted to be clean and get some good sleep .

Thankfully , Marco disappeared into his room and closed the interleading door behind him . I got down to it by pushing through the bathroom door , stripping my clothes and taking a nice , hot bath . There was an array of new soaps and shampoos and thick towels but it felt so good to have hot water wash away at my skin .

I was out of there after a few minutes since the exhaustion seemed to be hitting me harder by the minute . The pajama set were similar to the ones I had at Esmond . Soft silk material with a button front shirt and elasticated three quarter pants . It fitted me perfectly and soon enough , I peeled back the covers and eagerly got into it . It was clean and comfortable and my eyes grew heavier . I did not even have a moment to over think anything because my eyes closed against my will .