Break All Ties

I stared at the mirror in distaste. With Assante's money, Turtle bought me a dress made perfectly for a mafia woman. The problem? It wasn't very me.

It was tight everywhere and short. There were no sleeves. There were spaghetti straps. There was pretty much no back.

That was about it.

Oh, and an unsettlingly low front.

I caught Assante staring at that dip with equal distaste, but he wouldn't comment on it after our argument. After I'd told him he'd eventually get bored of me.

After we'd learnt that sex doesn't solve anything.

In the mirror, I spotted him finishing up his bowtie on a pricey tuxedo. I wouldn't compliment him aloud, but he looked ravishing in it.

He didn't say a word to me until he caught sight of me trying to slip the dog chain off. In the mirror, he levelled me with a dark look and fixed it again at the back of my neck. His hand crept around the front of my throat, his fingers barely touching it.

Another warning.

He pulled my hair when he was done, not hard, not gentle.

The warning hung low in the air. I was to keep the dog tag on, whether I liked it or not.

Yet another choice that I didn't have.

He held his arm out to me and said nothing. I made sure he caught my glare when I tucked my hand into the crook of his arm. I went the extra length to squeeze, hoping it'd hurt him.

We walked down the corridor outside of our room in perpetual silence. I didn't know what he was thinking about, but I for one hadn't come down from the anger yet.

How could he think it was fair to lecture me for lying about something minor when he was manipulating me the same way he had done three years ago? Had the two of us really learnt nothing?

We were a toxic pairing then and we were still a toxic pairing now.

I couldn't suggest this to him. Not if I planned to avoid more of his anger.

"Behave yourself tonight Charlie," He said, voice void of emotion.

I said nothing, irritated.

Did he think I was some sort of dog? It might've worked when I was eighteen, but it wouldn't work now.

"I mean it. Luca Columbo will be an important ally. Don't embarrass us with your 'witty' comments."

I snatched my arm away, turning away indifferently. He sighed and dropped a hand around my waist.

He had to keep up the appearances.

It didn't take us long to reach the casino, where we- mostly him- was led into a backroom, where the layout only got more luxurious. We were then led over to a poker table. There were plenty of men stood around it looking all serious with their sunshades in a dark lit room and their fancy suits.

Sat down were two people with faces I vaguely recognised. There was Luca Columbo, with his slicked back blonde hair. Beside him was a woman with black hair who looked like she'd rather be anywhere but here.

I remembered her looking down on me during my initiation. Now, she looked at me blankly, like she was too sick of all this to manage anything else.

Me and her both.

Begrudgingly, I sunk down into the chair at the table beside my oh so loving husband.

"Luca," Assante greeted with a nod.