Don't You See

There was no getting into her school though. At least not through the front door and I haven’t quite resorted to breaking and entry, not that I am opposed to it. It would be the least of the litany of crimes I’ve committed just this week. While the nuns kept me out, the janitor told me that the girls can go on furlough to cafes and shopping on the weekends. Waiting around for the week, I finally follow her as she leaves school with a group of friends to a cafe a few streets over from the school. Then to a little boutique down the street. Like a fucking stalker, I wait until she’s alone and walk right up to her and grab your arm.

“Qui êtes-vous?” she asks, clearly startled.

“Sorry, babe. I don’t speak French,” I reply, thinking that it’s hot as hell that speaks the language with such ease. No hesitation, just sass.

“You’re American. A New Yorker?” she asks, picking up on my accent. It’s thick and easily recognizable.

“I am Fabrizio Vitali and you are Fawn Manero.” Her eyes widen when she hears my name. “Yes, that Fabrizio Vitali. You’ve heard of me, I presume.” For some reason, this pleases me.

“I have,” she says, jerking her arm out of my grasp.

“And you don’t like what you’ve heard?” I question.

“You kill people,” she whispers, looking around. I made damn sure we were alone before I grabbed her.

“So does your daddy, Fawn.” She frowns.

“What’s your point?” she asks, her eyes full of fire.

“It’s six dozen of one, half of another,” I say. She bursts out in laughter.

“That’s not the expression,” she finally says, reigning in her joy. Fuck, I’d give anything to hear her laugh again. It was loud and raucous. You can tell it came from her toes.

“Isn’t it?” I ask, raising an eyebrow, suppressing a smirk.

“It’s a little bit right,” she says.

“What’s the expression?”

“I believe that it’s six of one and half a dozen of the other,” she says, sassily. “What do you want? Why are you here?

“Just wanted to let you know that you’re marrying me. Soon.”

“That can’t be true. How can I marry you? I don’t know you. I didn’t know this was happening.”

“I figured as much, Fawn, but you will, once you talk to your father. I couldn’t let go into this blindly though.”

“That sounds like something he would do. Secrets get you killed,” she mumbles.

“Secrets get you killed?” I repeat in confusion.

“Yes. It’s kind of like a family motto.”

“I see. What kinds of secrets do you have, Fawn?”

“The kind you’ll never know about, Mr. Vitali. I’ll marry you over my dead body.”

“That won’t be necessary. I assure you.”

“You seem awfully sure of yourself,” she says sassily.

“I always am when I am about to win.”

“You think I am some prize for you to win?”

“Yes.”

“What if I don’t want to be won?”

“I think you do, cara mia. I think you do,” I reply, matter of factly. She shivers as I loosen my grip on her arm and run my fingers down the back of her arm. Her skin prickles with goosebumps and I know I have her.

“How can you be so sure of yourself?” she whispers.

“You were already given to me,” I reply, shrugging.

“Fuck you, Fabrizio Vitali.”

“Famous last words, Fawn.”

“You came all this way to tell me that? That you are going to own me? Seems kind of silly when it’s not even a foregone conclusion yet.”

“I can tell by your reaction that you want me, Fawn. Resisting does nothing but make you blush,” I say leaning down to her level. She’s barely 5’2 to my 6’4. My lips touch her ear, the only touch I’ll allow myself until God joins us. She smells like sin incarnate and my downfall, as well as Chanel No. 5. That scent will forever be associated with her.

“You can’t tell shit by my reaction,” she says. Sassy till the very end.

“Don’t you see, Fawn?”

“See what?” she breathes.

“Don’t you see that you’re mine?”

“Yours,” she says, finally agreeing with me.

“I’ll be seeing you in one month, cara mia. One month and then you are mine forever. Nod if you understand me.”

She does, sealing her fate.

“Fabrizio?”

“Yes?”

“I gotta go back to school.”

“Are you going to be a good girl while we are a part?”

“That depends. Are you going to be a good boy?”

“I’m a man, baby girl, but I’ll be the best man you’ve ever known,” I reply.

“Promise?” she asks, biting her lip.

“Guaranteed.”

“See you soon,” she says before kissing my cheek.

I watch her walk away, knowing full well that I’d lay down my life for hers in an instant. I can never tell my father he was right. I’d never live it down. Now, how the hell am I supposed to go home and wait for her?

Chapter Two

Fawn Manero

As soon as I turn my back to him, I take a deep breath. It should have been calming, but all it did was ramp my heartbeat up even more. I should be upset that my father sold me into marriage for all intents and purposes but I’m not. I was all talk. I know all about Fabrizio Vitali. I know everything that man is capable of. Though I had never met or even seen him before I knew of him. Hell, all of New York City and beyond probably does. I am still trying to catch my breath. He is, of course, completely gorgeous and I think I’ll love being his wife. As I walk away from him and back to my bitchy friends, I realize that I don’t want to. I stop and turn on my heel, walking back to him.