Signed To The Mafia King - Chapter 77: Chapter 77

ALINA
In a moment, I was standing beside Luca, holding the bouquet he had gotten for me, feeling the hurt on my wrist.
The next moment, I was in the car, beside his secretary, heading to a place I didn't know.
“Aren’t you with the dress? Why can't I just wear it?” I asked her for the third time.
She smiled patiently. “I'm sorry, Mrs. Marino, but I am working under instructions from the Talciro family. The dress they have for you is at their boutique, and needs fitting.”
I nodded. Elena probably didn't know anymore than I did about anything.
I knew about the Talciro family. In fact, everyone in Chicago did. But choosing me specifically for a custom dress that needed me to come for a fitting was strange.
No wonder Luca had gotten so angry when I refused his command to go with him to the gala.
Immediately we reached the Talciro boutique, we were led up and soon, we stepped into the most extravagant boutique I had ever seen.
Elena gasped dramatically, her eyes shining like diamonds. She looked nothing like the prim woman who had shown up earlier. “I think I've died and gone to heaven.”
Indeed.
The room was large with high ceilings and filled with shiny mirrors and clothes that belonged in museums.
They all glittered under the soft lights with gems and expensive stones. If my dress was anything like this, then the fitting made sense.
A side door opened and a woman stepped out. She looked as beautiful as a mermaid with long blonde hair, a tiny waist and curvaceous hips.
She smiled and stepped closer to kiss my cheeks gently. “Alina Marino? Welcome to Talciro House. I am Analide Talciro.”
I kissed her cheeks and she took me around the room, showing me the many pieces.
By the time we were done, we were smiling and laughing together.
She clapped her hands finally and asked that my dress be brought in. “I'm sure you'll love this piece. Immediately I saw your picture, I knew this was for you.”
I stuttered, feeling my forehead wrinkle in confusion. Where did she see my picture? “My picture?”
She appeared stunned for a moment, then waved her hands, smiling sweetly. “Oh that was a mistake. But come, the dress is ready.”
She led me into a dressing room which was patterned in black and gold. It had a large mirror in the middle and couches set round it.
Analide wheeled the dress out and Elena and I gasped at the same moment. It was stunning, glittering from the Swarovski diamonds on it.
“That's too expensive to wear.” Elena whispered to Analide who laughed gently.
“That's why we have a fitting beforehand. It doesn't leave the room until it's on Alina.” Analide said.
I had never seen a more gorgeous dress. I touched it gently almost as though I was scared to ruin it.
“I don't think I can wear this. I'd be scared to eat. What if I spill something on it?”
Analide stepped beside me. “It is gorgeous isn't it? And you don't have to worry. I'll be beside you all night long. These events can be so boring, it'll be nice to have someone to talk to.”
I wore the dress and it fitted my lithe frame like a glove. I twirled in front of the mirror, liking the way it flowed along my body.
I imagined the hungry look Luca would have on his face when he saw me in the dress.
“I love it.” I told Analide finally as I stepped out of it and we walked together to the door.
I took her number as she walked us to the car and I was almost floating on clouds the rest of the journey home.
Not only did I have a potential new friend, but I also had the honour of wearing a dress that looked so unreal, in its beauty.
I called my sister, Valentina on my way home when I remembered that she was still sick.
She told me she was feeling better, but that the doctor recommended that she stay in bed for two more days.
I resisted the urge to ask if she was really pregnant. I had never been jealous of my sister, but I could admit my heart was clenching in jealousy.
By the time I got home, Luca wasn't in our room. I picked up the bouquet of flowers and sniffed them again.
My wrist didn't hurt much anymore and I decided I would give him a few more months to see if he changed his mind about children.
If he didn't, then I would need to think of getting a divorce.
The next day was the Talciro ball.
That morning, I went to work early. The ball was by evening, so I had a few hours to kill.
Ethan was already waiting at my office by the time I arrived.
He handed me a flash, smirking as he ran his eyes over the dress I had picked.
It was a blue one that made my eyes pop. Had I picked it deliberately because I knew I would be seeing him?
“You look stunning,” he said.
My body felt warmer being under his gaze but I avoided his eyes. “Thank you. You don't look too bad yourself, Ethan.”
He followed me into my office and closed the door. I sat behind my desk and plugged the flash into my computer.
“Where's Mikhail?” I asked as I waited for the computer to finish loading.
“He'll be here in a few minutes. There was a disturbance at the gate, just before you arrived. He went to check on it.”
Ethan had barely finished speaking when the door opened. Mikhail walked inside the room, holding a small box tied with a bow.
The box looked familiar. Mikhail handed it to me. “Good morning, Boss. This arrived for you just a few minutes ago.”
I took it from him and opened it, curious about it. Something was niggling at the back of my mind but I couldn't remember.
I had a feeling I had opened something like that before. My stomach rolled nervously, and a line of sweat popped up on my forehead, my heart slamming against my ribcage.
I heard a beeping sound immediately when I opened the box. Chills ran up and down my arms as the contents of the box came into view.
A mesh of wires was connected to a beeping timer. Beside the timer was a single bullet, and beside that was a note.
Ethan scrambled off his chair and picked up the box, shouting something I couldn't hear.
My head was ringing as I read the note. The words were simple but written with blood.
“Your death is closer than you think BITCH!”