Soft Spot

The young woman holds her hand out for a shake as she says "Hiii, I'm Gabriella or Ella or Gabi! The baby of the family. " she snorts in excitement. I shake her hand with a smile as I introduce myself, she pulls me in for a hug! I don't know what's with this family and hugging but it's been comforting, physical touch has never really been a thing of mine, but for some odd reason with the Camorra's... it just feels right, feels like genuine love.

I ask Gabriella if she will be joining us and she nods and says "I knew when mama said Nico has a girlfriend I just had to meet her, and what better way than to stuff our faces and shop!" I literally laugh so loud Dom and his mom look at me, Dom actually has a warm look upon his face.

And before I know it Gabriella has ahold of my hand and is dragging me into the kitchen. I don't resist as I'm not used to such a bubbly aura, I absolutely love her already. She heads to the fridge and pulls out a hidden small container, she walks back to me as she says "Nico thinks I don't know his stash is!" As she rolls her eyes and hands me a small homemade chocolate turtle.

We both take a bite as she giggles, better than store-bought. "Sofia literally makes the best food, there's nothing that woman can't whip up and make better than the original!" She puts the dish back in its hidden spot as we make our way back out to the corridor. Gabriella continues "I steal one everytime I'm here, They're Nico's favorite but I don't get them much anymore!" She huffs.

I smile and say "They are quite delish! Although I'll have to request the chocolate hazelnut truffles, if she makes them better than the company... Ugh I'd fall in love!" Gabriella laughs at my response. We go into the living room as we're welcomed by the family, Domenico grabs my hand and pulls me onto his lap.

He whispers "Did Gabi show you my hidden chocolate stash?" Into my ear. I laugh and and respond "Yup! You'll find two missing pieces" He laughs as he tells me his real hidden stash isn't in the main fridge, he just keeps up the charade to please his sister. I get a warm feeling, Domenico might be a cold blooded killer, but the man is anything but cold, the way he treats me... his family.

His father finally makes it in with Enzo as Gabriella gets up to give them hugs, Camilla stands and we all make our way to the door. "Here's everything you'll need little dove, I'm only a call away if you need me!" Dom says as he places a soft kiss onto my lips. "Mmm, stolen chocolate!" I hear him say teasingly.

I laugh as I respond with "Bad habits are a learned behavior!" As I wink and turn on my heel, not before I feel a rough squeeze to my behind. Before I'm out of the door I hear Dom bring his hands together and say "Alright let's get down to business!" Right as the door shuts behind you. The nerves are setting in, you're going out with his closest family, how will this go.

Vinny opens the door and waits as the three of us get seated before shutting the door and hoping in the driver's seat. Camilla and Gabriella make small talk about random topics, as I get inside my head. The last ten years my life might have looked kinda glamorous but behind closed doors it was mess. Ryan took me out twice a month to keep up appearances but other than that my only freedom was to do shopping for the home and to keep myself up.

The gym, grocery store became a dull habit. When Gran died, I had Noone. He cut me off from EVERYONE, the two people it should've mattered to... those two only cared about drinking and money, which Ryan took advantage of. I'm brought back to reality when I hear my name "Coraline, dear, are you alright?" I hear vaguely from Camilla's lips.

I look up and nod, putting on a fake smile, when deep down all I feel is bitterness. Angry that I let a piece of trash water me down so much that I have no identity outside of ... Submissiveness. I always enjoyed art, drawing and fashion, something I did have a knack for but of course Ryan thought it'd take away from the home needs, his needs. So I do dabble but never pursued it due to lack of.. well everything.

I ask where we're heading and get a vague response, "it's a nice little spot, Called Delia's.!" Gabriella laughs as she continues "I Always get the Caesar salad and bacon burger with friiiies! Soo good" I smile as I tell her that's what I'll try. "Mama fancies the house pasta dish" she gives a thumb down, Gabriella spills.

We're finally here, it's a small, homely style joint, lots of weird fancy stuff all over. We're greeted and seated in the back where it's a bit more less popular. The waitress seems to know what to put down for them, but turns to me with a questioning look. Before I can say anything Gabriella spits out "She's having what I get, make sure the fries are " She's cut off by the waitress "Extra crispy, as always Gabi!" As they giggle together.

I'm a bit put off when Camilla looks at me and says "I don't know how you did it honey.. But Dom seems to be smitten by you!" I give a curious smile as I couldn't just tell her that me and her son have a deal: he gets me and I get revenge!

Instead I just respond "Y'know, I'm not quite sure" with a light laugh. "I know why!" Gabriella chimes in, "Just look at her mama, and she loves food, just like me!" She continues. I laugh as just then our water and red wine show up, except for Gabi. "You'll get yours next month!" The waitress says to Gabi as she gets an ice tea instead.

Gabi rolls her eyes and hands the tea and takes a drink. The waitress says it's gunna be about fifteen minutes and turns on her heels and walks away.

"So Miss. Delacroix, I don't mean to pry... But.. I'm getting to the age to where I'd like to see my children get married, start a family, give me grandchildren to enjoy..." Camilla spills.

I take a gulp of the high end wine before I respond "Oh umm, Well, I've always wanted a family... kids, but.. my situation has always been... A bit chaotic I guess you could say!" The booth of them look at me like they expect me to give more. "You know Coraline, My son usually keeps his business at his little... Club, But he actually brought you into his home, something he's never done before.. Which is quite strange, We're you working for him?"

I internally laugh at the thought of that, I respond with "No. He uh... We met through a mutal, it was definitely something else!"

"Well either way dear, We're happy to have you tesoro!" Camilla says, I get a little jump in my stomach at the word, hoping it's a positive thing. Our food is brought out shortly after, we dig in, me and Gabi seem to enjoy being a bit more less elegant than Camilla. We eventually get our plates taken and we head to the exit.

Gabi and I are arm in arm while Camilla is close behind, she makes a hard left into a massive store that has two levels. "Come on Cora!" She says as she drags me in quickly. As we make our way to the area that has the younger generations clothing. Crop tops, cute mini dresses ect instead of the dress suits and gowns where Camilla headed to.

We spend the next hour or so grabbing and trying on different outfits. Gabi brings me this beautiful tight red bodycon cami dress that has gold colored flakes that accents it in specific areas. "Coraaa, You NEED this, Nico would kill to see you in this, it'll compliment your figure so nicely!" I hear Gabi say, I get butterflies at the thought, hearing his name and kill in the same sentence brings me a chill.

I grab the dress and put it in the basket, we find matching tie up heels and I head to the cash register but not before grabbing a sexy, laced lingerie set i see along the way and shoving it under the dress. I pull out the card Dom gave me, I hand it over and I'm taken care of. Gabi and Camilla follow suit getting checked out and we're on our way. I check my phone to see a new message from an unknown number.

'I'm watching you' is all it says.

I panic internally as to avoid being questioned by Gabi and Camilla. There's only one person who would send that, but why a new number? We arrive back at Domenico's place, Vinny let's us out and escorts up into the house where the men are drinking and puffing on cigars.

Mr. Camorra stands up and steadies himself before welcoming his wife and daughter asking how everything went. Gabi of course says she had a blast, as she turns to her brother and says "I really like her Nico, you better be nice!"

Dom laughs as he grabs my hand to pull me to his side before saying "Miss. Delacroix belongs to me now, God himself couldn't take her from me without a fight!" He scoffs.

Gabriella laughs as she rolls her eyes at him. It takes everyone about twenty minutes to say their farewells and leave. The whole time I'm quiet as I'm still frightened by the message I received. After the front door shuts for the final time Dom turns to me and says "Amorè, what's wrong?" How the hell can be know something is wrong? I've been trying to hide that fact! That was something Ryan never asked. He didn't give a damn.

"Tell me Now! What's got you twisted?" He asks again with a more serious tone. Reluctantly I show him the message, I expected him to be angry but instead I'm met with a cool, mellow response. "I'll take care of it, Little dove, you'll have a new phone, new number by the morning!"

I don't argue as I just want Ryan to stop his bullshit, I'm not even sure why it's an issue, he dumped me! It only became an issue when I didn't beg him for anything and just left it at that. His ego is hurt, and I know what that would've met if I stayed. Ryan is very intelligent when he wants to be, cunning, charming, the whole nine.

But for now I'll indulge in the princess treatment I've been getting, and so that's just what I do. I take my place on Doms lap as he opens the bag, and pulls out the black lace lingerie set and says "Oh yes mama's I'm going to need one in every color for you!" As he shifts underneath me, assuming from picturing my body inside of the sexy lace in his fingertips.

I let out a laugh randomly as I tell him "You know your mother is plotting grandchildren with strange women right?"

He huffs and replies "That doesn't surprise me, She's hellbent, mostly on me! I told her she'll have better luck with Enzo, Dad life is out of my cards! I'm a boss, a killer, family is a.. Liability. Such as you Amorè, I knew from the moment I laid eyes on you that you'd be mine, I tried to stay away, not give into temptation! But I just can't leave you alone, I feel it in my gut, you BELONG to me... With me! But you'll need to toughen up. Tomorrow I've arranged a two hour session with Gio, you're going to learn how to defend yourself."

Visibly confused I ask "Dom, should I be worried?" He smirks and says "No Coraline, but I need you soft here at home, or there I need you to be vicious. You don't deserve the shit you've been put through, So I'm going to make you learn how to stand up for yourself. So you never hurt again."

We spend a bit longer discussing the minor details of the class then head up the stairs as I get ready for my night, a night of being held in the arms of a man I have newfound warmth for.

I'm his soft spot, as much as he's fighting it, I am. His weakness? His strength? Both? I'm not sure but it sure does feel right, for once in my life I feel I'm right where I'm meant to be. In the arms of mafia boss, Domenico Camorra!