Song recommendation: Shape of You
Shayna roughly recounted the events to Rebel as they stepped into the main hall, both of them gasping.
The place looked nothing like the shithole they remembered. In the corners of the room, soft ivory drapes framed the hall, and countless transparent candles were arranged beautifully throughout the room. White roses and lilies were on every table, and plum blossoms were decorated on either side of the stage. Crystal vases and silver candleholders just added to the old money style.
At the heart of the venue stood a simple floral arch, beautifully made, gathering attention.
A romantic song, which Shayna had never heard of before, played softly in the background.
"We're still in the dungeon area, right ?" Rebel asked, her mouth agape.
"They converted it into a freaking banquet hall".
Her eyes fell on a long-bearded man near the pillars, who seemed to be coordinating the event.
Jeremy Walker.
Over 200 contract killings. He was particularly feared throughout the underworld because of his sadism. In fact, it was widely believed that he dismembered his victims and ate their flesh.
He was currently shouting orders to a massive man regarding flower vases.
Her gaze followed two people standing quietly in a corner, deep in conversation, drinking champagne.
Adrian Guerini and Ettore Russo.
Underbosses of the French and Italian mafia, respectively.
Russo was, in fact, singlehandedly the drug lord of the European mafia altogether. Part of it came from him having spent around two decades in the Mexican cartel before returning to Europe.
Gorgeous, even at his age.
Shayna's eyes suddenly spotted a woman in a lavender gown, sitting close to the indoor bar. She looked almost radiant yet indifferent despite being surrounded by men. She gave her a small wink before returning to her wine.
Munay García.
She was amongst those women who had been illegally abducted from impoverished areas for sex trafficking. Rose to extreme fame in her late teenage years, entirely due to her insanity and anger. Currently operates mainly at the weapon trafficking front.
You would probably be able to hack the FBI's security system before getting an extra word out of her.
"Damn ! ", Rebel said, almost instinctively.
Shayna smiled. Munay was curvy, gorgeous and exactly Rebel's type.
"Go for it ", Shayna encouraged, though her eyes trailed amongst the other people, mostly important figures in the high-profile wedding.
Even while looking around, Shayna could feel a lot of eyes on her.
Perhaps for being the only woman in the wedding in a pantsuit.
"It's a bit overwhelming, isn't it ?" Cobra had settled beside her, with a tall glass of beer.
"I don't know why all of them get together for weddings and stuff ", Shayna whispered," Like, look at her. Aren't we in wars with the Russians right now? "
She paused, momentarily to take a breath.
"Why would anyone with half a mind go to a place where you can't have any security, and everybody wants to kill you ?"
"It's not like that ", Cobra laughed," Mafia families are much more diplomatic than you would think. Consider it just like the actual world delegations. There are businesses here too, just for weapons and drugs instead of clothes and tech. Services, items, weaponry all are traded for price or commodities. The only difference is that it is illegal. Not to mention that most of the mafia families are well integrated into society and hold high professions in the actual world too. It's just the people working under them who are at a disadvantage. "
"Another reason is that nearly all the mafia families are married amongst each other ", Cobra shook his head," It's like a weird inbreeding system, and everybody is marrying their first or second cousins these days. That woman you pointed at - Mairi's maternal aunt. The Chinese mafia lord is Mairi's cousin once removed, and Lucas's stepmother was the only heir of the Japanese mafia. "
The tune changed in the background.
Shayna looked up. Rebel and Munay had disappeared, and quite a lot of people were now seated instead of hanging around in bunches.
"Where's Rebel ?"
Probably getting laid as we speak.
"I don't know ".
The tune in the background changed to a rather medieval-style romantic melody.
Mairi had entered the stage in a lavish blue Vera Wang gown that was so extravagant that it could house 3 homeless people.
Dmitri, too, looked astonishingly sexy in his blue attire, and Shayna even caught him glancing at Mairi.
"Wow, she actually looks happy. "
"Yeah ", Cobra noticed too," Dmitri is not that much of an idiot as Lucas. "
No wonder Mairi slept with him.
The engagement itself was a smaller ceremony and happened quite quickly. Despite both of them not being totally lovey-dovey, they seemed quite content and respectful.
He probably got scared that Mairi would scratch his eyes out with those nails.
Shayna looked behind her and spotted an angry Lucas in the corner. His cheek was still tingling red from the slap.
Well, another reason for me to like Dmitri.
" And now the reading of the contract ", 'Father' Donovan announced on the stage.
"Him? Seriously? ", Cobra pursed his lips," Lucas would have been a better choice. "
Donovan was the most rugged, volatile and horrendous man in the team. He was a heavily bearded Spaniard and spoke only broken English.
He could probably scare the life out of Jack the Ripper.
"Wonder where Lynx is ?" a man behind him whispered slowly.
"He probably had something important to take care of ", another man spoke.
What was so important that he couldn't attend Mairi's engagement?
Probably a high-profile murder.
"You just need to sign here and here, " a middle-aged, important-looking man pointed at the contract.
"What are the terms ?" Mairi looked straight at Donovan.
"Just some standard terms about trade and relationships between the parties. And some duties and obligations for you two."
"Read them out", Dmitri said, his voice cold.
"For Mr Vassalis, it is expected that he will uphold the contract to maintain a political alliance between the parties. He has to provide protection, resources and status to his bride. Infidelity is permitted as long as any of your other partners are not brought home, and any 'diseases' are not transferred from you to Miss Fraser."
"For Miss Fraser, it is of utmost importance that she pledges absolute loyalty to the groom's family. She must also fulfil her marital obligations and bear a male heir for the family within 2 years of marriage. Failure to do so will allow the groom to take a second wife for the purpose. "
The fuck?
These rich fuckers really did not consider women anything beyond birthing machines, do they?
Mairi seemed to be reflecting the same thought as her father pressed gently against her, probably as a warning.
"I will not sign this ", Dmitri announced suddenly, and everybody turned to look at him.
Shayna stared at him. Dmitri's eyes were sullen with an expression she had never seen before.
"Yes, you will ", his father snarled from behind him.
"NO", Dmitri's voice was still calm and firm," Not with that infidelity clause ."
"It's just there for your choice", Dmitri's mom tried to calm him down," It's your decision. "
He opened his mouth again, but his dad whispered something in his ear. Dmitri's expression flew from anger to pure hatred as he took out his pen.
And then he signed the documents. Mairi followed too without a word.
For the first time in her life, Shayna felt relieved not to have her parents in her life.
"Such a hot-tempered man, "the people behind him whispered. " He's probably not even attracted to women in the first place."
That's it.
She got up from the seat and marched towards the bathroom.
She'd just rather watch Rebel and Munay doing it.
Just as she was about to reach the area, a couple of muffled voices sounded behind her.
She took a sudden left and squatted down behind a pile of brown boxes.
"Can you believe that Vixen came to the engagement? "
"That woman has some mighty guts ", the other one agreed. " If I'd known he was after me, I would have been down in some underground bunker in Afghanistan by now. "
"Yeah, her guts will probably be spilled on the road tomorrow ", the first man sneered.
"Such a petite, frail woman. Probably let her reputation get to her head ", the other one sympathized.
"Let's just hope it's not worse than Campbell. ", the first one agreed. Such a shame, she was so talented ".
The voice now retreated into the muffled chatter as the men walked away.
Shayna could feel her stomach tightening into knots.
Shit. I fucked up.