Mairi looked at me as soon as Dmitri locked the door behind him, her expression changing.
"What is going on there?" she asked seriously.
"Huh?" Shayna muttered, unsure.
Please don't ask about Lynx. Please don't ask about....
"In the underworld," Mairi confirmed, and Shayna breathed a sigh of relief. "Nobody is telling me anything since I got engaged to Dmitri."
Shayna closed her eyes. She knew exactly why it was happening. Since Mairi was soon to become part of the Greek underworld, they were already being cautious about how much to reveal to her, especially since the Scottish and Greek mafia had not had the best relations before the entire incident.
She blinked, not knowing how to soften the blow.
Mairi's hands were unusually still in her lap, as if even she did not know what to do with them.
"They're treating me like an outsider," Mairi muttered, and Shayna could see a hint of sadness reflect in her eyes.
"I'm sure that's not true, Miss..."
"Except it is." Shayna saw Mairi's face light up with a firmness she was not used to seeing.
"It is what the rule is for the women in the mafia family. You're born, you grow up as a symbol of the mafia's respect and honour. If anyone takes you, it is a direct blow to the strength of the mafia family. You learn to be a woman, to put all your interests as hobbies and to be a good housewife. And at twenty-four, you're traded off for connections to a mafia lord to be a trophy wife in this fucking patriarchal society."
Shayna stared at her.
For her, Mairi had always seemed like her role model, the perfect "Donna", always confident and strong.
But to see her breaking like this.
Shayna could not bring herself to say it, but it was conveyed through their eyes.
"It's harder than it looks." Mairi's gaze softened. "For you, walking away is freedom from a cage. For me, it is betraying my family who raised me all these years."
"And if they willingly send you away themselves?"
"They'd rather kill me." Mairi's voice remained calm. "They definitely would have if Dmitri had not agreed to marry me."
Shayna found herself agreeing involuntarily.
"It's pretty fucking bad." She swallowed.
"I'm sure you guys have seen worse," Mairi smiled.
"Yeah, but we also get to down five pints of whisky after seeing it," Shayna muttered, thankful for it , for the first time in her life.
"So, I guess I would just be the Greek mafia queen for you all from now on."
"I don't know about all, but you would always be our Donna for me," Shayna said, giving an exaggerated bow.
"You're making it sound like I'm some kind of princess, ewww." Mairi faked, scrunching her nose in fake annoyance.
Oh, I know better than to believe that.
"So, what are you gonna do about it?" Mairi asked, her tone changing.
"About what?"
"The entire situation." Mairi turned back to her. "With my father on your tail and the entire Lucas thing, it is going to get pretty difficult for you here."
"He's probably planning how to get you murdered as we speak."
Shayna groaned inside. She knew that Damian was a powerful and scheming man, who was at the moment deeply humiliated.
Knowing him, it would probably not be an easy death either.
She shuddered, remembering his last death threat to her.
All it would take was for Lucas to spill out all her details.
Would he actually go that far?
"It's not like I have an option," Shayna muttered, her voice clear.
"You do have one," Mairi said thoughtfully. "But it wouldn't be easy."
Shayna turned her head, looking at Mairi, who was already staring back at her.
"You could come with me to Greece," she said, her tone soft yet firm. "Away from all this mess. You can start a new life there under the Greek mafia protection, and I would have a loyal confidante amongst the sea of strangers."
She could escape!
The thought alone made Shayna feel as if she was gliding on a cloud, her torso forward, her shoes hovering a few feet over the ground.
A new life, with all the money. And a chance to start afresh.
And then the dark thought struck.
Going to Greece would mean complete reliance on Mairi and Dmitri. Here, she had a whole other life, trusted people, friends and people who were indebted to her.
There, she would need to completely trust Mairi for her fate.
And when had trusting anyone ever gone right for her?
Lucas, who fucked a whore in a nightclub while her uncle tried to kill her.
Or
Her parents who had prepared her favourite dishes on that day?
Or
Those men who had promised.....
All people whom she had deeply trusted.
Her eyes went to Mairi. Despite her kindness, Mairi was a woman of many secrets. She had, in fact, just seen her completely change faces in front of her fiancé.
Maybe she loved her now. But what if she found out about the identity of Sierra?
Besides, she was a part of the Fraser family only. Even if they sent her away, she had been born there and raised with all the lies and deceit.
She was a Donna after all.
"It's your decision," Mairi said, not having noticed the conflict of emotions in her eyes. "But it would benefit you and me both."
Shayna looked at Mairi's innocent, bare face.
The woman who had trusted her enough to share all of her deepest feelings with her, not so long ago.
But faces could be deceitful.
Who would know that better than her?
"The offer is tempting, madam, but..."
"The Greek mafia have great resources in technology, and they're always testing out new stuff. It could help you a lot."
Damn, woman.
Why did you have to make this so tempting?
Shayna grimaced. She knew Mairi was attacking her weak points.
"I would think about it."
"Think about what?"
Dmitri had returned, his veiny hands clutching a couple of shopping bags.
He placed them beside him without even bothering to look inside, his attention immediately drawn towards the two women.
"Nothing," Mairi excused.
"Why? I thought you told me everything," Dmitri teased.
"I wanted her to come with me after the wedding," Mairi scoffed. "Now, before you tell me about that..."
"That is a good idea."
Shayna and Mairi turned to him in shock.
"What?" Dmitri sat down, his eyes on Mairi's gaping face.
"Vixen would be a considerable asset to us. She is among the best hackers in the world, and her intelligence and independence would give us an advantage in intelligence, surveillance and information gathering that very few could match."
Shayna flushed.
Did he just compliment her again?
"In fact, apart from the Greek mafia being exceptionally patriarchal, the place is quite breathable," Mairi agreed.
There was complete silence for a few moments, as Dmitri and Mairi looked at Shayna, who suddenly became very aware of her surroundings.
Even the faint hum of the air conditioner seemed unusually loud in the silence .
It was actually not that bad of an offer.
She would have to shift her loyalty to a completely new organization.
But with more respect and recognition.
Wasn't that all she had ever wanted?
"It is a good offer," she said, her voice firm, and she saw both of their faces turn, knowing what was coming.
"But I cannot accept it."