Chapter 6: Chapter 6

~“Remember, Cat. Tonight is important. These women will stare you down and try to intimidate you. Don’t let them. Keep your chin up, shoulders straight, and your face set. Be the bad bitch.”~ Christina’s voice echoed in my mind as I stared at the large, towering doors.

My stomach was in knots, and I’d straightened my posture a hundred times already, yet I still didn’t feel intimidating enough. In fact, I felt more bonita than anything else. It had been a while since I’d felt so pretty.

Christina had outdone herself. My dress and jewelry must have cost thousands, and my hard-to-manage curls were finally tame.

Stefano and I looked amazing.

Despite that, I still hesitated at the doors. This was the start of something I’d never imagined I’d be involved in. My heart thudded with anxiety.

Stefano turned to me and hooked my chin so I looked at him. “Before we go in, I want to reiterate one thing.” His eyes roamed my face before he leaned down and placed a soft kiss on my lips.

“You can do whatever you want to me in private. I am yours to use and abuse however you see fit. But the minute we step through those doors, we stand together. We stand united. Our every action will be scrutinized. If you’re angry with me, swallow it. Become an actor. Your position doesn’t allow for weakness. Do you understand?”

I’d never felt this much pressure before. It was intense, but I understood why Stefano and Christina were warning me. These games may sound childish, but they were serious. They were real.

“I understand.”

“Good.”

I took a deep breath and tried to tamp down my nerves.

“You’ll be fine,” Stefano reassured me as he offered his arm.

I linked my arm through his. With a nod, I said, “Okay, I’m ready.”

It was now or never.

He turned to the man standing in front of the doors. “Open them.”

I took a final deep breath and squeezed his arm. Just as the door started opening, I murmured, “I deserve a reward for doing well.”

He chuckled. “I can arrange that.”

The doors fully opened, and I squinted against the bright light gleaming from the glimmering chandeliers.

We were late, per Christina’s instructions, and everyone was likely waiting for us. Stefano didn’t seem in a rush though, so I refrained from mentioning it and schooled my face instead.

Women in beautifully designed dresses and men in sharply tailored suits were scattered throughout the large hall. Many were clustered in small groups, and I had to catch my breath at the size of the crowd.

The bustle and chatter died down as all eyes shifted to us.

My shoulders tensed, and I squeezed Stefano’s arm harder. Each clack of my heels against the tiles resonated in my ears as Stefano guided us forward.

I kept my head straight and my eyes fixed on the raised dais where Christina stood.

But I couldn’t stop the constant whispers of the crowd. Their voices were strong with emotion. Shock, confusion, excitement. Some even…hostile.

“Is she…?”

“Stefano is participating?”

“I wasn’t expecting this.”

“She doesn’t look like much.”

“What a joke.”

My heart pounded as my anxiety spiked, yet I refused to let it show on my face. Stefano had said I looked amazing, so I needed to focus on that and not the veiled whispers echoing through the hall.

~“You look like someone who’d fit perfectly in my life.”~

I let his words from before we left the mansion wash over the doubts in my mind and compel my anxiety to recede.

I was unused to this level of attention, and my skin crawled in discomfort. I didn’t like this.

I focused on the small stage in front of us. It was surrounded by large men. Men I knew could snap my neck with a flick of their wrists. They were preventing anyone from getting too close.

As the men parted to allow Stefano and I access, the murmurs among the crowd increased.

I ignored them and looked at the only man who had a seat in this large hall. Despite his full head of gray hair, his sturdy body gave off an air of authority. He sat with his legs crossed, playing with the ring on his finger. His piercing blue eyes stared out at the crowd as if he were analyzing each individual.

Not to mention, he bore a striking resemblance to Stefano.

This must be the head of the Roscotto family. Stefano’s father, Xavier Roscotto.

Christina stood beside him, talking with a young man who didn’t bother to hide the boredom on his face. Behind him were two young ladies who were beautifully dressed.

Christina looked over and smiled. She seemed much more reserved than when we had first met. “You’re here,” she said as Stefano and I stepped onto the dais. “Honey, look at our main couple. Don’t they look powerful?”

Xavier stood from his seat and approached us. I smiled tightly and was about to offer my hand, but he surprised me by gripping my shoulders to pull me in for a kiss on each cheek.

Before he pulled back, he muttered softly enough for me to hear. “Your face is stiff; your posture is off. Relax.”

His words made me pause. Was he helping me or criticizing me?

“It’s nice to meet you,” he said, bringing me back to the present. “You have heavy shoes to fill. I hope you understand this.”

I nodded. “I’m aware.”

“Good.” He looked at Stefano, who appeared behind me like a shadow. “How confident are you?”

“You’ll be surprised by what she can accomplish.”

Stefano’s words fell over me like a curtain of flames, burning away the last doubts that plagued my mind.

Xavier nodded, his expression finally breaking away to reveal his satisfaction. “I look forward to it.”

Stefano’s hand settled around my waist, and he lightly tugged me into his side as the young man approached us.

They clasped hands. “Brother, you shocked me tonight,” the other man said. “I didn’t expect you to participate this year, much less find yourself such a capable wife.”

His eyes shifted to me, and I was surprised to find them tinted red, as if he was high on something. Drugs, maybe? It would make sense considering his messy mop of hair and the way his suit was slightly larger than him. He looked…unwell. It unnerved me.

“Catalina.” He smiled, yet his voice was dull and sarcastic. “I’m Alessandro Roscotto, the problem child of this family. If you ever get tired of this stuck-up fool, my games are much more fun.”

My hair stood on end, and my smile was frozen on my face.

“Alessandro.” Stefano’s eyes narrowed on his brother in warning.

Alessandro’s smile widened, and he glanced at me pointedly. “See what I said? He’s no fun at all.”

“Enough,” Xavier said. “Since we’re all here, we can begin. Take your places.”

Stefano stood on his father’s right, his arm still wrapped around my waist, and Christina stood on his left. Alessandro and the two young women stood slightly behind us.

I glanced back at them only to meet Alessandro’s eyes. He winked, and I turned away in disgust.

I observed the crowd below us instead. I saw many different facial expressions on the other women. Nervousness, curiosity, indifference, anticipation, and hostility. Surprisingly, there were even some who looked bored, as if this scene was normal for them.

Thanks to Sam, I now knew that even women who were born within the Roscotto family were participating. Unsatisfied with their current roles, they were using this as a chance to climb higher up the family ladder.

They must have thought that this was going to be easy for them. They had more experience than greenhorns like me and the other women who came into the games blind.

But I refused to let them look down on me. I couldn’t be seen as the easy target. They would be gunning for me because of my position as Stefano’s chosen, but I couldn’t let them think they were better than me.

My hands that I had neatly clasped in front of me tightened with my resolve.

Stefano’s arm squeezed my waist, and I turned to look at him.

“What are you feeling right now?” he asked. “These women are eyeing you. Sizing you up. How does that make you feel?”

I paused to think about the burning feeling in my chest and the tremor in my fingers when I thought about proving to these women that I was fit to be Stefano’s wife.

“Fear.” I was honest with my emotions, knowing that Stefano was the one person I could be honest with. “But I’m determined to overcome it.”

He smiled and said nothing, turning to look back at the crowd.

Xavier was handed a microphone before he turned to face everyone gathered below.

“Welcome to the twenty-seventh Roscotto family tradition, the Mafia Games. Every woman here today was chosen with a purpose. This family needs you. The blood, sweat, and tears that you shed moving forward will be for this family.

“Some of you may walk away from these games scarred, but the strongest of you will join the family and gain access to power, security, and financial success that’s unavailable in the outside world.”

Stefano squeezed my waist again, and I kept my chin held high.

In such a short amount of time, I’d come to realize the power of the Roscotto family, and the power it could give me.

I needed to prove to these women, Stefano, and myself that I was worthy of that power.

“Men, your honor is on the line,” Xavier continued. “Your ability to gather an intellectual workforce for this family is being put to the test. Do not regret your choices, and if you do, work hard to rectify them. The Mafia Games date back to…”

I drowned out his voice after that, not interested in the history of why they came up with these games.

I stared into the crowd, taking in the faces of the women. The faces of my competitors.

Some were riveted on Xavier, hanging on every word as though it would help them in any way during the games.

Others were fidgeting, clearly as bored as I was.

But one had her eyes on me. They were like daggers. I fought the gasp that threatened to escape.

A chill ran down my spine, and I knew in that instant that I needed to keep her in my sights at all times. She resented my presence in these games, and she was coming for me.

Applause broke out in the hall, and I joined in as I refocused my attention on Xavier.

“The first game will begin within a week. Prepare yourself, ladies, and prove that you’re worthy to be a mafia wife. Prove that you are worthy to be part of this family. Let the games begin.”