Marry the Don

Chapter 30

“Are you sure?” She looked concerned, wringing her hands together in front of her as I shimmied into the jeans.

“Yes, Molly,” I chuckled and took pity on the girl. “Turns out Nicolas has a fascination with biting. That’s all.”

“Oh.” Her face turned a bright shade of red and her mouth popped open and closed, “Oh.” She composed herself and shook her head, “I’m so sorry for sticking my nose where it’s not needed. I just wanted to-”

“Don’t worry about it. I understand why you’d be concerned but I’m just fine.” I walked over to the shelf of shoes that the maids had quickly organized and pulled out a pair of black booties and slid them on. “But we must leave this room before he changes his mind or something and traps me here for good.” I grabbed her hand and pulled her with me from the room. “Now I’ll need your help,” I opened the door and looked up and down the hallway, “finding my way out of this elaborate maze.”

She chuckled and pulled me alongside her as she walked to the right. “This entire wing is the private rooms for Mr. Capasso and yourself. ” She described as we walked, “This afternoon he gave strict instructions for no one but myself and employees I see fit to step foot off the top of the stairs into the private wing.”

“Hmm.” I nodded, remembering the way he threatened his man earlier when he interrupted us right outside of the bedroom door.

“In the wing, there is the master suite and three more bedrooms as well as a sitting room for you to use for whatever pleases you. These stairs lead directly into the main living room off of the kitchen downstairs. Had we gone to the left out of your bedroom, you would have found another set of stairs that lead to the back of the house towards the garage.”

I nodded trying to visually remember everything as she talked. At the bottom of the stairs, my two large bodyguards Saul and Dio stood as though they were waiting for their next task from me, but I wasn’t sure what I was allowed to do or worse, what I had to ask permission to do.

Luckily, Molly took pity on me and addressed them for me when I didn’t. “Mrs. Capasso would like to go outside and enjoy some fresh air.”

Saul nodded and Dio spoke into his wrist like an undercover spy, and I let the formality of it all roll off my shoulders. I was too eager to get outside to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all.

“Thankyou,” I said to both her and the guards as I stepped down onto the marble floor.

“I’ll be around when you return.” Molly said, “Make sure you go check out the pond, it’s magical this time of year.” Patting my arm once, before walking off with a smile to Dio.

“Can one of you show me the pond?” I asked in uncertainty, “Or at least how to get to an exterior door-,” I murmured as I looked around the massive living area. There were large windows, showing off the grounds outside, but no doors.

“This way Ma ’am.” Saul nodded his head to the side and led me through the house and into the kitchen that I recognized from before my wedding. “These doors will take you to the entertaining space outside.” He informed me as we walked out onto the pristine patio, I was married on a few days ago.

“Thankyou,” I murmured as I took it all in.

Flowers had been hung on the railings and I vaguely remembered a white carpet laid down the aisle but everything else about the event was blurred.

I didn’t remember hardly any of my own wedding, and even though it was arranged and should have been repulsive, I still regretted not taking it all in when it was happening.

Behold another thing my father managed to rob me of thanks to his cruelty.

I walked down the steps to the lawn and noticed that Saul and Dio followed at a distance close enough to reach me quickly if needed but not close enough to hover, and I tried to ignore them as I walked through the lavish landscape.

Fruit trees lined a walkway, and I knew in the spring they would be beautiful with their blooming flowers and sweet scents. I didn’t know if Armarow Estate was where I’d live full time, or if Nicolas would stay here with me if I did, but I knew it’d be hard to find another place to live that topped the regality of this home.

I followed the brick path through more bushes and trees that were blooming with bright reds and oranges as the plants prepared for winter sleep. Tracing my fingertips over the leaves, collecting the

dew on them as I went reminded me of a memory from my childhood, but the more I tried to remember it clearly, the more it evaded me.

I focused on it where it sat right on the edge of reality and daydream, lost to the chase, when the path ended and I realized I had found the pond. “Wow,” I whispered and took a deep breath as I looked around the expansive grounds.

The pond itself was large and in the center was a great fountain that sprayed an intricate design of dancing water onto the calm body below before spraying it up into the air again.

Benches and seats lined the grassy edge around the perimeter but what caught my attention the most were the wooden rope swings hung at a couple of different points. Tall wooden structures held up the swings with dreamy vines covering the length of the ropes and on the one closest to me, a wide plank seat beckoned me to take a rest on it.