Dimitra let out a surprised gasp. Of course she always knew that Dewey would propose one day, after all, he had asked for her hand when they were practically fresh out of diapers, but it was still a pleasant little surprise to be asked in this moment.
It was perfectly Dewey.
She couldn’t muster words, just giddy little sputters before managing to finally nod with a watery smile. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
Dewey didn’t wait for further confirmation. He flew up from his position on the floor to smother her with excited boyish kisses. His cheeks were flushed as he pulled away to gather her hand in his to slide the ring onto her finger.
It had been some time since Marzia had her first and last run in with her son and the mob princess Dimitra. Some years in fact, although Marzia had heard they had gotten engaged from general mafia gossip. So much time had past, Marzia couldn’t really remember the defining details of Dewey’s face even. Though there was very little motherly attachment between the two, Marzia never meant to be a mother, it was a surprise. Marzia was ready to accept responsibility for the child, and she taught him as much as she could before the family could see..Marzia couldn’t see Dewey as one of her own. Dewey was given to Ace so he could learn how to love, and be loved.
It was apparent from everything Marzia overheard, that Ace had done that. Dewey was very much loved, and impossibly in love with his bride.
Ever since word spread about their engagement, Marzia did make sure to steer clear of the Nikitin’s. While she didn’t love Dewey the way he needed to be loved, she didn’t wish any harm to him and his life. If he found bliss with Dimitra and the Nikitin’s, she wasn’t going to take that away from him on purpose. So any one with the her family knew, don’t step on the Niktin’s toes, and don’t mess with their princess. So far, everyone’s respected it and Marzia didn’t hear much.
She didn’t think about them too too often, but tonight Marzia was feeling nostalgic. The hideout she was in was vacant and dusty. Besides a couple of goons by the door, it was just spiders and memories. This particular hideout, is where Marzia housed Dewey. There was a large pantry between the kitchen and downstairs master that Dewey slept in. This hideout wasn’t used for too much after that, but there were still blankets on the floor of the pantry in spite of the instant rice recently shelved above by a passing occupant. There were license plates filled with bullet holes from when Dewey was learning to shoot, he had hung them up inside the pantry proudly; his trophies.
Marzia couldn’t help but wonder, even briefly, what trophies he was keeping now.
It had been several months since Dewey officially proposed to Dimitra and in those months there had been a surplus of bliss, of course, as well as the normal amount of chaos that came with wedding planning.
Though Dimitra was not involved with the inner workings of mob life like her siblings and mother, she was still considered a mob princess and was privy to the luxury that that life brought. It was expected that her family would host a large and extravagant celebration, and though there were wedding planners aplenty who had largely helped with things, Dimitra and Dewey had been heavily involved to get everything just right down to the right color of linens for the tables, to the golden detail work in the crowns Dewey and Dimitra would be bestowed at their church ceremony. She was, of course, allowed to invite her friends, who were largely made up of girls she'd been close to in high school, but most of the guest list was made up of affiliates of the Nikitin family or mob bosses from other families they were at peace with. This didn't bother her at all, but what DID bother her was the lack of people Dewey had invited, particularly one person.
Dewey was close to his father, Ace, as he had raised him up largely on his own, and he had become close to Ace's own bride-to-be, Darla, as she had been in their lives for quite some time. So, of course, they were invited and involved with the wedding procession itself. But as time went on, Dimitra wondered...would Dewey want his mother there too?
They'd had a run in with Marzia years back now and though they had talked about her a handful of times since then, Dewey and Dimitra had not seen nor heard of her again. Dewey insisted that it didn't bother him, but Dimitra wondered if perhaps he would like to see her again, maybe even have the chance to talk to her. Dimitra couldn't think of a better occasion than their wedding to facilitate that, or at least to have the chance for Dewey to see her and for Marzia to watch them wed.
So Dimitra decided she would extend an invitation to Marzia and hopefully make that happen for the both of them.
She was not privy to mob life, but she had caught glimpses of her siblings in action and knew how to shake down the right people for information (though she was still very much regarded as the lamb of the Nikitin family by comparison). She'd gotten some information on the Columbo family and had gotten one of the Nikitin goons to get even more from a Columbo foot soldier. She had it on good authority that Marzia had been seen at an old Columbo hideout earlier that day, one that was relatively close to the Nikitin penthouse even, so she set out with her Nikitin informant, a boy named Vasily just a few years older than her, and made her way to the building.
They'd parked down the street and she came striding up to the hideout, noting that it definitely looked worse for wear, and hoping that Marzia was still inside. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
Marzia was still inside, milling about the hideout. The only was because this hideout was to be remodeled. The family expected to use for a fake family, to cover some underground crime. Marzia wanted to note changes and repairs, calculate the overall cost and start making plans. She was alone but not unarmed, she wasn’t Riley’s status or even the twin girls in terms of power or notoriety. But she still graduated from urgent need of a bodyguard, Marzia was capable enough to handle the people she attracted in terms of trouble.
She noted the car with tinted windows, roll to a slow stop outside the hideout. Marzia didn’t have heightened werewolf senses, but she didn’t need it to recognize the petite redhead and her guard; skipping carefully to the front of the house.
“It’s open.” Marzia called out, posting up by the kitchen island, which had a clear view of the front door.
Dimitra had poised her hand to knock at the door, but stopped short when she heard Marzia inside. She went ahead and opened the door before peeking inside with caution. It took less than half of a glance for her to see Marzia leaning in the kitchen seemingly alone. She opened the door the rest of the way and stepped in.
“Ah, we were able to catch you. Im glad.” Dimitra chirped, hardly ever sounding like a threat and sounding less than one in that moment. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
“You sure did,” Marzia nodded, folding her arms across her chest. “To what do I owe the honor?” Marzia asked then.
She didn’t expect that Dimitra meant any harm, surely if there was a problem regarding work, the Nikitin’s would send someone else. Either way, Dimitra was safe there with Marzia.
The first time Dimitra met Marzia, she was a frightened girl who had just gone through the ordeal of being kidnapped. She was hardly privy to ANYTHING mob life entailed, including the said act of kidnapping, so in that situation not only was she scared, but she had been very helpless until Dewey showed up. Now, however, that was not the case.
Though she still remained unaffiliated with the family business, she was much more confident and capable than she had been as a girl. Of course, she loved and allowed herself to be doted on, if getting intel and finding Marzia on her own said anything, it was that she was more capable than most gave her credit for.
“I’ve been trying to find you for a few weeks now, but you’re an awfully busy lady it seems.” Dimitra said as she moved to pull her bag in front of her. She looked to Marzia, as if asking for permission and not wanting to give the impression she was grabbing for a weapon (though a rather anxious Vasily probably didn’t help). “I wanted to give you something.” _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
Marzia wasn’t worried but appreciated the gesture, that Dimitra would ask before reaching into her bag. Marzia nodded and sort of smiled, maybe not impressed but endeared somehow.
“How lucky for me, you may.” Marzia nodded, though she kept her arms folded, not extending her hands to receive but observe first.
Dimitra smiled, a smile that was very much her fathers in the way it was soft and open, and reached into her bag. She pulled out two different envelopes, one rather plain save for Dimitra’s unpracticed calligraphy, and the other decorated with gold embossing and a wax seal that read D + D. She stepped forward and offered them out to Marzia, putting the plain envelope on top. “Dewey and I are getting married soon. I wanted to give you the announcement since I thought it might be nice to have a picture of him. We went and got our photos done and he looked extra nice.” She smiled, patting her hand on the top envelope. “I also brought an invitation…just in case you might want to come.” _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
Marzia’s face didn’t betray her as she concealed her surprise. She had heard that they were getting married, she was happy for them in the way that weddings are normally a good thing you want for people. But she didn’t expect that she would be invited to the event, let alone receive photos of Dewey. Even Ace never bothered to send pictures, not that he should’ve given the circumstances and how Dewey was delivered to him. Marzia reached out and accepted both envelopes. She didn’t open either envelope, but instead placed them on the kitchen island beside her before folding her arms again. Marzia was serious, like most of the women in their line of work, it seemed like she wasn’t interested.
But there was a subtle shift in Marzia, not something that could be caught by the human eye. The weight on her heel shifted and her eyes fluttered apprehensively.
“Red and gold.” Dimitra said quickly. Unlike Marzia, she didn’t bother concealing her excitement. “We would love to have you, even if you just wanted to stop in for a moment. I think Dewey would really like that.” _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
“Thank you! That’s great.” Dimitra said, unable to restrain herself as she reached over to gather Marzia’s hands to give an excited squeeze. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
Marzia made a face that was a little uncomfortable but only in the way it was a very familiar gesture. But she feigned a smile through it, nodding again anxiously.
“Right, yes. I’ll see you there then.” Marzia said as politely as she could.
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