Page 103 of Diavolo

Hand in hand, they entered the villa together. It didn't take them long to find Mariposa. The younger woman was dressed in a long evening gown that was reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn's iconic black Givenchy dress fromBreakfast at Tiffany's, and, befitting her status as a mafia princess, Mariposa's ears and neck and wrists were also draped in elegant white diamonds.

This time, compared to their last meeting at Carmen's gathering, Mariposa's reception toward Elyse seemed far more amenable. The girl wasn't friendly, exactly, and she was more than a little flirty with Alessandro, but, at least, her attitude no longer felt downright hostile.

Elyse decided to make it her mission tonight to win over Mariposa. The younger woman seemed well-connected and fairly close to Cara. Her friendship might be helpful in soothing the ruffled relations between the Vitale and Berlusconi clans.

"Thank you for having us tonight, Ms. De León," Elyse expressed.

The dark-eyed woman insisted, "Call me Mari."

"Then," Elyse replied, "you must call me Elyse."

"If you insist,Elyse," Mariposa said with a smirk.

She turned to Alessandro. "You, however, must address me asSignorina De León. Because you have always been apezzo di merdafor breaking my heart, and you always will be apezzo di merdafor breaking my heart."

Elyse winced on Alessandro's behalf.Pezzo di merdameantpiece of shit. However, Alessandro didn't look offended at all. He actually grinned. "You know me too well,Signorina De León."

Mariposa teased him, "I do not know what Elyse sees in you. You are such a—what is the English word for it? Oh, yes.Fuckboy."

"I do not know, either," Alessandro drawled as he drew Elyse close to his side, pressing a kiss upon her temple, "but I amverymarried now, and I will never look back."

"Being married to a reformed fuckboy isn't so bad," Elyse murmured before flashing Alessandro a wry smile. "I don't mind at all."

Mariposa broke into a hearty snicker. "At least the dick is good,no?"

Elyse coughed and somehow managed to respond with a straight face, "All I'll say to that is—I'm a lucky woman."

Alessandro gazed down at her with darkened eyes, chuckling, "And I am a lucky man. I will forever strive to please my wife in all matters regarding our marriage. In the bedroom. And beyond. So that she will never have reason to doubt my devotion to her."

Mariposa made a gagging noise.

Just then, a wiry-haired, wide-set gentleman appeared at their side. He wore a beige-colored suit of linen with a pale blue dress shirt. Elyse remembered meeting him at their wedding. He was Aberto De León, Mariposa's father, and the head of the De León clan.

Upon Aberto's arrival, Mariposa's giggly, mischievous demeanor dissipated right away. She shrank at his side like a deflated balloon. For some reason, this troubled Elyse. Aberto addressed her tersely, "May I borrow a moment of your husband's time,Signora Vitale?"

Elyse glanced over to Alessandro with some uncertainty. "My husband's time is his to give. Not mine."

Alessandro smiled tightly at Aberto. "I am all yours, old friend."

In a brusque manner, Aberto offered his congratulations on their recent nuptials again before herding Alessandro across the room toward two other scary-looking, tattooed men in suits.

Elyse was alone with Mariposa. The younger woman eyed her curiously. "You are not what I expected."

"Is that a compliment? Or an insult?"

"I do not know," Mariposa admitted. "I am still trying to decide."

Elyse's gaze drifted toward Alessandro, Aberto, and the other men. "What do you think they're talking about?"

Mariposa responded with a shrug, "No fucking idea.I wish I knew, butPapàdoes not like it when I ask too many questions."

"But you're his daughter."

"Exactly," Mariposa griped with a trace of bitterness, "I am hisdaughter. Not his son."

Elyse murmured, "Even as a daughter, you have a lot to offer. It's your father's loss for failing to recognize your worth."

"I know you are trying to comfort me. But your words feel hollow."

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