1920's Mafia

[Arya Price]

Cecilia Russo stepped out of the large manor she lived in, her white satin shoes were clicking against the ground as she walked down the front steps. She was wearing a periwinkle top with long sleeves. The skirt she was wearing was a periwinkle and white gingham. She had a hat on her head with a small ribbon of periwinkle and white gingham that matched the skirt she was wearing. Her father had recently bought the outfit (with some help from his sisters, Cecilia's Aunt Alessandra and Aunt Giorgia).


It wasn't odd for her father to by Cecilia gifts. He often showered his only daughter in presents. While Cecilia appreciated his gifts, she often found them unnecessary. She often wished her father would show his affections through kind, loving words and actions other than buying things. Cecilia wanted to tell her father that, yet she was always too afraid to, scared of what he might say. She knew he probably wouldn't be upset or mad at her, but still, she was a bit nervous as to what he would say.


It was all part of Cecilia's shyness. Cecilia had always been so shy and terribly nervous of everything. It even caused her to stutter to the point where one could hardly understand what she was saying, and sound a bit stupid and uneducated. Cecilia hated being so shy as she had very few friends and made her feel very lonely. Cecilia's mother, Julietta, often criticized Cecilia for being so shy and often scolded Cecilia for stuttering so much, as she believed most men wold find it unattractive.


Julietta often said that Cecilia would never find a husband if she kept on being so shy and that her stutter did not help things, as Julietta wanted Cecilia to find a husband and have children, so then Julietta could finally have the grandchildren she so desperately wanted. Cecilia felt terrible for disappointing her mother, and wanted to do everything to try to please her, as she always tried to please everybody before herself, yet no matter how hard she tried, she could not get over her shyness and she continued to disappoint her mother.


Cecilia walked with her head down, scared of the awkwardness it would create if she were to look someone in the eye. She kept her eyes hidden underneath her hat so she would be able to see where she was going. She didn't really have a set destination, she was mostly just going for a walk. With the tight leash her father kept her on, she was surprised that her father let her go out on her own. Cecilia's father, Lorenzo, let Cecilia do very little. He didn't like his daughter giving out any information about herself, aside from her name. Cecilia wasn't even allowed to give out her last name. She could only give her first name, as someone could easily make the connection to her father's mob if they new.

 

[Priya]

Declan slipped out of the gaudy car his brother had insisted he take home, thanking the driver graciously and leaving him a generous tip. The young mob boss had elected to walk the rest of the way home; it had been a long night and he was still a little drunk, so he figured the bright air of the early morning would help refresh him. Only vaguely aware of his rumpled formal appearance, Declan strode a little crookedly down the walk toward his neighborhood.


The street that fed into Declan's neighborhood was lined with elaborate manors, sprawled widely on lawns that were way too large to be practical for the people who lived there. Most if them were so large that the houses themselves were barely visible from the street; the vast expanses of grass and garden overwhelmed the eye.


As he walked, Declan heard a bright, friendly dog yapping at him from a yard across the street. As he shot a glance over his shoulder to acknowledge the animal, he tripped clumsily, and toppled directly into something solid, yet soft.


Reeling back, Declan gathered his thoughts well enough to register that he had just collided with a young woman.


"Oh, forgive me, I am so sorry," he stammered, clambering over his own words. He dipped his head a bit respectfully, subconsciously straightening his askew tie. "I didn't see you there, my apologies," he added, a but more measured and careful. The lady didn't appear to be hurt; that was a relief. The last thing he needed was to ingratiate himself to yet another party before he even reached his home.


Declan's brother Alexander would be angry for his delay. Fortunately, Alex had no control over his elder brother, and Declan had no intention of abandoning a young lady in the road just to keep his younger brother a little happier. The insolent child could entertain himself for a few moments more; Declan's brain was still buzzing and he felt like everything around him was lagging. It would still be a moment yet before he had fully come to terms with what had just happened, but he knew he must apologize as sincerely as he could for running squarely into a fine young lady dressed for a morning walk.

 

[Arya Price]

Cecilia continued walking, still keeping her eyes down, for fear of the awkwardness it would create if she were to look anyone in the eyes. She hadn't even noticed that was walking into anyone. Cecilia grunted as she hit the ground. She felt her cheeks heat up, turning bright red with humiliation, realizing what she had just done and how clumsy she had been.


Cecilia reached for her hat and put it back on, as it had fallen off in the collision. She had done so without looking at who she had ran into. Cecilia's eyes glanced up at the person she had run into, though she kept it hidden under her hat, so not to cause any awkwardness.


She couldn't help but think the man who had ran into her was quite handsome. She blushed deeper at having ran into him. She picked herself up and felt a breeze on her right knee. She looked down and realized her tights had a hole.


Cecilia knew her mother would be furious when she saw Cecilia walk into the house with a hole in her tights. Her mother would surely lectur e her about being in public in an indecent state.


"It's a-all right," Cecilia spoke in her usual stutter. Cecilia had always hated stuttering and she had tried to stop doing so on many occasions, yet she could never do so. Her mother had often scolded Cecilia for stuttering, yet that was the one thing her mother's scoldings couldn't correct. "I'm sure it w-was m-my f-fault. A-are y-you a-all r-right?"


Cecilia had to blame herself for causing them to crash into each other because Cecilia always blamed herself for everything. She always found fault in her behavior. After her mother had criticized her for so long, Cecilia had started doing so to herself.

 

[Priya]

Declan laughed, a sound that could terrify if it lacked humor, but could charm the legs off a donkey if it didn't.


"More than alright, Miss," he chuckled, suddenly in excellent spirits. "It was all my mistake, please." The charismatic young mob boss held out a steady hand. He glanced down to make sure she wasn't hurt, noticing the hole in her tights as he did so. "Oh, your tights, I'm so sorry. Please, I can't allow you to walk about in disarray. I'm sure my sister has something for you, won't you come with me?" With a flashy smile and bright, kind eyes, Declan's mere appearance insisted.


The young man's face had reddened when he noticed the hole, but upon seeing her face, it colored even further. She was a stunning young lady; quite shy if her stammer spoke for itself, but ravishing in a quiet, gentle way. "Please, Miss," he added, still a little drunk and quite embarrassed at himself, "I feel awful about all this."


Declan was already late for breakfast with his siblings, so he might as well be even later and bring a beautiful young guest with him. His mother was always chiding him for staying out all night with girls and never having one of his own. Perhaps if he showed up to breakfast with a respectable-looking young lady, the woman would ease off his back for a few moments while he got his own life together.


Of course, business remained a top priority, but one's family is not proper company in times of loneliness, and Declan was a downright foul cook. He had to find a way to settle down eventually, even if his late partying nights were far from over. A bachelor for a mafia boss is a recipe for disaster; rumors would start to spread. Declan had no choice but to market himself before the boys turned to vicious slander.

 

[Arya Price]

Cecilia knew her mother would be furious if she saw that she had the hole in her tights. Cecilia's mother, Violetta, would hate for her daughter to be out in public looking shabby. Ripped fell into the category of shabby.


Cecilia often wished she was able to stand up for herself, but she never could. She had tried before, but she just couldn't.


"P-please, it's a-all right," said Cecilia. "I,I am s-sure w-we are b-both a-at fault." Though she said that, Cecilia still blamed herself for the fall.


"Th-thank you," Cecilia added when he told her his sister might have something. She was debating whether she should go. She didn't even know this man's name. And she knew her mother would scold her. Whether it be for the ripped tights or her going with a man she didn't know. Cecilia decided that she didn't have to tell her mother that she ripped her tights and went with a man she didn't know. But Cecilia was terrible at keeping secrets and she was sure her mother would find out. Until that time came, however, she would keep it a secret.


"I, th-think I sh-shall go w-with y-you," said Cecilia softly. "Th-thank you, s-sir. M-my n-name is Cecilia."

 

[Priya]

"Declan Grady," Declan said, holding out his arm for her to take as they walked. "Delighted to meet you, Cecelia." He gave her another flashy, crooked smile and blinked his big blue eyes. Since she didn't seem to be one to initiate conversation, Declan obliged.


"Martha is likely to be just your size," he chattered amiably. "She's got such an immense wardrobe; I'm sure we can find something for you to put on before you go wherever it was you were headed. Where were you going, anyway? I'd be more than happy to escort you. It's the least I can do after knocking you over." At this, the young man chuckled pleasantly. It was strange; typically Declan tended to be rather cold and distant on the outside, unless entertaining a client or ally or enjoying time with his close circle of friends. But for some reason, he found himself being quite warm and intimate without really knowing the young Cecilia. Perhaps it was her shyness that removed his; Declan was excellent at smoothing over situations that would otherwise be awkward.


"Anyway, my house is just down the street, we won't have to walk far. It really is simply romantic out, though, don't you think? I always enjoy early spring mornings."


Declan almost thought his friendless might be a result of his just coming down from a drunken night dancing and hosting, but it had been too long since his last wobbly stumble for him to still be under the influence. Maybe he was just feeling generously friendly that day. As odd as it was, Declan found he was rather enjoying himself, even if his conversation partner was on the quiet side.

 

[Arya Price]

"I-it's a pleasure t-to meet y-you," said Cecilia shyly with a small smile kindly. "A-and thank y-you for your k-kindness."


Cecilia had very few friends due to her shyness. She was glad she had finally met someone who was kind to herz though he was probably only being kind to her since he ran into her and knocked her down.


"I, I was g-going o-on a w-walk," said Cecilia with a smile. "A-and it is 's-simply r-romantic ou-out."


Cecilia gave him another smile. It was shy and gentle, just like Cecilia. She looked just as sweet as she was.


Violeta would never have approved of her daughter going out with a man she didn't know. Violeta was so old-fashioned, she probably thought Cecilia needed a chaperone, too. Cecilia hoped that she could keep this from her mother cost as long as she possibly could.