Chapter 3 Camila III

Camila's POV

The Gonzalez family manor isn't far from my house and I can't decide if it's a blessing or a curse that I'd have to finish out the rest of my senior year at the private high school.

"You're gonna love it here, Principessa. You'll be closer to me and all the other men in the inner circle." Ethan says in my ear as I stare out of the window and out onto the secluded road we turn onto.

Our driver brings us to a stop outside a large iron gate armed with cameras and men situated outside - men who are doing a poor job at hiding their firearms.

Firearms that make me extremely uncomfortable. Even if my family was deeply rooted with the Italian mafia, I was not one who enjoyed violence nor was I exposed to it. I was always sheltered away from that side of La Famiglia and I wanted to keep it that way.

The window rolls down allowing one of the intimidating men to approach the car. Instinctively, I tense and recoil back but luckily Ethan's right there to wrap his arm around me and bring me into his side protectively. "They're cool, Tweety, they're only here to protect you." He mumbles, but instead of finding confidence in his words, I bury my head into his side enjoying the comfort his body provides, instead of staring at the terrifying man with an even scarier firearm strapped to him.

I hadn't seen one like that since papa died.

Yet the use of my childhood nickname brings some sense of comfort. I smile remembering how I got the nickname. I was eight and obsessed with tweety bird and when mamá got me one, I had cried for days because it wasn't a real life cartoon.

"È solo la Principessa. Lasciaci passare." I hear Ethan say, his soft tone long gone and replaced with one void of any emotion. (It's just the princess, let us through.)

If it wasn't for the fact that Ethan had raised me, I would be terrified of him as well. It's only a moment before I hear the clanking of the gate and feel the car move forward, that I lift my head to take in the grand sight before me.

The structure - a traditional villa type was far bigger than I could fathom. I knew that only about a dozen of Alejandro Gonzalez's closest men lived in the house but surely this house was far too large for just them.

"Wait until you see the room Alejandro and I put together for you." Ethan whispers and I beam up at him, all traces of fear vanishing at the prospect of seeing how nice my bedroom's gonna be.

We walk through the large doors of the manor and I instantly twirl in excitement. "Take me to my bedroom, please." I say excitedly as Ethan chuckles but leads me further into the large extravagant mansion.

So I liked expensive material things, sue me.

I stare around taking everything in, from the tall ceilings to the marble floors and the grand staircase, occasionally sending shy polite smiles to the men and maids that scurry past me.

Ethan then leads me up the main set of stairs that lead up into a large set of locked double doors. "This floor is strictly Alejandro's floor, but you're bedroom is on this floor with his." Ethan says, opening the double doors and leading me into the hallway of the second floor.

The hallway is large and extravagant. A set of black double doors stand at the far end of the long hallway, with a few other doors along the middle on either side. I then look towards the other end of the hallway and see a pair of white double doors.

"We thought you would feel safer up here with him than down there in the east wing with all the other men." He says leading me to the white double doors that lead to what I presume is my room.

"And this, is your room. Fit for a true Principessa." Ethan teases opening the doors. I gasp and rush forward into the large bedroom that's almost the size of a football field. The space is adorned in neutral soft earthly tones with hints of pink, truly fit for a princess.

It's the perfect twist of modern and traditional from its modern furniture and chandelier to it's intricate hand crafted detailing on the walls and floor board designs.

"You like?"

I turn to Ethan and squeal as I jump on him wrapping my arms around him. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" I scream in delight as he laughs and spins me. "I love it!" I say as he puts me down allowing me to explore my large room.

I rush forward finding a large walk in closet and a large modern bathroom.

The walk in closet is filled with most of my clothes already. I smile in content seeing my sleepwear all put away, next to my expensive lingerie that I like sleeping in.

I love the feeling of looking cute for myself, so much so that I often sleep in silk nighties, or two piece sleepwear sets. They make me feel like a true princess.

Reluctantly, I walk out of my bedroom, allowing Ethan to give me a proper tour of the manor. "When do I get to meet Alejandro?" I say, trailing behind him as he leads me out of the floor.

"He and some of the men are away on... business." He says discreetly and I instantly know enough not to ask any questions, knowing that I wouldn't like the answer and so I nod. "He will be back soon, though. He can't wait to see and finally meet you."

I nod and swallow down the nerves at the thought of him.

Alejandro was going to be different from all the other men in my life. From what I'd heard, he wasn't sweet or easily charmed. He was intimidating and powerful.

Something I feared because it was something I had no way of controlling.