By the time Gia and Javan made it to the dining hall, almost everyone had taken their seats on the huge dining table. Almost all of the Martinellis stayed in the Mafia house and ate on the same table.
Javan and Gia stood in an inconspicuous place so that he could introduce his relatives by name before she met them.
"That seat is for papa. But he barely eats with us," he nodded towards the head of the table. "On his left is uncle Renzo and Francesca, his wife. Next to them is, Luciano and his wife, Aunt Sophia. Renzo, Sophia and Camilla are papa's siblings. Next to Sophia are my cousins Vinnie, Rosa, Nadia and Joey, all Sophia's children. Then there's Valentino, papa's cousin and then Aunt Camilla."
Gia quietly studied them as Javan introduced all of them in a low voice.
"Alvan sits at Papa's right, then there is your seat, mine, mama, grandma, Matteo, the twins, Adriana and Adrian, all Renzo's children. Marcello is almost always missing at the table but you'll meet him soon. He's papa's cousin too. It's a big family but you'll get used to it," he said.
"Come on. We should join them for breakfast," he nudged her.
She walked slightly behind him as they approached the table filled with family members and chinawares arranged in front of all the seats.
"What are you wearing?" Camilla asked Gia, as she assessed her from her head down to her toes. "Is this how your mother brought you up?"
Gia clenched her fist but said nothing.
"Sit here," Javan showed her where to sit. He barely acknowledged his aunt.
Gia sat down without a word.
She was just wearing one of Alvan's dress shirts and she folded and knotted it creatively to make it more fitting.
"Are you dumb? Answer me when I speak to you. What's this nonsense you're wearing? You're in the Martinellis household so I don't expect to see you dressing like some crude village girl that you are," Camilla fired heatedly.
Gia was dumbstruck. It felt like cold water was just poured on her.
None of the Martinellis said a word. They just stared at her waiting for her response.
"The clothes in my closet are a little too revealing. It's not exactly my style. Most of them are undersized too," she said as politely as she could.
Camilla snorted. "Move to the edge of the table, that seat is for Diana."
"As Alvan's wife, she is sitting there. Exactly where she should be sitting," Omri said as he approached the dining table with Alvan in tow.
Camilla glared at him and tried to control her anger, "How can you even bring a Salvatore into this house? Her presence alone in this house makes it unfit for the rest of us to stay."
"Are you saying you want to move out?" Omri asked as he sat down.
She stared at him dumbfounded. He easily turned the argument against her and took it completely out of context. She gave Gia a dirty look before sitting down.
Alvan occupied his seat next to Gia and barely acknowledged her. She didn't really mind because she would rather be miles away from him.
"Gia is a legitimate daughter-in-law of this household and every one of you should treat her as such. I don't want to have to repeat myself," Omri warned sternly.
Gia was surprised that he made an effort to protect her. It didn't mean that the bullying would not happen but they wouldn't cross certain limits.
Breakfast was served and they all ate together. There was small talk here and there on the table and only Javan made any effort to hold a conversation with her.
She missed home.
"I'm sorry about Aunt Camilla, she's trouble. She's always like this to people she's not familiar with," Javan apologized on his aunt's behalf.
"She hates my family so automatically she hates me. Same goes to everyone on this table."
"Except me," he said.
Gia pursed her lips without a word and silently pondered on Javan's intentions, keeping her many thoughts to herself.
"You have three days to settle in and you'll start training afterwards," Omri said.
"Training for?"
"You don't think that I got you here for nothing, do you? You're going to train and be initiated into the Grey Cobras so that you can make yourself useful to us," he stated coldly.
"And if I don't?"
"You'll see," he said cynically and stood up.
"Omri," Gia called out and stood up too.
He stared at her coldly, "It is Capo to you."
A chill travelled down her spine and she was momentarily at loss for words. She gulped before speaking, "What am I training for?"
He easily evaded her question, "I hear that you don't like your wardrobe. I'll give you the liberty to change it into something you'd like," he held a black card in front of him.
Stunned, she reached out to get it but he flexed his wrist, preventing her from grasping it.
"Don't make me regret giving this to you. I've already spent so much in getting you, don't make me turn on you," he said surly.
Gia took the card from him. It had her name written in white. 'Gia Martinelli'
She cringed at this but said nothing about it to Omri. "Thank you."
"This is ridiculous Omri! The Salvatore is supposed to be our slave. You cannot be treating her like this," Camilla said angrily.
"I agree with Camilla. How exactly is treating her like a 'legitimate daughter in-law' going to do us any good? She is the enemy and she should be treated as such. She is supposed to be at the buttom of the food chain. What are we getting from any of this?!" Sophia said in exasperation.
He looked at his sisters calmly, "Don't let me shut you up."
The two sat down fuming.
Everyone else on the table didn't look too pleased by the unfolding events but they couldn't go against Omri. They were family but he was their Capo.
He turned around and left while Gia sank in her seat. She was a burden of nerves till the end of breakfast when Javan offered to help her in getting clothes for herself.
"It is tradition for the daughters-in laws to clear the table and do the dishes after every meal," Sophia said.
"Sophia Allegra Martinelli Martinez! One more word from you and you will hear it from me," Ila her grandmother warned.
Sophia stood up in anger and stormed out of the dining hall.
The old lady marched up to Gia and held her by the ear. Gia was in shock and before she could react, Ila started scolding her.
"Little girl, don't allow anyone to bully, not in in this house, not anywhere. Do you hear me?"
Gia nodded her head before she finally let go.
"And you," she held Alvan's ear in the same manner. "She is your wife now, always make sure to protect her."
"Yes, nonna."
Ila smiled at him, "Good," she dusted her hands satisfactorily before exiting the room.
Diana marched into the dining room while the rest of the family was leaving and stopped in front of Alvan. "I didn't see you when I woke up this morning."
"I had something to take care of early this morning," he said drily.
She frowned when she saw Gia wearing his shirt. She sat down on his lap and wrapped her arms around him possessively. "Why is she wearing your shirt?"
"Let's go, Gia," Javan said and stood up with Gia.
Alvan was about to respond but was interrupted by a phonecall which he had to walk away to attend to. He excused himself to make sure he was beyond hearing shot.
"Hey, Salvatore," Diana called out to Gia. Reluctantly, Gia turned around and faced her while she sauntered towards her, "I don't know what tricks you have up your sleeve and I don't really care. But I want to let you know that you may have his last name, but I have his heart," she smirked and left in the same direction as Alvan.
Gia stood frozen in her spot. She didn't even need to do anything
to this family for them to hate her, her existence was enough to instigate hate.
"Are you alright?" Javan asked.
"No."