Arranged marriage to the princess of the Red Scorpions

Friends wasn't a word that Gabrielle would've used to quantify the relationship between her and Lena. The tall Italian woman knew that the word would never pass through Lena's lips. What was between them was a little more unique that blurred the lines between loyal workers and distant friends.

They were never very close when they existed in the same space for years. The only thing that kept them looking together was family—Gabrielle's family, to be specific. Coming from a lower mafia family, Gabrielle had been forced by her parents to decide who she would swear herself to sooner rather than later. The only way they could ensure that she remained safe should anything happen to them.

Gabrielle could still remember the first time she'd been the Red Scorpion Princess. Zane had set up the meeting after getting wind of what her father wanted. The two things Gabrielle always remembered about that morning were the unreadable but annoying way Lena stared at her – like a woman who owned the world around her and the bitter chilly air—a less than a great idea by her father to meet during the winter. The cold air only increased her already poor mood and led the Italian woman to speak her mind. Disregarding everything her father told her on the way there.

"She isn't someone that I want anything to do with." Young, na?ve Gabrielle blurted the words out the moment she laid eyes on Lena. The red-head young girl gave her a bad feeling. They were both the same age, 14, but something about how Lena's eyes shone when they met didn't settle well with her.

"I don't like her, and I don't care what family she comes from; I don't want to have anything to do with her." Gabrielle hadn't even waited for her father to respond or for Lena to speak. She turned to leave. Her mind made up and eager to escape the cold, she rushed over to get back into the car only a few feet away. Gabrielle didn't get as far as entering the car when a voice from behind froze. She could feel Lena's eyes on her but refused to turn around and face the other girl. No, there was something about this one that Gabrielle didn't want anything to do with.

"Gabrielle, that's your name, right?" Confident yet aloof, the words rolled off Lena's tongue. Unlike Gabrielle's blunt manner of speech, she spoke with an arrogant confidence that spoke of techniques and pedigree. Whatever issues she might've with Gabrielle, she didn't let them cause her to toss away her proper ways.

"You say you don't want anything to do with me. Yet, I haven't even had the chance to confirm or deny if you're something I would want on my side. Don't you think it would be wise to hold your tongue until you know who you're dealing with?" The short, condescending chuckle that followed made Gabrielle's blood boil.

Those words and chuckles had been enough to make an Italian woman want to kill Lena then. How dare anyone think that they had a right to condescend to her? Especially someone so much smaller than her?

Her father was the only thing that stopped the fight at that timed, growing to recognize the signs of Gabrielle beginning to lose her cool. He managed to grab ahold of his daughter before she did anything reckless quickly.

Gabrielle opened her eyes enough to look at the emergency room door as she lifted her head from her hands resting on her knees. How long would they have to wait until someone told them what was happening? The only other person who would've been more impacted would've been Zane. This change had left Gabrielle potentially more than anyone else disconcerted about what was going on.

He loved many people dearly, but if he ended up losing his princess when he wasn't here – that would likely break him even worse than what happened to his wife. Two losses were always more challenging to deal with than one.

"No updates? Hmm, it seems like they are choosing to take an excessive amount of time on someone who just passed out." Dino winced and let out a low hiss as Gabrielle's foot made contact with this shin. It was enough of a warning for the other than wasting time on words.

For some unknown reason, he'd taken it upon himself to follow after them and wait around. The one time he had an excellent opportunity to leave without consequences, he chose not to take it.

"The goal isn't for you to stick around here if you're just going to cause problems. One more unnecessary word from you, and I won't have a problem calling Hester to come and take care of you." Gabrielle didn't even have enough patience to call the other man by nickname. Dino made a mock fear comment but wisely moved out of the way before the other could lay a hand or foot on him again.

"I was only making an observation. I didn't mean anything specific by it. Honestly, I don't know why you're choosing to be so hostile towards me when last time I checked, we didn't end on bad terms." Dino's attempt to pull a response from the woman felt. Her attention had gone back to the hospital room door. Gabrielle didn't have an ounce of energy or care to deal with him.

Meeting again after so many years, Gabrielle couldn't help but wonder if the outcome would've changed if they had ended up getting into a fight? Would Lena still have been willing to take a chance on her? Knowing the princess now, Gabrielle would've said yes. Taking on misfits seemed to be in Lena's nature.

Would Gabrielle ever be able to muster up the courage to hear the answer from Lena herself? That would remain to be seen if she ever found out what exactly was wrong with the princess in the first place. Damn, doctors needed to hurry the hell up.

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