AN: This is VERY different, out of the realm of anything I've ever done but reading mob-Bucky is the most…I have no words...
This is all human, no superhero's, no vampires, nothing…
Neutral Zone
Summary: James Barnes enters the infamous Figurati to see what the fuss is about. The fuss is worth it.
The young woman hummed to the radio that played soft piano, wiping down the counters.
It was a Sunday night, and she had just served her last customer for the night. It was nearing closing time, and she knew no one else would be wandering in for the night.
Many people had work the next morning, so as she relished in the silence aside from the radio, she decided to work on a menu for tomorrow.
She owned a little bakery, in the middle of Seattle, named Figurati, or 'Imagine' in Italian. She was in an upscale neighborhood, but that didn't mean her little shop on the corner stayed quiet.
It remained untouched by the criminals in the area, and when she purchased the building a year ago, she wasn't aware that what she purchased was considered a neutral zone.
The Mafia was nothing new to her, seen it all her life as a child, but was never actively in it. Her father did her best to shield her from this dangerous world.
When the previous owner held it, many rivals came to have dinner, using this space as a peaceful one, ignoring the bloodshed outside.
The owner was kind, but he was one man that stood his ground and made it clear that this place would not be tarnished by the darkness in the streets.
Many people were surprised when she bought it, but no one bothered her about it. They still upheld the same respect for the place, even if it was owned by her and completely different than the Italian restaurant that stood here before.
As long as she didn't disrespect them, they didn't disrespect her.
She used to visit the owner in his last days, interested in the property even then. The man was a sweet old man, and Bella found her real passion one day when she tried one of his Italian desserts. She decided that she would study the fine arts of sweets and delicious delicacies, combing American and Italian sweets under one roof.
She had plenty of mobsters within her shop before, and not a single one bothered her. They paid well and surprisingly kept the peace.
The bell above her door jingled, and Bella looked up with a smile on her face, only for it to turn into a frown.
This was one face she never expected to see, and one she didn't want to see for the rest of her life.
"You're not allowed in here," She says immediately, standing beside the table she was cleaning, her arms crossed over her chest.
The young man just scoffed. "I'm allowed in here just like everyone else love," Bella purses her lips, her eyes flashing down to his red shoes as he stepped forward.
She held her ground as his hazel-green eyes stared into hers with a cold, and calculated look.
His bronze hair was slicked back with gel, and he was dressed in a white suit. "I'm closed," She says, swallowing back as he stepped closer to her.
She gripped the washrag tighter, her knuckles straining. "Nonsense. You don't close till 9. It's 8:45. You're still open for another 15 minutes,"
Bella sighed, looking to the clock. "What would you like?" She asks, starting to move toward the counter.
Warm hands grabbed her wrist, and Bella stiffened, adverting his gaze. She flinched as her face was jerked up by his rough hand.
"Look at me," He demands, and Bella meets his gaze, her cheeks starting to hurt as he squeezed her face.
"I miss you," He purrs, making Bella shiver. She rears back in his hold as he dips his head in an attempt to kiss her.
Bella's eyes widen as she realizes her mistake. "I'm so-," A loud smack echoed in the shop, and Bella saw stars as her head snapped to the side.
She cried out softly as his grip tightened on her arm. "You deny me? I know we've had some problems, but love…you know better,"
He chastised. Bella held a hand to her stinging face. Her lips wobbled, and she tried to hold back her tears.
Edward scoffed, roughly rubbed her face, and she sniffles at the pain that blossoms.
"Now, let's start over…I said I miss you," He says, the threat clear in his voice. Bella closed her eyes as he kissed her lips. She stood there frozen, her eyes wide, her small body shaking.
Edward just rolls his eyes. "Make me some coffee," He says, shoving her towards the counter. He sits at the bar, pulling out his phone, completely unbothered.
Her hands shake as she puts on a pot, and she just stands there with her back to him, waiting for the 15 minutes to pass.
The bell above the door rings again, and Bella turns around to tell the person they're closed, more so for their safety than hers, but her breath catches at the man that stood there.
This was one person she wouldn't say no to. She's only ever seen him in passing. There before here was James "Bucky" Barnes, dressed in a black suit, his hair tied back into a bun, two thin strands on both sides of his face.
He smoothed down his jacket, his eyes immediately taking her in. "Good evening s-sir, what can I get y-you?" Her voice was still shaken, and she quickly shot her eyes to Edward who was too engrossed in whatever he was doing to notice.
Bucky notices her shaken appearance, and he slides his icy blue eyes to Edward. She pulled out a notepad, and Bucky walks forward, sitting down a few seats away from Edward.
He notices her hand shaking, as she stared at him, clearly waiting for him to speak.
He gives her a gentle smile, and Bella slightly calms, swallowing the lump in her throat.
"What do you recommend sweetheart?" He asks instead, eyeing the menu. Edward snaps his head up at the voice, and he shifts slightly.
This causes Bella to flinch as well, knowing that there was now tension within the room.
Bucky patiently waits, his eyes shifting back to Edward once again who was glaring daggers at Bella.
"Um…if you're looking for something sweet with a little crunch, the Torta Caprese is one of my favorites," She says.
Bucky just nods, watching her bring her hand to her face, and as she turns, he could see the start of a bruise forming on her face.
Bucky just sighs. He hated men who thought women were their personal punching bags.
Women were to be cherished and loved on. Doted on. They should smile and laugh, not shake and cry.
It looked very fresh, and as she went to pour a cup of coffee with shaky hands, he knew that someone didn't follow the rules.
She glided forward, placing the cup in front of Edward. She wrung her fingers together as he sipped from it, his eyes widening. "What the hell is this?" He spat, leaning forward to harshly grip her face. "You know I don't like my coffee this way,"
Remembering where he was, and who he was around, he removed his hand. "Sorry love, I just lose my temper sometimes," Bella took back his cup, and Bucky quietly removed himself from his seat.
He casually walked his way towards the windows, peering outside. He raised his hand, beckoning his men to come inside.
The bell over the door rang, and Bella looked up again, gulping.
She held Edward's hot cup in her hand, now terrified.
Edward had too turned, his eyes widening. Two men went over to Edward and grabbed him by the arms.
Bucky tsked, and turned his eyes over to her. "Do you mind warming up that dessert for me doll?" Bella nodded, unable to say anything as she went to the back to retrieve the dessert he wanted.
Bucky turned his eyes to Edward. "Before I take you to my car…tell me… do you know who I am?" Edward nods.
"Speak ragazzo," Bucky snapped quietly. "Yes!" Edward said in a rush. Bucky moved to stand in front of him. "Then you know the rules about this place, hmmm? No violence,"
Edward looked away in fright as Bucky said something in Russian.
They dragged Edward from the establishment and stuffed him into the black car waiting outside. Bucky slid in across from him with a frown.
The door closed, and Edward's eyes were wide. "I own this block. Everything you see on this corner is mine. Under my rule, my possession, and my protection, that's included its people. Did your daddy teach you any manners Kiska?" Bucky asked calmly, leaning back in the seat.
Edward furrowed his brows at the word but nodded. "I don't think so. My father was Italian, and my mother was Russian. I was taught that you respect your woman. She's the glue that holds you together," He said with such conviction, holding his fingers together to prove his point.
"Why mess up such a pretty face? I've killed men just for jerking a woman around. What do you think I'm going to do to you?" He asked, a smile forming on his face as Edward started to shake.
"This place is a no-violence zone, and that includes its owner. Or did you forget?" Edward frantically shook his head.
Bucky jerked forward, grabbing Edward by the tie, and the one man that stayed inside the car, grabbed Edward by the back of the neck, forcing his mouth open. "What's wrong kiska? Cat got your tongue?"
"No," Edward gurgled, gasping for breath, struggling against the hold on him.
Bucky laughed. "Good. Let's be clear. This place is off-limits to you. If I catch you around here again, I'll slit your fucking throat," Bucky pulled out a switchblade and sliced the skin on Edward's neck.
Edward whimpered.
"You touch that woman again, and I'll cut every finger off your body, shove them down your throat, and I'll chop you up into bite-sized fucking pieces and feed you to my shark…do you understand what I'm saying?"
Edward's eyes filled with tears as Bucky pulled on his tie harder, cutting off Edward's air supply. "I can't hear you," Bucky purred, his eyes hard.
"I understand! I understand!" Bucky let go and cleaned off his blade. "I can't have people thinking I'm not taking care of them…get him the fuck out of my sight," He commanded, and the man kicked Edward in the back as the door opened, and he fell out onto the ground, breathing heavily.
Bucky gracefully slid out, dusting off his jacket, stepping over Edward. He walked back inside and saw Bella shifting from foot to foot, holding an ice pack to her face.
She swiveled around as the bell over the door rang, and her eyes widened a bit. Bucky just sent her a cool smile, sitting down in the seat he sat in minutes ago.
He reached into his pocket, pulling out a handkerchief. He beckoned her forward with a finger, and Bella complied.
"Relax krasivaya. I'm not here to hurt you. Come closer," Bella leans forward, meeting his blue eyes, her brows crinkling as he softly dabbed at her lip, soaking up the blood that trickled from the broken skin.
"Thank you," She whispers. He removes the ice package from her face, examining it to see if the swelling had gone down.
"No need to. You're under my protection. How about that dessert hmmm?" He asked, brushing his knuckles across her face, smiling as she blushed prettily for him.
She glanced over as one of his men, turned her sign from open to closed, and Bucky laid a hand over hers.
She relaxed her shoulders and went to retrieve his dessert, and Bucky laid out some money, more than enough, and Bella glanced at it as she came back, slipping his plate in front of him and a glass of milk.
"I'm sorry, but this is too much. You don't have to…" She trails off, hoping that denying such a payment wouldn't get her killed.
Bucky just laughed. "But I want to," His answer sent chills down her spine, in a good way, and a terrifying way.
He pats the seat next to him, an invitation he wants her to sit. Bella takes off her apron, not wanting to get flour on his clothes, and went to sit.
Bucky ran his eyes over her. She was stunning. Bella watched him as he slowly dipped his fork in the Italian cake, and bring it to his mouth.
The moan he made, and the closing of his eyes was probably the most erotic thing she's ever seen in all her life.
She felt ridiculously hot all of a sudden. He opened his eyes, and they were almost sparkling as he looked at her.
"You made this by yourself?" Bella nods, quite proud of her work. "It's fucking delicious," He says.
Bella blushed at the compliment, and she feels her whole body flush as he holds out a piece on the fork for her to taste. She opens her mouth, and he gently places it on her tongue.
She smiles at him as she chews. This cake brought good memories to her mind.
"I took the liberty of taking care of your problem doll. He won't be bothering you again, nor will he step foot in here. I'm assuming you know who I am?" Bella nods.
Bucky just smiles. "Good, good. You're Isabella? Yes?" Bella nods again, her mouth suddenly short-circuiting as she remembered she was talking to one of the most feared mafia bosses in Seattle.
"A fitting name for a fitting woman," He continues to eat, and he shares the slice with her off and on, completely mesmerized by her.
She smelled like sugar; her long hair tied into a bun. It had a few streaks of flour in it.
As he finishes, he places a card down for her. "It was lovely to meet you Isabella. Call me sometime," He sends her a wink, and he places a gentle kiss on her non-bruised cheek.
His eyes darkened for a moment as he took in her face again. He cleared his throat. "Have a good night doll. I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again," He stands up, and after making sure everything was fine within her shop, he left, disappearing into the night.
Bella's heart beat rapidly out of her chest as she looked down at his card. She picked it up and brought it to her chest.
The very next day, that's exactly what she did.
AN: Hope you all enjoyed it.
I used Google Translate here:
Ragazzo means boy in Italian
Kiska means pussy in Russian
Krasivaya means beautiful in Russian