CHIARA
He was so calm. As if he wasn't the one who wrecked the havoc inside the venue or the drumming inside my chest and the screaming in my mind. I faced the front as well, feeling my cheeks heating. "You know, I love causing drama. But what the hell is this, Carmelo?" I said. The second round of the show began, runway models swaying to the beat with different masterpieces adorning them. "Who was the guy you were talking to just now?" he asked. I looked at him to confirm if it was his voice or I was hallucinating. It was so different.
"Juan?" I asked and now it was his turn to glare at me. "You even know his name?" his nose flared. "Hello, there is something called introduction when you meet with new people." He huffed at my response and faced forward, two deep lines forming on his forehead.
"Wait a damn minute, so you came all the way here because you were jealous of some guy I was talking to? You scared the poor guy away." I said, amusement filling my heart. "And now you are defending him to me. I truly need to know who switched our seats."
I chuckled, "Goodness. You are impossible." His grip around my waist softened, he rubbed slow circles instead. "You were flushing your last tooth at him." I clicked my tongue, "I did no such thing,"
"I saw you."
"You saw me from there, with dim lights? What are you, an owl?"
"I'm much better." He clapped back. I buried my face on his neck laughing, "I swear to God, you are out of your mind."
"And whose fault is it?" He faced me with his accusing eyes. "I don't know. Must be the fish we had for lunch, not me.." I pursed my lips at the word fish memories and wobbled my eyebrows, then we both laughed, our foreheads pressed together. All the while I could feel eyes pinned at us. "It's your fault, you little troublemaker." He pinched my cheek lightly. What was I going to do with this caveman?
The show ended. We couldn't get a chance to speak to Viva but we sent her bouquets of flowers to congratulate her. It was an amazing collection and she deserved all the flowers.
We were right outside the venue waiting for our car to reach which was on the queue, when I spotted a chance. "I need to talk to my family." I said to the man, he intertwined our hands, "Alright let's go." I shook my head, "No. Alone." His eyebrows furrowed, "Are you sure, tesoro?" he asked. "Yeah, I'll be right back." I smiled at him.
He looked at where my family was, surrounded by their guards just like us. "Okay then. I'll be right here watching you." He said, kissing my forehead. He tipped Biggy with his head and the tall and toned man with a hardened face came forth, "I'll escort you, Madam." I nodded and walked to them, chin up and back straight.
I went straight to hug my mother, ignoring Antonio's fuming gaze. Biggy stood closely behind me. "Oh, my baby," she hugged me so tight. "How have you been, Mama?" I asked once we pulled away. She smiled, blinking her tears "Good. I missed you. You look well." She replied. I kissed her cheeks, "I am." And then I exchanged a quick hug with Marco.
Once I was done, I stood before the devil and his son. "I need to talk to you, alone." I said to him, "And what makes you think I'll listen to you? You are a disgrace to my family." He sneered and spat. "I'll talk here if you want. So about the Swiss accounts," His eyes widened "Stop!" he blurted. I smirked.
A moment later, we were standing just a few steps away for privacy. Both of us with each of our guards. "How dare you run away, you ungrateful bitch!" he snarled. I scoffed, "Ungrateful? Pray tell, did you want me to stay put while you sell me off overseas?" I burted, feeling the bottled up anger surging in my body.
He looked surprised at my words. "What? Did you think I didn't know your game? I was playing the game with you. You are getting miserably old and weak, Antonio. Admit it. You are weak now." He growled, "Watch your mouth."
I pushed my hair back, "Oh, for fuck sake. Nobody is scared of a useless man hiding behind the Mafia title when you know that you have no such power anymore." He fumed, "You think you won by running away?" I chuckled, "We both know it was a big blow on your side. And let me make this clear, old man. You have no control over me anymore, so you better wake up." I, on the other hand, had full control over his life. But I wasn't going to waste my time arguing with him.
I unlocked my phone and showed the screen to him, "I have with me a list of your Swiss accounts as well as the fraud companies that you have overseas. With how life has been treating you lately, if I release this, you'll be over Antonio." I stated. "What do you want?" He asked, frowning deeply.
"Simple. Don't touch my mother or my brother. If you as much as lay even a finger on them, I'll end you. For good. Do we have a deal, old man?" I raised a brow. He took a step forward, then a gun was suddenly pressed on his temple, even his guard was late to react. "Step back," Biggy uttered. Antonio glared at me, "Deal," he said and walked back, just in time for their car to arrive and they left. For the first time in my entire thirty years on earth, I saw something shocking in his eyes. Fear.
Biggy escorted me back. "How did it go? Are you hurt anywhere? Did he touch you? Let me see," asked Carmelo, turning me around. I stopped his panicking form by hugging him, relief coursing through me, "Great. It went great." He exhaled, pulling me tighter to himself.
I'd prepared myself for his end my entire life. I was nobody's fool. Even if it wouldn't be for long, my threat was enough to keep him from harming my family for the time being.