CARMELO
For the first time in my life, I had to spend a night in a guest room. In my own damn house! I couldn't run away from her forever, but I needed these few hours away from her. I'd tamed the beast for years. Fuck, I'd seen her in swimsuits before. But in a thong? She switched all the gears in my head.
It was night when I called it a day. But instead of going home, I went to Junior's casino. The punk said he got it through some deal he made with someone. The casino used to belong to Antonio Marino and I still couldn't wrap my head around how Junior got the ownership of it. But Junior's Mafia business was not my business. Just like how mine wasn't his.
The casino was thriving. Storm was closely behind me. And I was here to forget some particular wild flower that bloomed in my heart.
Our family had two major worlds to rule, thanks to our fore and fore grandfathers. You either pick the business empire or become the mafia lord but either way, you have to continue one of the family's legacy.
Both of us were groomed for our sole purposes. I'd never go back to those days even if I were to be given an entire world. Our grandfather was a good man but he was also some arrogant bastard who made sure we became who we were today.
I sat at the furthest table in the room, where there wasn't much noise. I raised my hand, and a serving lady came over. Storm sat beside me, eyeing the girl before us.
"What can I get you, sir?" She leaned over the table, showing off her assets. The girl wore a skimpy dress, green hair, big eyes and all. She was hot. But even as I looked at her, I couldn't really see her. Chiara made it that my eyes saw no one and my mind thought of nobody but her. And my heart, don't even start.
"Bourbon, with rocks." Storm answered for me and the girl walked away. See, even my ears were deaf before other women. What did that sexy witch do to me?
"You look miserable as fuck." She shook her head, gazing at the sea of people. "Thank you for your honesty, Storm. Appreciated." I was fucked.
"You two had a fight?"
"I wish it was a fight."
"What did you do?"
"That's so mean. How could you assume I did something without knowing anything?"
"Because men are foolish in relationships most of the time."
I scoffed, "You hate men with passion. No wonder you are not dating."
"Dating is a choice. And look how pathetic it reduced you to." She clicked her tongue. "And for that particular reason, you'll never know what love feels like. Miss men-rage influencer." She frowned deeply. "Who said I was interested?" Her eyes bore on me. "Just resign and sign up for a nun then. I wouldn't mind."
If it were anybody else talking to me like that then I would've long silenced them with my barrel pressed to their skull. But let's be honest, this was Strom. She'll snap my neck before my barrel touches even a hair on her head.
Green head returned with my drink. And like earlier, she began to hit on me. My nose crunched at the sight of her. What the hell was she doing? "Don't even think about it. He is here because he angered his girlfriend. Just get going." Storm waved her off. The girl's face turned sour, "What a waste." She stomped away.
I chugged the drink and placed down the glass with a thud. "Am I drunk or are you seeing what I'm seeing?" I narrowed my eyes at some man who was now harassing the green head. "That's Malfoy." Storm's jaw ticked. "It's him." I clenched my hands. Does he even know what this place is? I doubted that. Junior would've gotten him the moment he was recognized.
Malfoy slapped green head when she kept resisting him. I downed the glass and got on my feet. Storm was hot on my heels. He was about to hit her again but I held his wrist midair. "You don't hit women, you asshole. Go fight the wall if you are so strong." I shoved his hand back. His eyes widened "M—M—Mr. Conti?" he said. "Go," I said to the green head. She quickly scurried away.
Malfoy looked around frantically. This scam bag robbed a big sum from one of our clients at Strada Magica's air bnb and fled. Malfoy was one amongst our agency's drivers. A single bad review from that particular client cost me a fortune. It took me some time to rebuild trust with our clients again. Poor thing didn't think I'd catch him someday since three years have passed already. "I can explain, Mr. Conti." he uttered.
"Bring him." I said to Storm.
He kneeled on the floor pleading before me. While, Storm stood at the door, turning people away who wanted to use the restroom. "Are you done running, Malfoy?"
"I'm so sorry Mr. Conti. Please forgive me."
"What did you do with the money? Last time I checked, your daughter's school fees are yet to be paid. And so does your wife still wash dishes to feed your children." His eyes widened. "You know, I would have forgiven you for breaking my trust if you used the money on your family. But you moron went around wasting it? You are no man." I could tolerate a lot of things, but breaking my trust was not one of them.
"I—I invested it! I can return it!" Bullshit. "Invested in what exactly? Gambling?" His demeanor changed and he suddenly pulled out a gun. "In this. You know, I could just take your guard down with this and then let's see if you still have your arrogance left in you." He pointed at Storm with it, "Everybody knows you are nothing without her." I buried my hands in my pockets. He was threatening me with a .22 Pistol? This was an utter disrespect.
"When will these people learn, boss?" Storm said. I smiled at her words. Never, I guess. "What made you think my boss needs protection, hm? I'm merely here to kill whoever he asks me to." She crouched down to his level. "What do you call it again? A hitman? Yeah, that would be me, big man."
My smile broadened. It's been a while since Storm worked for what I was actually paying her for. Malfoy attempted to push her off and run away but only ended up stumbling face first when Storm easily sidestepped and kicked him on the back. "Now where are you going? You're hurting my feelings." Her tone teased him, but she wasn't. He flipped over, his back pressed to the door and aimed at her.
Malfoy's hands started to shake. "But your boss didn't say a word. He didn't ask you to kill me." Agitation covered his face, while his eyes bounced between me and Storm. She slowly pulled Glock 43 behind her waist and slid the rack, the click resonated in the toilet. "And that, there is your verdict. You should've made my boss talk on your behalf, Malfoy." She uttered, calmly. Malfoy scrambled to open the door but a gunshot rang in the air and it hit straight to the back of his skull. Blood splattered against the door before his body sank down like a sack.
In my family failure is never an excuse. And only after succeeding and proving yourself worthy, is when you are granted with full access to the family's fortunes.
For years, I'd worked my ass off to raise my company, Strada Magica. And then the idiot came, robbed and returned me a couple of steps back. He made me look like a failure to my family. Those were the hardest moments of my life.
"Junior is going to be pissed," I uttered as we walked out of the toilet. "As if you care." Storm replied, tucking back her gun. I grinned, walking out of the casino like nothing happened.