CHAPTER 2

DIEGO HERNANDEZ:

After taking a shower, I wrapped a towel around my waist and made my way out of the washroom. Picking out my suit from the closet I dressed up and went downstairs, Dad was waiting for me at the breakfast table. I went and took a seat in front of him.

"Morning Dad." I greeted him.

"Morning son." He replied.

A maid served my breakfast. I started eating my food while looking at my phone growing through the mail when Dad said "Son you need to remember one thing."

I looked up from my phone at him with my brows furrowed.

"You are now 30, you realize that?"

"I know that Dad," I replied.

He smiled "Then why aren't you getting married."

I rolled my eyes.

Not again.

"I'm fine Dad. I don't want to take any more responsibilities."

"A girl in your life will do you good."

"Stop Dad, please. Don't start again." saying that I focused back on eating.

"I am getting older Diego, is it wrong that I want to see my son married before I die?"

I sighed and got up from my seat.

"I'll think about it Dad for now I have to leave. See you."

I left the house.

As I reached my company, I directly made my way towards the meeting room. Everyone stood up from their seat and greeted me, I signaled them to take their seats back, and the meeting began.

"Mr. Austin please begin with the explanation," I said and he got up from his seat and started explaining.

After I was done with the meeting, I went to my office room and sat on my seat leaning my back against the chair I closed my eyes. The meeting took more time than I expected and it was damn frustrating.

There was a sudden knock on the door I muttered 'come in' my assistant, Angela came in, and I gave her a questioning look.

"Sir Mr. Cameron is here to see you." She informed.

"Christopher Cameron?" I asked in confusion.

"Yes sir." She answered.

Strange. Why is he here?

"Why?"

"He said he has some business to discuss about."

I nodded "Send him in."

She nodded and left the room. A few minutes later she came back with Christopher Cameron following her and with him of course his son, Aaron.

I got up from my seat.

"Diego."

"Should I say, it's nice to see you here?" I asked.

He smiled.

I looked at Angela "You may leave and yes I don't want any disturbance for a few minutes at least." She nodded and left.

I looked back at Christopher "What do you want Cameron?" I asked him seriously.

He chuckled "I see so no greetings, nothing. We are talking straight business?" He came towards my table and both of them took a seat in front of me.

"We can sit and talk." He said making me roll my eyes.

I sat back on my seat "Start talking."

"Simon needs a favor from you."

I scoffed "I see, so you are here as his messenger."

"Fucking rude." Aaron cursed from beside him.

I smiled "Oh trust me you haven't seen the rude side of mine yet." Saying that I looked back at Christopher.

Christopher continued "You can say whatever you want but we need your help right now. It's important."

"You need my help? That sounds interesting. Continue." I said with a smirk on my lips.

"I am serious Diego."

"Are you now?" I leaned forward looking straight into his eyes and asked "In what exactly do you need my help?"

He sighed "You know Arabella?"

"Arabella?"

"Yeah. Simon's sister."

"Heard of her from Simon when we used to be friends. Why?"

"Simon wants you to marry her," Christopher said making me totally confused.

"He what?"

"He wants you to marry her."

I scoffed "And why on earth does he think I am going to do anything like that?"

"Because you are his friend."

I raised my index finger "Correction, we were friends. Past tense."

"He still considers you as his friend."

I sighed "I don't care. And you can leave now. Tell Simon not to expect anything from me further on." I said getting up from my seat.

"You have to marry her Diego," Christopher said again getting up from his seat.

"Why on Earth do you all think I would do that? Just fucking get out of here."

"She's in danger." This time it was Aaron who spoke up. "Arabella is in danger and all our men are dying one by one, only you can protect her now."

"Glad to know that and sorry to disappoint you. Now leave."

Christopher took out his phone and gave it to me "Talk to Simon once."

I looked at the phone with my jaw clenched then took the phone from him.

"Diego."

"Simon."

"Good to hear you." He said.

"Why do you want me to marry her?" I asked directly.

"Arabella is the only person I have. After Mom-Dad's death, she's the only one I have and she's my life, you know that Diego. She's in danger now and we both know you are powerful enough to keep her safe. She'll be safe with you."

"You are there to keep her safe. You are more powerful than me, you are a mafia leader."

"If I was capable of doing that then my men wouldn't have been dying one by one. I need a place to keep her safe, seeing the current situation he can attack at any time at our house and I really don't want Arabella to be there. I am scared if Vincent finds Arabella, he would show no mercy to her."

"Vincent?"

"Yes, Vincent. Familiar name?"

"He is the one killing your people?" I asked. I could feel anger building up inside me.

"Yes."

"Why is he killing your men?" I asked.

"I killed his father. It was necessary."

"Don't involve me in your business. Deal with it yourself."

I was about to hang up when he said again "It's not her fault. I am the one responsible for everything and I don't want her to suffer."

"Then you should've thought about her before getting into this mess. I asked you to leave this mafia thing but you didn't listen."

"I couldn't. There's no exit from the mafia, Diego."

I rolled my eyes "I am not doing this Simon."

I was about to hang up but he said "Wasn't Vincent the one who killed Olivia?"

That made me stop "Don't Simon." I said with a clenched jaw.

"The love of your life Diego, he killed her."

"Stop Simon."

"It wouldn't change the truth Diego, he killed her, and that too on your wedding day. I can do the job of killing him, you just need to keep my sister safe. I swear I'll kill him. You want him dead, don't you? He took Olivia away from you. Just do me this one favor and keep Arabella safe. I know you are powerful enough to do that. He won't hurt you because even touching you will get him into trouble. You are a famous public figure, he wouldn't want to take the chance of the cops of the whole town getting after him."

"Is your sister involved in killing stuff?"

"She is innocent that's why he'll use her to get to me."

I remained quiet.

"As an old friend, I am as, king this from you Diego. I know you too want Vincent dead, why not we do this together? Or he will hurt Arabella just like he did to Olivia."

He is right, he knows me well. I do want him dead.

"I'll think about it, Simon," I replied.

"Just say yes, please. I need to keep her safe." I hung up the call and gave the phone back to Christopher.

"I want to know about Vincent. Everything about him." I said to him.

Simon and I, we were friends for 5 years. 2 years ago, when I got to know about him being in the mafia, I asked him to leave the mafia and do something else but he didn't. I hate the mafia after that Vincent guy killed Olivia. Simon has been in the mafia business for almost 15 years, he said there's no out from the mafia. As a friend, I couldn't tell the cops about this but since that day Simon and I, we never remained friends anymore.

Christopher started "15 years ago, there were two gangs in New York. The leader of one of them was Simon's father and the leader of the other gang was Antonio Salvatore. Antonio Salvatore's son was Vincent. No one knows his real name, and no one has ever seen him but his people used to call him Vincent, he was the most powerful man in Antonio's gang. In his presence, no one could harm Antonio but Simon had to kill Antonio."

"Why?"

"He betrayed Simon's gang. They made a deal that both the gang won't cause any harm to each other and do their business without causing any problems to each other but Antonio used Vincent to murder Simon's men. He wanted to take over Simon's business. To fulfill his greed, he also killed Simon's father and mother so Simon had to end this by ending Antonio."

"So now his son is back to take his revenge. This is insane."

"Arabella is innocent, she hasn't done anything. Save her. You are the only hope we are left now with or we would've never tried to marry her against her will neither would we force you."

"I'll let you know what I decide. You can leave now."

Christopher nodded and made his way toward the exit door, Aaron looked at me and said "Think about it please." Saying that he left.

Taking a deep breath, I rubbed my face with my hands trying to think about whatever Simon said calmly.

"Marrying her will just drag me into this mafia thing and I know this very well but I want revenge too from Vincent."

"Fuck you, Simon."

Taking my phone, I called my private investigator.

"Caleb."

"Sir."

"I want to know everything about this girl named Arabella Cameron."

"Yes sir."

"You have time till tomorrow morning. Every damn thing about her Caleb."

"Yes sir."

The whole day passed by me trying to focus on my work but I couldn't focus properly, all the time it was just the marriage thing that was disturbing me.

I really don't want to get into this mess.

By the night, I decided not to marry that girl but the thing that changed my decision was the file that Caleb handed me over about Arabella.

Name: Arabella Cameron

Age: 24 years

Zodiac sign: Sagittarius

Birth Place: New York City

Height: 5'6

Eye color: Hazel

Hair color: Black

Parents: Brandon Cameron and Emilia Cameron

Siblings: Simon Cameron

Profession: Author

Food Habit: Non-Vegetarian

Likes: Reading, Writing novels, Listening to music, Loves cooking

Friends: None

Relationships: None

And it went on like that but one thing caught my attention, for 6 months she has been at home. Not once did she get out of the house.

For 6 months she hasn't been spotted by anyone, according to the paparazzi it is confirmed that she has been in her house for more than 6 months due to some family reasons.

I am damn sure it is because of Vincent.

But whatever I read about her I noticed one thing she is totally opposite to Simon. Her likes and dislikes everything is just opposite to Simon's. And one more thing no one knows she has a brother, named Simon Cameron.

The media doesn't know about Arabella being Simon's sister. Woah! Simon, I am impressed. He is trying to keep her safe by not associating her with himself.

There was a picture of her too attached to the file.

I scanned the picture, she's innocent

I scanned the picture, she's innocent. Because of Simon, her life is in danger.

Getting up from my seat I went in front of the large glass window and stood there staring outside.

I don't want another innocent girl to die in his hands.

Simon was right, he is not capable of protecting her not looking at the current situation for sure and I can't let her suffer because of Simon's mistake but I don't want to get into this mafia thing. It's fucking dangerous.

Thinking the whole day about it I finally called Christopher in the evening.

"Diego?"

"I'll marry her," I said directly.

"I knew you would. I am really grateful to you Diego."

"Yeah, whatever."

"But I have a request."

"What?"

"You can't tell her that she's in danger. We can just tell her you are marrying her for some business deal."

I smirked "She doesn't know about Simon being in the mafia, does she?"

"No. She doesn't and let's keep it that way. We don't want her to know that's why we decided to marry her to you."

I hung up the call.

It's very dangerous I know but for my revenge, I have to do this.