Chapter 5

Anna's POV.

A couple of days passed, and we moved into another safe house. We couldn't stay in any place for too long; and we needed a proper place to prepare to meet the Martinez's. We were meeting today and I needed to score a good impression.

I picked the necklace Liam got me and wore it. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and sighed. I looked different, dresser in an exquisite black gown, a perfect contrast to my usual manly dressing. But who could blame me? My father raised me to be a man.

I heard a quick knock on the door and Liam walked in. He was clad in a suit and looked just as tense as I did, yet he flashed a smile as he walked towards me.

“Ready to go?” he asked, placing his hands on my shoulder. I cringed under his touch, shrugged his hands off and stood up.

“Yes.”

We exited the mansion and embarked on a long drive to the Martinez's.

“Are you tense?”

I turned to look at Liam. “No. I should be the one worried about you. You can't seem to tell a lie without your hand twitching.”

“I can manage. How else do you think I managed to arrange this meeting?”

I rolled my eyes. “Out of sheer luck.”

He smirked. “I'll let you believe that.”

He looked out the window and a moment of silence passed. “I won't bring you into this if I didn't have a plan, Anna. If for any reason I suspect that your life is in danger, I'll call it off.”

He turned to face me.

“My life is in danger either way; at least this way, it'll be on my terms.”

He nodded and looked back outside the window. It was weird for Liam to show any form of care towards me. Growing up, we had the unhealthiest sibling rivalry. It's a miracle that we could sit and talk without aiming for each other's throats.

The car rolled to a stop in front of a gigantic gate. Our driver adjusted the rearview mirror and said, “We're here.”

I took a deep breath, as my mind raced. What if this was a trap and the Martinez's were working with Marcus? What if I messed up the whole act? What if they didn't like me? I exhaled. Control.

The car rolled in and stopped in front of a huge white mansion. Someone opened the car doors and I stepped out. We were ushered into their sitting room and we waited a few minutes.

“There you are.”

I looked up and there she was, Martinez's Widow. She looked younger than I expected she'd be. But she couldn't be that young, not when she had a son as old as Gabriel. She was said to have killed her husband because she had an affair and bore a bastard child. After her husband's death, she laid claim to his seat as Don. She's the only female Don, yet she managed to be one of the most feared. Looking at her now, I couldn't reconcile her with her reputation. Beside her was Gabriel Martinez, my fiance.

“Sorry for keeping you waiting. I had to settle something,” she said.

From the blood stain on her hands, I could imagine what it was.

“It's understandable, Lilian. Business must be attended to.”

“Speaking of which, I trust you've briefed your sister of our arrangement.”

“I have. And your son? I heard he has a fiancee.”

Lilian glared at Liam, who didn't flinch. Control. You had to be in control or at least appear to be in control.

“My son is willing to do whatever it takes for the family.” She lit a cigar and took a long draw. She hadn't spared me a glance. It was safe to conclude that she didn't like me. I, however, didn't care. It was only a marriage of convenience.

“And your Father's stash?” Gabriel asked. His voice had the perfect blend of hoarseness and a depth that made my belly quiver. My gaze glided to him. He had an aura of authority around him; an aura befitting the next Don.

“My father's stash is safe. You don't have to worry about it.”

I watched Liam slide his hands into his pocket. That bastard was going to ruin the plan and get us killed.

“Very well,” Gabriel said, finally turning to face me. “And I expect that you're well-behaved and will do exactly as you're told.”

“Excuse you?”

“What did you say?”

Every eye flicked to me in an instant. Liam's expression seemed to scream ‘what are you doing!?’

I clicked my tongue. “I'm willing to do anything to aid the Martinez name,” I said through gritted teeth.

Gabriel smiled and leaned back in his chair. A maid brought wine and poured it in a glass. I eyed the glass, wondering if it was poisoned or not, and if I should drink it. Liam on the other hand took a swing at his. It would be rude to refuse hospitality. I brought the cup to my lips and just as I was about to sip the wine, I heard footsteps echo through the sitting room.

Lilian's eyes lit up as a smile spread across her face.

“Ha, yes. Meet my second son,” Lilian beamed.

“Hi, mother,” I heard him say and I snapped my head in his direction.

“Aiden, what the fuck are you doing here!?”