My lips stretch into a smile. “I have to disarm your men” his voice is low, challenging. I hummed, waving my hand for him to have at it, I moved to step forward but Ivan held out his arm in front of me. I clear my throat, my polite smile dropping flat, the look I shoot him has him putting his arm down quickly. Valentina’s man, Maxim, steps to the side, letting me walk through, Ivan and Rico coming in behind me. Tilting my chin up, I follow where the sound of the voice came from, my heels clicking on the marble floors. Valentine is sitting on her patio at the side of her house, overlooking a small garden. I step through the wide double doors, smoothing a hand over my hair, pulled back into a low ponytail, the ends of my hair sweeping over my spine as I walk. I wonder where her other men are, seeing none of them around, this will be easier than I thought. She is dressed in a soft blue sweater and a long cream coloured skirt, pearls at her throat and ears, and her ever pre
The entire family is waiting for me when I get back. “Are we having a family gathering? Why didn’t anyone invite me?” I suppose they heard about my unplanned visit to Valentina and called a meeting. Tommy jumps from the couch, hands outstretched and I think he wants to come in for a hug, his hands clasped on my shoulders instead turns me to the right and then to the left, he draws back with a frown, “You’re fine” I watch his retreating back as he heads back to the couch, “Should I not be?” “I heard you threatened my mother, please tell me that is true?!” Matteo responds and then bursts into laughter. Niko glared at his uncle and then his eyes shifted to me. I read the annoyance in his gaze. “Don’t encourage her,” Eva chastises him. “That was beyond, foolish, I don’t know what to say to you right now” she scolded with a shake of her head. Still laughing he leans forward, “What I would I given to see it happen, Ivan did you at least sneak a picture of Mother’s face?” Ivan sha
The second I was out of sight, I braced a palm flat against the nearest wall, my heart beating so fast behind my ribs, I felt like I was on the verge of fainting. I try to get my bearings. My hands tremble I have to bring my right to my chest. My knees knocked together and sweat beaded on my forehead. I licked my dry lips and focused on my breathing exhaling through my mouth. I’d put on a brave face in front out there, that I wasn’t scared of Valentina. Truth be told, I am terrified of the woman. I’d given the performance of a lifetime and the anger boiling in my chest gave me an edge. It had to be done and I don’t regret it. Valentina Salvatore is a bully. Plain and simple. I've known a few in my life, My aunt Sara and daughter Katherina to mention, and a few from my time at the academy. The only way to get them to back off is to stand up to them. She treats everyone as less than and expects us to fall at her feet. She was very harsh with Eva, the thought of it gave me shiv
“What? When” I was already sitting upright but my spine went ridge at her words, I was not expecting her to say that. “To who? I didn’t tell him, he found out” I felt the need to get that out of the way. Her brows come together in a frown, before smoothing over, she really thought I outed her. I promised her I wouldn't. “He informed Valentina and me of his decision just yesterday, I believe his exact words were; Eva was married to a capo for more than a decade, she knows too much we shouldn’t let her run free as we have lest she forget her place, someone should keep an eye on her” she recounts, though her features remain uncaring, the words come out gritted. My jaw was literally hanging. He said what!?“You can imagine Valentina was thrilled about it.” I smack my palms on my lap. “Why would he do such a thing?!” And to involve Valentina? She hates Eva with a passion. “As punishment and a warning,” she said with a light shrug of her shoulders.Damn it. I knew he was mad but not t
I push the double stroller with Maria walking beside me, it is still early in the day and the sun isn’t out fully so I thought both the babies and I could use some air, then we find a good spot on the floor in the gardens to spread out a fluffy blanket unstrapping the children Angelo is already swinging his legs and fist with excitement form being let out, Maria drops the basket of toys so they can play. I make a mental note to take them out on walks more often. For the next half hour, I lay on my side, my head popped up on my hand as I watched my children. My little loves. Angelo and Micaela have a grand time mumbling gibberish to each other giggling and fighting over toys, yelling loudly. I feel an unfathomable joy as I watch their interaction, Caela tosses something to the side the yells “Ma?” Pointing at the toy. I shake my head, trying to be stern “You threw it there you get it” She attempts a cry to get her way and I laugh under my breath, “Bring it to Mama baby” I h
** I nod. He was right, this wasn’t the time for a mental breakdown or to get overwhelmed by my thoughts. His hands leave my shoulders, “I saw Maria putting a cake in the oven on my way here, it’s been about an hour already, perfect timing if you ask me” he is smiling once more. I shoved what I’ve learned to the back of my mind. “Sure” I agreed. Some cake sounded nice. Nice one Lola, eat your feelings away. Gia texts to inform me the twins are still sleeping so I remain downstairs and gorge myself on chocolate goodness. Tommy leaves after an extra slice he doesn't mention our conversation in the gym, in fact, he acts like it never happened. For a moment I wondered if he let slipped on purposes, One might think Tommy was a blabbermouth because he was always joking and laughing, but he was no fool. He knows I know nothing of the nature of the family business, for him to let it slip like that? Nope. Especially knowing Niko prefers me to stay out of it. And after Eva
I went upstairs after that, was there anything more for me to learn, lost in my thoughts, Did I want to call Maria and question her within an inch of her life and finally find out what was going on in my own house? Yes, I did. Why was I the last to find out anything of substance around here? It was the same as when Valentina came around and dropped the union in our laps. It was as though everyone was expecting it but me. What was I doing wrong? It had to be something, to be so excluded in my family. I wanted nothing more than to line them up and get to the bottom of it all. They made it their job to inform me of the happenings of the family, most of the information they got in the form of gossip from the maids of other households. Apparently, all I was entitled to was petty gossip like who was sleeping with the servant and who fathered a bastard behind his wife, never anything truly meaningful. Gianna who hasn’t been to visit in a while Sebastian, her husband insisted it’s
“It hurt” I murmured into the darkness, answering my own question blinking back the dampness behind my lids. The tightening in my throat, that bitter taste on my tongue, the heavyness in my chest. I felt like I couldn't breathe. It hurts. I tried to steady my breathing, and pushed back the tears I felt brimming behind my lids. But it was hard. I just wanted to let it out. I didn’t want to think it, I didn’t want to feel this way but I couldn’t help it. Like Tommy said, he didn’t lie outright, but what difference is there? Puffing out a loud breath, I buried my face in my palms, massaging my eyes with the heels of my palms. It was one thing I never had to fear with Niko, he never lied to me, most often, when I asked him a question he would answer, or say nothing if he didn’t want to, no matter how unpleasant it was or upsetting, to the extent I tried not to ask some certain questions, knowing I wouldn’t like the answers, and now I wasn’t so sure. Didn’t he trust me…?