FULL OF SURPRISES AREN'T YOU?

Ariana’s pov~

The entire villa started to shake, as men trooped out from every corner of the house surrounding Igor and the men he brought.

Mateo stood straight and clenched the railings of my balcony.

“And who the fuck are you!” he inquired, his tone resonating with fury.

“I'm Igor, and I heard the whore I'm looking for lives here, she stole from me!” Igor thundered and I shivered where I ducked.

“There are no thieving whores here, you have the wrong place” Mate replied “I see you brought your protection so I know you are a man of some calibre, but I will not tolerate your sudden outburst in my home!” Mateo declared, 

“ I'm looking for a woman by the name of Cayenne, she’s an exotic dancer, she works in a club in Malta” I heard Igor say.

I trembled, and my clothes started feeling tight around my body.

“Someone from the town said I could find her here” he added.

Someone from town? 

I saw Mateo gesture for me to come out of my hiding spot.

“Why does Mr Igor have a picture of you and your cousin?” he asked, confusion evident in his handsomely chiselled face.

I was mute as I stood a few inches away from him, I couldn't face him now that he was about to discover my well-hidden past.

I have now left a life in Malta that I missed and prayed to go back to every night.

“I'm waiting for an answer” he mentioned, pulling me towards the balcony and pointing at the photos Igor was holding up, “it's not what you think Mateo” I stuttered as Igor glared at me with furious eyes.

“A whore? You are full of surprises aren't you?” Mateo smirked, “how can I be certain that this child you are carrying is even mine?” he asked, the question pierced my heart, my dignity as a woman hanging in the balance.

Here I am paying for my cousin’s sin, my chastity is in question, and I remained mute, praying silently for Igor to disappear.

Mateo turned to Igor, “Let's discuss this like civilized men, I will arrange a time to meet, and we can discuss reparations” he announced, but Igor was not a calm man, the scar on his face squeezed into his lower eye as his face turned into a scowl.

“No! I want that whore, she has customers lined up, waiting for her, she a popular dancer in Malta’s biggest clubs, that one, I'm either getting my money or I'm getting the whore, today” Igor proclaimed, I watched as Mateo’s soft eyes turn bloody, the veins in his neck thickened as he clenched his jaws in anger, in a swift second he had pulled the gun out of his holster, aimed and shoot Igor’s bodyguard in the head, he fell forward and laid dead at Igor’s feet, the blood oozed out and made a trail towards the garden.

“I am not the kind of man to fuck with, ask about me, this one…” he started, as he held my arm firmly “I bought her fair and square, she belongs to me, you will not have her” he declared, my racing heart suddenly started to relax, thankful for the first time to belong to this murdering psychopath .

Startled by Mateo’s action, Igor readjusted in his steps as he looked up at me, I quickly averted his gaze, “My people will contact yours with my demands, and I hope for the sake of your whore that they are met, just like you im not a man to fuck with” he replied before turning and gesturing for his other guards to follow. 

We watched as Igor shot us one last glare before leaving the villa, Mateo turned to me

“A dancer…” he started “My dear wife a dancer, how did I not know this?” he laughed softly.

“It's not anyone’s business how I choose to live my life” I replied, slowly backing away from him as he reached out to grab my arm.

“What exactly did you and your cousin steal from Mr. Igor? I know of him, he is not a nice man” he inquired, finally grabbing my hand and pulling me close to him.

“I knew you were trouble the first time I saw you in that red dress,” he whispered in my ear softly, words that sent shivers down my spine, i pulled away from him immediately.

“It's a misunderstanding…” I started.

“A misunderstanding?” he asked moving closer to me again.

“Yes a misunderstanding, I didnt steal anything and…”

“That's not what Mr. Igor says…. He says you stole from him, what exactly did you steal wife?” he asked, cornering me at my bedpost.

I fell to my bed and watched as he held my bedpost and smiled at me. He wore a black shirt, and the two first buttons were loose exposing the hair on his chest. I hesitated for a second, then looked away.

“Fiona found a case half filled with gold bars” I confessed, mateo looked at me with surprise evident in his emerald eyes.

“And where is this case, Mrs. Donatelli?” he asked with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.“We spent it all” I confessed , closing my eyes in shame.

“Audacious aren't you?” he laughed taking my hand and pulling me up.

“I'll pay off yours and your cousin’s debt if you would indulge me in something in return” he stated.

I looked up at him, his eyes looked mischievous all of a sudden, I knew it would be something costly.

“Dance for me tonight” he finally said.

“No” I retorted, yanking my hand away from his grasp, “It either you dance for me tonight or I sell you to Mr Igor, and trust me, he is much worse than I am,” he remarked, he turned and started walking to the door.

“Get ready in an hour, you will be accompanying me to a meeting” he informed as he opened the door, “and Becky is coming with us” he finished closing the door behind him.

I slumped on the bed, this can't be happening to me, dance for Mateo? 

I grabbed my phone lying lazily on the bed and called Fiona.

“Igor was here this morning! “I exclaimed 

Fiona’s shaky voice was low “This is all my fault Ari im so sorry,” she pleaded.

“I'm partly to blame, we spent it together” I informed her, I heard her voice relax and her normal tone bounced back.

“Mateo is willing to pay it off if I dance for him,” I said looking toward the roof and slumping to the bed.

Fiona was quiet for a while then I heard her ask “Does he know the kind of dance you are into?” 

“Well my dearest cousin, he will find out tonight, I just hope he can stomach it”