34
"Well this is just great, ain't it?" He let out a frustrated breath through his nostrils and pinched the bridge of his nose. "What do you want, Leo?" His green orbs looked back up at me while his hands flopped to the side like a fish.
"Lets strike a deal as usual," I offered.
"I don't have a choice, do I?" I shook my head no and pursed my lips together. "So let me hear it."
"You call off your so called vendetta against her. Never hurt her, never come near her or even think about her, and in return I won't kill you and I'll also convince her to drop the charges against your disgusting behavior. Capisce?"
"What if I don't agree?" He taunted, testing my patience again. Challenging me like that wasn't his best move, but considering he has been a good friend for years now, I had to calm myself down before I killed the man who hurt one too many people.
"If you don't agree," I took a step closer to him, staring into his soul, "you know exactly what I can do. You remember the Romeros, right?" His brows furrowed together in anger while his demeanor became defensive. The Romero family turned down a deal that I made a couple months back to end the ongoing feud between our families and settle it once and for all, but Andrew Romero turned it down and wanted to fight it out, so that's what he got. His life and family, all got lost in the debris of his ruined company that I burnt down in one night. He knew what I could do, but he wanted to act tough and look where that got him. "Now, you don't want that," I continued, "I'm making it really easy for you, so don't test me."
"Fine!" He spat and put his hand forth. "Deal."
"Deal." I smiled and shook his hand. "Let's go have some breakfast." This is going to be one hell of a ride now.
(Arie's POV)
"Come with me," he demanded, standing by the door and combing a hand through his dense mane.
"Where?" I asked.
"Coffee."
"Coffee?"
"Yeah. I'm going to take you to the city, and then I'll finally drop you off at your house." He came forward and took my hand, lifting my lazy ass from the edge of the bed.
"Okay," I responded in a low, solemn tone. After seeing Astor last night, the memories of my birthday flushed back in. Flashes of the heinous act clouded my mind. I could barely breathe. It felt like the entire room and my heart itself was constricting on me. So, the only thing I could think of was to run. Run and never come back, but I couldn't run far. I needed Aunt Wendy to comfort me and tell me that everything was going to be okay.
I called Aunt Wendy yesterday morning after the slapping confrontation with Leo. Mike told her that I left with Leo, as usual, so she wasn't too worried, but was a little disappointed that I didn't call her and cancelled on our plan of a fun family dinner with Ashton.
I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't realize I was in the passenger seat of a Ferrari. This man had a new car everyday by his side. I hadn't seen the exterior of this mansion considering I was unconscious when I was brought in. A huge fountain was decorated in the middle of a large round driveway with multiple luxurious cars parked off to the side in the garage that could hold up to approximately twenty cars. The pillars at the entrance of the mansion were decorated with vines snaking around them with orchids that were scattered all over, embellishing it even more and giving it a welcoming look.
Rolling my eyes, I strapped myself in and let Leo whisk me away from here. Screeching the tires against the gravel, he drove out the driveway that went on forever. Large trees and beautiful bushes were groomed nicely on each side. After an extremely long five minutes we were finally at what was the main gate to the mansion. Driving swiftly out of there, Leo took me into the city.
My eyes stared out the window, looking at people on the side as we sat in the infamous New York traffic. Pulling into a private secluded parking lot, he parked the car and ran to my side to open the door for me. As usual, he was in a tight tailored suit that showcased each muscle on his beautiful body. His hair loosely hung in front of his eyes as he looked down at me.
After a few blocks of walking, we sat down at a beautiful cafe next to the huge window. Leo ordered us two coffees and sat across me at the small table.
"So what's this about?" I finally broke the awkward silence between us.
"I wanted to get you alone one last time before I drop you off at your house," he smiled sweetly at me, his perfect teeth peeking through.
"What do you mean one last time?" I furrowed my brows.
"This might possibly be the last time you ever see me." I felt an arrow pierce right through my chest, making my heart sink deep and drop to the floor. My lips parted slightly, but nothing escaped them. I didn't know what to say or think. I didn't even know what I felt or why I even felt like this. Noticing my disheartening expression, he continued, "But first we are going to enjoy this delicious coffee," a barista put our drinks down and left, "and have a very important conversation."
"Okay." I whispered as I took a sip of the coffee, swirling the hot liquid in my mouth before swallowing it down.
"You know what I honestly thought of you when I first met you?" He asked, outlining the rim of his coffee cup.
"What?" I asked curiously.
"You were intriguing and I wanted to get in you in my bed like all the other girls." Well okay.
"I admire your honesty," I laughed, placing the cup down on the table. "Seeing that we haven't even kissed, let alone sleeping together, what changed?"
"I got to know you. I got to know that little heart of yours and the amount of strength you have in it," he flashed his perfect teeth at me sweetly.
My eyes softened as I continued drowning into his sea blue eyes. The sincerity in them brought a sense of calmness and content over me. In that very moment, I knew I felt something for him. Ray was right, it wasn't fear that made my heart throb every time he was around, but the butterflies in my belly that would do flips and the satisfaction that I'd get from just looking at him. I didn't want to acknowledge that feeling but I can't help it anymore. Saying this was possibly the last time we were seeing each other, the hidden feelings came floating to the surface without a warning, making my heart ache in agony and trepidation.
"I know that sounds real cheesy, but it's the truth," he spoke up again when I didn't say anything.
"It's a good thing that I love cheese, Mr. Pepperoni," I chuckled, making him laugh.
"I'm going to miss this, and you," he pursed his lips together and looked down with a glint of sadness in his eyes.
"This doesn't have to be the last time." I reached over the table and brushed my hand over his.
He pulled it away and looked up at me. "There's no reason to keep you close anymore. The threat will be gone."
I shifted in my seat as I realized what he was talking about. "It was Astor, wasn't it? He's the one behind all the attacks." He nodded and stared into his lap guiltily. I spent the entire night thinking about that disgusting man. I had an inkling that he was behind it and it was so dumb of me to not have thought of about that fucking possibility. "What did you offer him to let me go?"
"What?" He looked up immediately, feigning confused.
"Don't act stupid. You know exactly what. You're friends with that man."
"Yeah. My second year at Yale was when I met him. Having the same family business, we hit it off insta..."
"I don't want to know your history with him," I interrupted Leo. "I want to know what you offered him to not kill me?"
"I told him that you'd withdraw your case and won't utter a word about it ever again."
"Is this a joke?" My eyes widened in shock and anger. He had to be kidding, right? He shook his head no and stuck his gaze on me. "How could you?" I spoke in a low brittle tone, my eyes on the brink of dropping some tears. "How could you do this to me?"
"Listen to me, love!" He demanded as he tried grabbing my hand.
"No!" I pulled my hands away from him. I didn't have the energy to raise my voice at his disgusting demands and create a scene. "How could you promise something like that to him when you know what he did to me?" My voice wobbled as a tear cascaded down my flushed cheek. I felt betrayed and another arrow pierce through me.
"I haven't promised anything to him, love." He uttered in a low voice, trying to convince me.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean I haven't promised him anything at all." He took my hands into his. "Nothing," he emphasized. "Do you really think that I'll let that man get away with what he did to you?"
"So, what are you saying?" I knitted my brows.
"I may have told him that you will withdraw your case, but since I keep my promises, I didn't promise him that. So, I'll bring him to justice one way or another for you. Whatever it takes." He cupped my cheeks in his big hands as his thumb brushed a lone tear away.
"You'd betray your friend for me?"
I didn't understand this. How could he betray his own friend, a person who he had known way before me, for a random girl he met a month ago. A mob boss protecting a random girl who even slapped him was ridiculous.
"He's not going to pursue you anymore. So, let me drop you off now." He completely ignored what I asked and sailed into a different direction. My heart sank again when he grabbed my wrist and walked out onto the concrete sidewalk filled with people and vendors on the sides. He let go of my wrist and placed the same hand on the small of my back. I didn't know what I could do or say. Various emotions were running wild in my heart and mind. It was all going to be over. Astor would pay for what he did and I'd go back to my life that would never be normal anymore.
I had to bury my feelings for Leo deep down and never think about him, but it would be hard. Very hard. My attraction towards him had grown immensely even though I didn't admit it to myself or anyone.
My head hung low as my boots thumped on the concrete. I wanted to cry into his chest and hold him there, but I knew I couldn't do that to him or myself, so I had to just suck it up now and go back to my sad life.
"Keep walking or else you both die," a man threatened from behind me as I felt something hard press against my back. It felt like a muzzle of a pistol. Leo removed his hand immediately as his body stiffened.
"Try something and this girl will die," another man warned Leo. From the corner of my eyes I could see Leo's jaw clench together as his mandible twitched. The nerves in his head were viciously protruding in anger that I was afraid they might burst any moment. But then a dangerous smirk began to form on his face.
"That Irish bastard!" He spat.