40
"Fine!" I growl at Mike and drag myself back to the couch. Turning my attention back to the traitor, I say "You have five minutes to explain before I do something that even mother won't be able to stop me."
Only my mother had the power to talk me out of something, no one else, not even my own father whom everyone feared. I respected her more than anything and anyone in this world.
I slouch forward in my seat, placing my elbows on my knees and bringing my hands up to my face, interlocking my fingers. "Cazzo di parlare! (Fucking talk)"
Mike helped Wren up to his feet and said, "You better start making use of that mouth as usual or I won't be able to protect you from his wrath any longer."
"I haven't done anything," he began talking, "I don't even know where you got that idea from."
"Less than two hours ago you called that phone," I point towards the cellphone that laid bare on my glass desk, "and asked if the job was done. It belongs to one of the stronzi (assholes) that attacked me."
His eyes widened in disbelief as he wiped away his half dried tears. "Astor?"
"We know it's Astor but it doesn't explain why you were on the other end of the line."
"I went to his office to hangout as usual but then he handed me a burner phone and told me to call a number and to ask the person if the job was done."
"What are you? His errand boy? Fucking monkey on a leash?" I spat.
"I've done it multiple times before. I didn't know the hit was on you. He framed me into all of this. But I don't know why he would do that?"
"He's trying to kill Arie for lodging a complaint against him for raping her," I let a frustrated sigh, "so I threatened him to call off the hit on her or I would ruin him and he agreed to it but then..."
"Of course it's that fucking girl," Wren bellowed while Federigo scoffed, "it's always that fucking..."
"Watch it!" I warned him. "I'll still unload a bullet in your head. I'm not quite down from there."
"Look what she has driven you to do. You hit me because of her. You went against Astor, your own friend and family because of her. What else is she gonna make you do now?"
"He's right," Federigo intervened and stepped forward. "That girl is toxic. You need to rip her out of your life."
"I don't need you two to tell me what to do." I hissed at the two ignorant men while mother stood with a worried expression and Mike with a grin planted on his face. He was definitely enjoying the drama as usual.
"Astor is the one at fault here," mother decided to speak up too. "Leo is just trying to protect that girl from Astor and I'm still unable to wrap my head around his heinous act. He made a mistake by attacking this family and he will pay for it."
"But this would have never happened if he didn't confront Astor about it," Wren said and scooted onto the sofa next to me. Is he trying to die?
"I don't need you two to tell me what to do," I glare at Wren, making him scoot right off, "and I don't think I have ever made a wrong decision, have I?" I look between the four humans in the room and wait for them to say otherwise. "That's what I thought. I rule the fucking empire, not you. You handed me the reins so you don't tell me what to do now. I know what I'm doing so I don't need any of you to interfere in my ruling. Five years is how long I've been at it and it's going perfectly smooth. I have dealt with scumbags like him, so it's nothing new."
"The difference is that he's family and he also knows everything about us." Wren said.
"He was family, not anymore," I correct him and lift myself off the couch. "We know everything about him too."
He begins laughing hysterically.
"What's so funny?" I narrow my eyes at him.
"I'm just imagining Belle's reaction. She's either ripping your balls or Astor's balls out." He continued his maniacal laugh.
"No one says a word to her. I'll talk to her myself."
With that, I storm out of the office and begin making my way towards my room with Mike catching up to me. "How many men are outside her house?" I say before he could bombard me with some of his shitty wise talk.
"Currently twenty-five."
"Have another twenty-five men outside her house and ask them to rotate from time to time. She must not be left unguarded. Put some on her aunt and brother too. He'll probably go after her family as well."
"You got it. How's your arm?"
"It hurts but not as bad."
"You need to give the mighty alcohol a break. You act impulsively when you ingest it."
"You know I don't drink much. Only when I'm mad." I continue to walk up the stairs with my shoes thumping on each step.
"Exactly! You feed your anger with that."
"Oh shut up already. I've had enough for today." I strut into my room and plop on my mattress. "Close the door when you leave." Pulling the silky covers over me, I shut him and his talk out.
"You love her, don't you?" My heart skipped a beat when he said 'love'. I cared about her a lot, but love? No. That isn't possible. My heart is incapable of love after everything that has happened with Ve... Even saying her name hurts me.
I pretend to snore in hopes of getting rid of Mike. I hear him let out a chuckle before he strolls away and shutting the door, leaving me to drown with my demons and perpetuating thoughts that I can never get rid of.