I barely got any sleep last night; I kept tossing and turning for what felt like hours. My mind kept wandering to Ariana and her mother. Forming some sort of alliance, nothing made sense to me at this very moment. What does she expect me to do? Does she even want me to do anything? Would Vincenzo even allow me to do anything? Not that he would have a say in what I can and can’t do.
I checked the time 10 am, Ariana should be awake by now. I grab my grey sweats hanging on my chair and throw on a black tank. Walking out of my room I put my hair in a high ponytail before knocking on Maria’s door. I heard muffles coming from her room … is she in there with someone?
I open the door and to my horror, Maria was on top of Lorenzo both half-naked. I couldn’t help the dramatic scream that left my lips as I stood at the door completely scared.
Jumping at the sound of my voice Maria jumps into bed covering herself with the blanket while Lorenzo lays down looking smug. ‘Oh, I think I’m gonna be sick.’ I place my hand over my chest and lean down. ‘Oh, come on chica, we are quite the view.’ Maria slaps Lorenzo on the chest causing him to let out a dramatic gasp holding his heart like he had just been shot. ‘I stand corrected Kinky Chica’
My mouth hung open as my eyes widen, the sound of footsteps broke me out of my gaze as I saw a shirtless Vincenzo approaching. Now my eyes and mouth had another reason to be wide open. ‘Why were you yelling and what …. cazzo’ he sighs as he comes into view.
‘Great I didn’t know we were having a floor show GET OUT,’ Maria screams in horror as I and Vincenzo continue stare at them none of us moving an inch. ‘Yeah, were busy’ Lorenzo mummers as he goes in for a kiss. ‘AYE, AYE, AYE. LORENZO FUCKING KING, HANDS AND MOUTH WHERE I CAN SEE THEM.” I shout stepping inside slapping his hands off my sister.
“Gross that’s my sister. If you insist on kissing, do it when I’m not around.’ he nods understandably before plastering the fakest smile known to man “Chica, get out.”
‘I can’t do that’ I state, Vincenzo looks at me with furrowed eyebrows confused on why I would want to stay in the room.
I looked between Lorenzo and Maria then back at Vincenzo. ‘Wha- If I leave he’ll fucking kiss my sister’ I whine looking at Vincenzo. Maria by now melted all the way into the sheets of the bed, Lorenzo was dying of laugher before stating ‘Oh well be doing more than that’ and before I could even utter a word someone comes up from behind me and in the calmest but judging voice states ‘Oh and what will that be?’
Damn his mum has such amazing timing, I sniffle a laugh and Vincenzo gave Lorenzo a good luck stare before walking away uninterested. ‘I think I’ll just be leaving now,’ I say before hurrying out of that danger zone. I make my way to the door I felt like taking a walk and then check in on Ariana. I go to grab the door handle but jump started when the door swung open. ‘Oh, Im s-‘ I cut myself off as I see who’s at the door.
The bitch from the strip club. ‘What are you doing here?’ she spat. Smirking I sensed an opportunity ‘Oh you know, my job’ she looks at me confused before looking at me horrified ‘You’re a stripper but’ she states the obvious trying to piece the puzzle together ‘Yeah and I’m at the bosses house.’ I smiled wiping the corner of my mouth and sucking on my thumb for affect.
realisation overcame her features before they harden into complete jealousy.
‘Stay away from my man’ she clenches her jaw before storming past me. Her and Roxy need to have a chat looks like Vincenzo is everyone’s man. I balled my hands in a fist frustrated while she walked past me and straight for Vincenzo’s office. I continued my walk across the estate towards the hospital.
I guess she arrived to give Italy … cringing at the thought of anyone making him moan or touching him it made my skin crawl. I wasn’t jealous it’s simply because of her. She rubs me the wrong way, and what does he even find appealing about her.
Whatever it’s his life, if he wants a clownfish sucking on his cock then by all means have it. I couldn’t care less; I need to focus on the main objective here and that’s the solid fact that no matter what I’m simply a convince.
Maria has become a priority as she’s fallen for Lorenzo in the short amount of time we have been here. Me on the other hand all I am a means a tool to get deals and form partnerships with Spain’s highly respected drug cartels.
I cannot and will not go near Xavier again. The trauma that follows him can make anyone want to end their life. My life went south the moment he killed my parents then continued to mentally kill me and make me a puppet for his pleasures and his little gang. If I do ever agree to go near him, it won’t be for a chat.
I need to get out of here, I’ve just run out of ideas. ‘Is she awake?’ I asked one of the nurses, she nods her head and informs me of Ariana’s condition. ‘Ariana?’ I whisper as I enter the small room, she turns her head in my direction before smiling ‘Isabella, thank god.’ As I approach her my eyes slightly tear up as the guilt begins to eat me alive once again. I couldn’t help but blame myself that she’s in this condition.
‘Hey, stop that. Bella look at me I’m fine’ not wanting to burden her or make this situation sadder than it already was I changed the topic and explained to her the horror of what I saw this morning. She bursts out laughing placing her hand over her wound. ‘Oh, I would have paid so much money to see that.”
‘That’s nothing, your mum saw them’ she looks at me in pure shock before once again laughing ‘Mama always did have impeccable timing when it came to these kinds of situations … I’m so teasing them about this once I see them.’
Rolling my eyes, we continue to chat for another hour before Vincenzo walks in. I immediately fall silent, remembering who came over this morning to pay him a visit. My blood began to boil, and I became irritable it was hard to sit still.
Standing up I give Ariana a quick kiss on the cheek promising to come back later tonight before existing. Vincenzo grabbed my wrist stopping me from leaving. He analysed my facial expressions “I kicked her out” he whispered so only I could hear him, I let out a sigh of relief but then hardened my features yanking my wrist from his grasp and walking out.
x
I walk upstairs into Maria’s room; I open the door placing one hand over my eyes and stretching my free arm out to make sure I don’t bump into anything ‘IS IT SAFE FOR MY POOR EYES TO LOOK’ I yell out.
I laugh as I felt the impact of a pillow being thrown to my head, looking at her I smirk. ‘It’s funny, you tell me to stay away from Vincenzo and I catch you in bed with his brother.’ I plop on the bed next to her.
‘I’m a hypocrite like that.’ she shrugs smirking. The way her face lit up at the mere mention of his name made me ache, the pure admiration she shared for me made me want that type of relationship. I’m always feeling crazy every time I have an encounter with Vincenzo one second his sweet and caring and the next, he’s cold and distant.
‘I cannot believe you finally did it’ I stated blushing she hides her face in her hands causing me to let out a teasing laugh. ‘Spill it’ We sat for hours talking about her and Lorenzo, she explained the details of how their friendship over the month developed into something more. She found his sassy side funny and cute, making me laugh and telling her if she found him funny to laugh not sleep with the guy. Causing her to slap me.
Maria and I haven’t sat and talked to each other in a few days which wasn’t like us. Getting hungry we run towards the kitchen seeing the chefs at work, my favourite was the head chef Mira she is the cutest soul in this house.
‘My Pumpkins, come sit. You both need to eat, you too thin’ she pointed at us with her tongs. ‘Maria duck, Mira’s armed with tongs’ she giggles hugging us both before ordering the other cooks to get our meals out. ‘The only thing keeping me from trying to shoot my way out of this mansion is your food’ I state rubbing my stomach.
‘Oh pumpkin, this house became more cheerful when you and your sister joined’ She places the plate of food in front of us, she sat with us for a minute while we talked and ate.
After we had dinner, the sun started to set, I sat on my bed staring out the window. Huffing I flop on the bed bored out of my brain.
I sit up and quickly run towards the bar downstairs. Lorenzo and a few men were having drinks and playing a game of pool. ‘Hello boys’ Lorenzo looks at me fear written all over his face ‘You’re to not go near the alcohol’ he states pointing a finger at me. I blow the loose strand out of my face ‘Look, I’m drinking and you’re not gonna do shit about it. You know why?’ I question
He doesn’t utter a word but continues to look at me ‘Because whoever stands in my way of getting piss drunk will have their ball sacks ripped off.’ As if they felt the pain all the men immediately grab a hold of their areas and wince. Smiling I quickly brush past them and grab a vodka bottle. ‘Anyone up for a game?’
They look at one another and all surround me, feeling giddy I grab the shot glasses and pour ‘Now it’s dared or shot. If you don’t do the dare you need to take a shot.’
‘Me first, Lorenzo we’ll start off simple. I dare you to give anyone in this room a lap dance for a minute.’ He looks around the room shrugging ‘You know what I’m already sorta drunk’ he stands up and goes straight to Fico, probably the most attractive man here. He stands in between his leg and grinds on it. The guys started to whistle while I screamed.
He sits next to me ‘Ok I got one Isabella; I dare you to drink this entire bottle of straight whiskey’ I stare at him ‘what? we are all wasted you need to catch up.’ He points out, rolling my eyes I take the bottle from his hand I drown the bottle in five gulps. ‘IT FUCKING BURNSSSSS’ I scream as the liquid goes down my throat.
Everyone by now is laughing as we took body shots, the guys warmed up to me. An hour later we started getting bored. ‘This pl-placeeee is massive. wh- why don’t we …’ I paused for a minute trying to remember how to use words. I gasp ‘LETS JUMP IN THE POOL’ Everyone screamed agreeing.
Fico picked me up and threw me over his shoulder as we all ran outside. ‘NOT A GOOD IDEA TO RUN’ I yell as I place my hand over my mouth. Of course, no one hears me, we ran through the living room and straight outside.
Placing me down for some reason I looked up to Vincenzo’s office windows, upon seeing his silhouette looking out and straight at me. I bite my lip and take off my sweats and tank leaving me in just my underwear and bra.
I look back at the boys ‘READY SET GO’ we all run and jump in the pool. The feeling of the cold water shocked me awake, swimming back up to the surface. Lorenzo swims to the edge grabbing the remote to the speakers turning it on blasting music.
Beyonce single ladies came on causing us all to break out in song, ‘ALL THE SINGLE LADIES PUT YOUR HANDS UP’ our hands all went flying up ‘LAST TIME I CHECKED IM THE ONLY LADIE HERE’ all the men put their hands down and pull their underwear after they saw their own goods, they all cheer and high five.
We played volleyball in the pool, sang and scram at the top of our lungs. We are all pissed drunk so volleyball was a lot funnier than it should be. Fico neared me getting friendly, I smirked knowing his stare was still fixated on me. I wrapped my arms around Fico’s neck and pulled him closer to me. “You’re so hot” I slurred out tracing his bare chest.
‘Isabella’ his deep voice sent chills down my back as I looked at the edge of the pool. Vincenzo stood in front of me staring at me with hunger and anger in his eyes, ‘Oh Vincenzooooooo its you, come on get in the pool’ I beg, he raises an eyebrow ‘Are you sober?’ he questions knowing the answer to that is a no.
I let go of Fico and lean my head on my arms at the end of the pool, ‘I’m moderately functioning’ I state giving myself a hard nod, before looking back at Vincenzo ‘I’ll take that as a no’ I giggle ‘your accent is hot’
‘Isabella g-‘ I cut him off pouting ‘I don’t like it when you call me Isabella’ He looks at me like I’ve officially lost my mind, ‘Leonessa’ he corrects himself. Smiling I look up at him lustfully, this whiskey really gives a girl a lot of confidence. ‘That’s better Italy now jump in the pool!’ I demand ‘how much have you had to drink? are you all there?’ he questions.
‘Physically yes silly, but mentally uh its debatable’ I answer shaking his head ‘Come on you’re getting out’ I stare at him horrified that he just told me to get out ‘NO, NO, NO, NOOOOOOOOOOO IM A MERMAID’ I scream and I dive back into the water swimming away. I emerge back up next to Lorenzo ‘LORENZO THE BAD MAN WANTS TO TAKE ME OUT THE WATER.’
Lorenzo stands in front of me before pointing his finger at Italy ‘THAT’S NOT VERY NICE, NOW APOLOGISE’ he puts his hands on his hips as he stares at Vincenzo. Vincenzo clenches his jaw before walking around the pool towards us.
He leans down and grabs a hold of my arm and pulls me out of the water. ‘AHHHHH HELP FISH OUT OF WATER FISH OUT OF WATER …. C-AN-T BREATHEEE’ I scream struggling for air. The boys begin splashing water to keep me alive getting Vincenzo soaking wet. ‘Cazzo’ mmm the way he whispered sounded so sexy.
He grabs the clothes that were on the floor and wraps me in a towel before dragging me upstairs to his office. He pours me a glass of water ‘Drink’ I scrunch my nose and shake my head he grabs my hand and makes me take the glass.
He stands in front of me waiting for me to drink, slumping my shoulders feeling defeated I take a sip of water before spitting it on him bursting out laughing. ‘ISABELLA KNIGHT’ he screams. I double over laughing, the towel falls off my body as I grip my stomach. ‘You should’ve seen your face’ I burst out laughing all over again.
He grabs the towel from the floor drying himself before wrapping me back up. ‘Stop laughing leonessa.’ I bite my lip to stop myself from laughing but I smirked at him amused. ‘Quit it, I’m serious’ he yelled I threw my hands in the air ‘I’m not smirking’
‘Well stop fucking laughing then’ he yells but I know he wanted to laugh his lip was curving into a smile.
‘I’M NOT LAUGHING’ He eyes me down ‘then quit whatever it is your doing’ I stare at him with such a hurt expression on my face as I place my hand over my chest ‘This is me with a cheery on top, I am a ray of fucking sunshine in the midst of bleakness. Don’t put a cloud over my sunshine’ I point my finger at his chest.
‘Your drunk actually, and that’s just an excuse to laugh at me’ he states. Pointing my finger in the air ‘RAINY CLOUD’ I scream at the top of my lungs. Rolling his eyes, he bites back the smile emerging on his lips.
‘Awe could it be the big bad Vincenzooo King smiled?’ he shakes his head.
‘Leonessa, you need to sober up.” I grabbed the bottle of water and chugged it down, ‘There … now Italy tell me. What are your wildest dreams’ I say as I stare at him with big eyes. ‘Cazzo … this is gonna be a long night’
I shrug ‘You could let me go back to the guys,’ I say ‘No’ he answers immediately ‘Why?’ I question ‘You are not hanging out with a bunch of men … looking like that’ his breathing started to become heavy.
Suddenly I felt myself sobering up at the sight of his jealousy, ‘You didn’t mind me hanging out with them when your bitch was over’ I state as I roll my eyes. ‘Are you jealous Leonessa?’ He teasingly questions. ‘Are you?’ I fire right back at him.
He ignores my question and sits at his desk. Thank God for the alcohol in my system, I wasn’t drunk enough to not know what’s happening, but I was drunk enough to have the courage to encourage what was about to happen.
I walked up to him and placed my hand inches from his head and leaned the chair back. Our faces inches apart ‘I asked you a question, Italy. Did. You. Get. Jealous.’ He sucks in a breath before making eye contact with me, ‘No’ he sharply answered. ‘lies’ I stand upright and unwrap the towel, his eyes intensely watching my every move and following the towel as it dropped to the ground. His eyes ranked my body ‘Then I’m going swimming.’ I sate
He stands up grabbing my wrist, gently backing me up against the wall. His eyes dart to my lips then back to my eyes. Going on my tippy toes I place my hands on his chest and lean forward so that my lips are only inches from his ear, ‘Kiss me’ I whisper.
‘The problem is,’ he said as he leaned in, our lips inches apart. ‘If I kissed you, I don’t think I’d be able to stop.’
I tilt my head up, our lips ever so slightly touching as I whisper ‘who says I want you to stop?
