Chapter 10 (Aliyana)
Chapter 10 (Aliyana)
“Mercer Island has its beauty, but it’s fuckin’ cold.” Filippo murmurs, looking out to the water.
“Want some?” Deno asks extending the joint they decided to smoke.
Xander looks at me from the top part of the boat, where he is sitting with Marco and Camilla laughing about something. I had to give the guy credit when he tried to sit next to me. However, Filippo and Gabriel beat him to the punch. They more like pushed him away. I drop my gaze from his when Marco catches me staring and Camilla whisper’s something in his ear.
“Guilia was just telling me your art is getting Exhibited in a few months.” Leonardo yells from the bottom of the boat, where Guilia, him and Mischa are sitting.
“I am, Gabriel is going to be my male model,” I say back as Gabriel grabs me by the waist and starts tickling me and I scream when Filippo joins.
We ride on the boat for another hour before we hit shoreline and Guilia, Camilla, Mischa and myself rush to the house while the men stay behind. Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.
“Oh my gosh, it is so freaking cold. I need a hot bath and thick piece of that chocolate cake, Liya.”
“Cake? Your skin needs to be clear before the wedding. You already have a few zits around your chin,” Camilla says as Mischa runs to the bathroom.
“Zits go away, and their marriage is arranged. It isn’t like Leonardo can call off the wedding if he wanted to. And I doubt he’d want that,” I wink at my sister as she drops her gaze, saying nothing. I am not sure if it’s because she still thinks I have feelings for him or the truth behind my words.
“Maybe but it would decide whether she remains the only one. We live in a world where a man is king and we are peasants,” Camilla argues as we walk toward the stairs leading to the rooms.
“Hardly the case, a woman is as important to her husband as the children she’ll give him,” Guilia says as she begins walking up the carpeted staircase taking off her jacket.
“Male children.” Camilla corrects.
“Well, your man seems quite content with the female one he has,” I interject, diminishing what she says. Something about it rubs me the wrong way, and I think it is the truth behind her blunt words.
“My man wants an heir just as much as any of our men do, if not more so. Don’t let his love for one child blind you from facts.”
“Camilla is right, Liya.” Guilia adds as we get to the rooms.
“If that’s the case I am happy I get to choose the man who would be my husband. I will add gender discrimination to the list of no no’s,” I say and Guilia and Camilla laugh.
“Choose? That is not how it works.”
“Liya, has a choice who she wishes to marry. But judging by Xander who couldn’t keep his eyes off you maybe it won’t be for too long.” I actually snort at the thought of it. The guy and I were never going to happen. He might be in with the Catelli’s and Camilla’s cousin but he is not going to be anything to me more than a boy I know.
“My cousin is very handsome and he’ll make a great Capo in a few decades,” Camilla winks and Guilia giggles when I make a haste exit to my bedroom.
Opening my door, I slam it shut on the two women still chatting, happy in a way that my suspicions regarding Camilla and my sister is just that, suspicion. But a part of me restless, like I am missing something. Stretching my neck, I walk toward the bed, that is overly exaggerated in its glory, like it is fit for a queen. Guilia’s room is not this big and I asked her why, but she dropped her face and smiled
saying nothing. I am glad I have this room, because the white bath tub on the left is calling my name. My jacket is gone in a second and my jeans are open as I begin prepping my water.
The tiles around the bath tub is cold, so I throw the towel from the wooden rack on the floor for my bare feet.
I shimmy out of my pants, when a throat clears, “I wouldn’t do that Miss Capello.” The deep voice scares me and I drop to the floor with a small squeal. My hands hit the tile in time to save my face from a blue eye and I am not sure why but I laugh.
Salvatore swears under his breath, as he begins walking closer and my bedroom door opens.
He is wise to turn and move fast to the walk-in cupboard.
“What are you..?” Guilia rushes into the room and helps me up as I still laugh a bit. I do well to keep my eyes off the walk-in closet.
“How did you fall? And why are you laughing so loud? I thought you were crying.”
“I fell while trying to take off my pants, I thought it was funny. What are you doing so close to my bedroom, I thought your room is on the other side?”
“I was coming to tell you that your friends are here, Papa must have changed his mind.”
“Or he decided to fire Matteo.”
“Yes,” She touches my nose and she open her mouth to say something but shuts it again looking at me.
“I’ll be down later.”
“Okay, take your time.”
She leaves and I slip my pants back on, before closing the tap.
“No one besides Deno knows I’m here.” Salvatore says coming closer as I walk to the bed and sit.
He does the same, “I got that footage you asked for, I watched it but I think you would want to see this Miss Capello with your own eyes,” Salvatore is the gift I was given what feels like a lifetime, because he is the only one who I can trust right now without blinking.
“Is it that bad that you had to drive 3 hours and sneak into my room?”
“I took a jet, I landed while you were on the boat,” He sits next to me leaning forward.
“I’m freezing, you might as well lock the door, so I can shower.” He smiles and that scar of his reminds me why I can trust him. Of why I get up and begin taking my clothes off with him in the room. A lot can happen in a short span of time. People can become killers. Your friends can turn out to be your enemies and your new guard can turn out to be the closest person in your life and also a friend you take your clothes off in front of.