Good one, Evelyn.
Always late for dinner.
I walked towards Mario as usual, sensing the Don on his usual seat.
Mario got up and took out a seat for me.
I gave him a smile as I mouthed a thank-you while I sat on the seat.
"You are welcome," he said, taking his seat.
"Hey," Mimi's familiar voice made me look opposite me. She is smiling at me.
I smiled too. "Hey,"
Designed for that reason, my eyes moved to the Don.
He is busy eating.
Which is a sight.
His tattooed hands feeding his mouth is a good reason to drool.
The maids placed my meal in front of me and my taste buds jumped for joy.
We have chicken sauce, veggies and pasta.
Yummy.
I picked up my cutlery and began eating. All you can hear on the table is the clicking sound of cutlery and plates. Everyone is busy eating.
This meal seems to have more power than my funny feelings. I want to look at the Don, but my taste buds just can't get enough of the delicious meal.
"How sure are you that you and your crew killed all the men responsible for the burnt warehouse, Mario?" A familiar voice broke the silence.
It was Mario's uncle. He is seated at the right-hand side of the the Don which is our role. Next to him is Alfredo and then Mario, then me. Next to me is Carols.
Opposite us is Candela, seated next to the Don as always. After her is Mimi's mum and then Mimi and after her is Lucas and Manuel.
"I never let any bastard go free, uncle. I thought you knew me," Mario said without moving his attention away from his meal.
"We are currently trying to figure out who sent them." Lucas spoke up. "The men held refused to tell us,"
"They will in no time," Mario added.
"I see," his uncle said.
"What about.... "
"Can we drop this conversation? We have a stranger in our mist who could be a spy," Candela said, making me freeze momentarily.
I took in the portion I was about to put into my mouth regardless.
Mario dropped his cutlery angrily, making my heart pick up.
"Dad, can you please tell your wife to stop calling my friend a stranger?"
Candela scoffed.
"I have had it, and I am fucking tired," Mario almost snarled while glaring at his mum.
Oh boy.
"Excuse me?" Candela asked.
"Did you know she put her hand on her," Mario said, gesturing at me.
I flickered my eyes at the Don.
I locked eyes with him.
"She did that because she thinks Evelyn was responsible for your state last night," Mario said.
Candela scoffed. "Well, I don't think so. She did it. And I bet she sent those guys to burn down the warehouse as well."
What?
What warehouse? Seriously?
"Candy," Mimi's mum called.
"Shut up," Candela snapped.
"Dad," Mario called.
I looked at the Don.
His eyes are on me. He averted them and looked at Mario.
"If your friend had stayed in her room and not wandered like she usually does, all that wouldn't have happened," The Don said, making me scoff internally as a tiny sting hit my heart.
I wandered?
Really?
What about the kiss? Has he forgotten?
Mario scoffed. "Seriously, dad?"
"Leave your father alone and do the right thing. Get that bitch out of our house. She can't be trusted." Candela ordered.
I looked at the Don.
He is sipping his drink nonchalantly.
I lowered my gaze, feeling the sting in my heart.
"Read my lips, Candela. My friend has come to stay," Mario said.
Candela scoffed in disbelief.
"Mario," Mimi's mum called.
"Scream all you want, but she is not leaving this house." Mario said to Candela, ignoring Mimi's mum.
"So deal with it." He added, placing his napkin on the table as he got on his feet.
"Let's go, Evelyn," he said, taking my hand.
"Go where?" Mimi's mum asked worriedly.
I quickly wiped my lips with my napkin and got on my feet. I looked at the Don.
He is eating nonchalantly.
Mario led us past the table and the Don didn't make a move as we walked past.
"Mario," I heard Mimi call.
"Mario, get back here!" Candela ordered, but Mario kept walking, heading for the main entrance door.
"Mario!" Candela called.
Mario kept walking.
Where is he taking me? And it is late.
Where are we going?!
We headed out of the house, and he led us to one of the cars. We got in, and he drove us out of the compound.
My heart picked up as he drove at an incredible speed.
Okay, I think it is time I spoke up. I know he is angry, but he shouldn't get us both killed.
"Mario, slow down. Please."
He let out a sigh, slowing down a bit.
"I am sorry, Evie. I am just....." He paused, letting out a sigh as he focused on the wheel.
"I am fucking pissed right now. That woman never ceases to get on my nerves and my dad can't do anything when it comes to her." He snarled.
My heart tightened a bit as I recalled what the Don said.
"Ugh!" Mario groaned, resuming his speed rate again.
I held on to something, my heart begging to explode.
"Mario,"
He reduced the speed a bit.
"Sorry," he said, trying to calm down.
"Wh.....where are we going?" I stuttered.
"A bar. I need a drink." He said, slightly running his fingers through his hair.
A bar?
At this time?
**********
"Two shots of Martini," Mario said aloud to the bartender. We are currently in a huge bar called, Philos. It has different colors of lights igniting the place, a crowd are dancing to the loud beat on the dance floor and Mario and I are seated on long stools at the bartender's spot.
I seriously don't feel comfortable being here. But I guess Mario just wanted to let things off his chest with a couple of drinks.
I can't protest because I am the reason for all this. That's why I am able to endure this.
I hate being in a bar I haven't been to before or have people I know around. It is scary. Don't get me wrong, I love parties and bars. Imogen and I usually used fake IDs to get in back then in high school.
We are still planning our first party as college girls but that tragedy had to happen.
"Here," Mario said, handing me a shot.
I gave him a little smile as I collected the shot from him. I watched as he gulped his shot and signaled the bartender for another.
I gulped mine like he did, regretting it instantly because my throat is on fire now.
Oh God.
Yuck.
"Another?" Mario said.
I shook my head, massaging my neck.
He chuckled as he gulped two shots instantly.
I moved my eyes around the place. People are moving to and fro. There were a few people at the bartender's spot as well.
The crowd is dancing happily to a familiar music by Drake.
I think.
The girls are dressed in revealing dresses and the guys are holding and touching them in a way I find unpleasant.
They must be their boyfriends or something.
Nice.
I wish I had a boyfriend.
Well, I wish a certain someone was my boyfriend. I would be the happiest girl in the world.
But like my mum would say, we can't get all we want. That's not how life works.
I can't even have the Don.
He doesn't even like me. Why would he say that at the table?
If I hadn't wandered?
What about the kiss?!
The kiss for pit's sake!
My heart tightened as I recalled what Imogen said. He might have kissed me because he thought I was Candela.
Seriously?
From what he said, I think Imogen is right.
But that's unfair.
Unfair to my feelings.
Candela, his extremely beautiful hour-glass shaped wife. Of course. He thought I was her.
How romantic.
I heaved an unhappy sigh.
Someone took my hand, making me look at the person. It was Mario. He leaned down and kissed my knuckles, sending awkward chills down my spine.
He looked at me with his dull eyes and smiled at me.
Is he.....is he drunk?
"You are so beautiful, Evie," I managed to hear him say, despite the loud music.
I smiled nervously.
"And those are very tempting lips." He said, looking at my lips.
Oh gosh.
"Your shots, sir," The bartender said, moving two shots towards him.
"Thank you," Mario said, moving to pick them up.
"No, no," I said, taking the shots from him. "That's enough," I said, moving the shots aside.
"I want more," he whined.
"You are drunk already." I said, holding his hands.
"I am?" He asked.
"Yes,"
"I don't...I don't feel like it," he let out hiccups.
"See?"
He nodded sluggishly, grinning afterward. "Perhaps I am," he said.
I heaved a sigh, looking away but still holding his arms. How are we going to go back now? He can't drive like this.
I didn't know he was taking that many shots.
Geez.
He grabbed my chin slightly, turning my face to look at him.
He stared at me.
"You are extremely gorgeous. I want to kiss you so badly."
My heart pounded.
"Please let me," he begged, leaning closer.
Oh God.
His phone rang, stopping him halfway.
"Fuck...." He muttered as he reached for his phone in his pocket.
I let out a slight breath of relief.
He looked at his phone and scoffed. He turned the phone to me and the caller ID read, "The Boss,"
"My dad is calling," he said.
My heart picked up.
"Here..." he said, handing over the phone to me sluggishly.
"Tell him to fuck off,"
What?
He grinned. "I am kidding," he said, taking the call.
I heaved a sigh.
"Yeah?" He said to his dad at the other end of the line.
My heart raced.
"I can't hear you!" he said.
The music is really loud.
"Hello?" He said, looking at his phone.
He switched off his phone and put it in his pocket as he got on his feet.
"Let's go," he said, taking my hand before I could say anything. I got on my feet quickly as he led the way through the dancing crowd.
Where are....
He bumped into someone.
"Hey, watch it, moron," a rugged-looking guy said to Mario.
Mario did the next thing I least expected.
Punched the guy hard in the face, and he fell on the floor.
I froze as I heard gasps from people around.
"Fuck off" Mario said to the rugged guy who was still in the fall, touching his blood-covered nose.
Mario moved to walk away, but he got a punch from another guy. He groaned and fell back.
I quickly moved in front of Mario and faced the guy.
"Hey, leave him alone," I said, realizing instantly what I had just done.
I have no idea where I got that courage from.
My heart pounded as I took in the scary features of the guy.
Oh boy.
He clenched his jaw and raised his fist to hit me.
I looked away, shielding my face with my hand as I awaited his punch.
But I heard groans from him instead, making me look at him.
I froze at the sight of the Don, gripping the scary guy's wrists.
Everyone around took steps back as the Don looked my way.
My heart fluttered in an amazed way.
Princess, your knight in shining armor.