Chapter 13

He was surprised that someone, and a woman at that, interrupted him. He slowly put down his gun and turned to Cara who was still pointing a gun at him. The two matched their height.

He scoffs. “I’m indeed surprised. A woman dared to point a gun at me. Who might you be?”

Cara showed him one of her wicked smiles. “You should know. I mean you did steal from me.”

He laughs in mockery when he realizes what she meant. “You? A woman in the mafia? Do not make me laugh, darling.”

She grins. I see the glint of mischief in her eyes that pass by like a blur. “I figured.” She drawled.

The movements were so quick that I almost didn’t see it. He waved his arm with an intention to swat her arm away that was holding the gun. He knew he failed when Cara shot him in his shoulder.

Her smile widens. “Ah, ah, ah.” She looked down at him who was screaming and groaning in agony. Blood spurted towards the floor of my apartment as he hugged his deep wound.

I knew her to be cruel but I never expected that she’d actually shoot him. I stood frozen, watching their unrealistic interaction. What happened was like a whirlwind. For a second, I thought this man could take her. I surely was positive about it.

“There’s a reason why you’re here, Mister Maxwell.” She uttered his name in derision. She never put down the gun and still kept pointing at him. “You think you could steal from me and use this ragazzo for that.” She chuckles. “You should have done your research beforehand. Perhaps you won’t fail stealing from another mafia.”

He grunted. “Who are you?”

She finally withdrew her gun and squatted down to his level. The confidence of this woman was beyond me.

“Allow me to introduce myself. La regina. The queen of the mafia.”

His chuckle was taunting yet with desperation. “There is no queen in the mafia.”

“Ah. No wonder. You did not hear the news. I will tell you then before you enjoy yourself in hell.” I don’t know what face he made but it made Cara’s smile widened in excitement. “Three years ago, my cousin, Sol stepped down and gave the title to me. Well, it’s originally mine anyway. I guess I could say he returned it to me.” She rambled in amusement.

He laughs. “You expect me to believe you.”

“No, not really. A woman leading the most powerful mafia, I mean that’s pretty far fetched if you ask me. My father wouldn’t even let me-”

He threw his hand again, thinking she was off guarded with her speech. He aimed for her neck but Cara was faster. She copied his action and successfully grabbed his neck tightly around her hand. The man called Maxwell choked and grunted in pain from the lack of air.

“But I assure you, Maxwell Reed, that I will not disappoint you.” Her other hand moved and reached for his injured shoulder. Even though I didn’t see it clearly because I was behind the man, I knew what she was doing.

The thought of it made me want to puke. The hair on my skin stood in disgust as it imagined the way she thrusted her fingers in his wound and tried to pull out the bullet. My chest tightened at his hellish screams.

This Maxwell guy, which made me feel intimidated before, is nothing against Cara.

“You bitch! I will kill you!”

She chuckles in return. “Enjoy doing that from hell, si?”

Maxwell grabbed her wrist to try to pull it away from his shoulder but she didn’t budge. He was weak from lack of oxygen and the extreme pain she was giving him.

“You will regret even thinking that you could steal from me. Stealing from a Di Angelo.”

“Di… Angelo?” I could hear a subtle hint of fear upon realizing the weight of that name. Maybe he finally remembered the name Sol.

“What? You really think I was only using Sol’s name? My name is Cara Luna Di Angelo, daughter of Domenico Di Angelo, the late king of the mafia. I see the regret and fear in your eyes. Good.”

She let him go before rising. In a swift movement, she kicked him and pulled the trigger for the last time. Blood floods out from the center of his chest. I could see the fear and regret in his still opened eyes despite the instant death.

I take a peek at her. She was nothing but kind to me recently. And for that moment, I forgot who she really was, what she’s capable of.

I froze in my spot, unable to move. I managed to slide down against the wall and sat on my heel. My hands automatically covered my face in habit as I contemplated.

What have I gotten myself into?

I heard Cara calling Franco and giving him orders. She wanted to move Maxwell’s body to his car with his men and transfer them to another location. She planned to make it look like an ambush. What a ruthless woman.

---

She sat beside me on the couch with a wine in her hand. She still wore her white suit stained with blood.

“Are you bothered by it, tesoro?” She placed the glass of wine on the center table and moved to undress her suit leaving her with her inner sleeveless shirt. Any normal time it would make me blush. It was undeniable that she was… extremely and beyond attractive. Her chest was ample and perfect, body so voluptuous. But right now isn’t exactly a normal time for that.

“It was a bait, wasn't it?”

Silence.

“You deliberately wanted me to be there-”

“It’s your apartment. There’s no reason why you shouldn't be there.” She cut me off with nonchalance.

I continued my rant anyway. “because you knew he would come for me. You set him up. You set us up.”

Her eyebrow raised in amusement, a small smirk painted her lips. “Yes.” She shamelessly admitted. “What are you gonna do about it then?”

I was taken aback by her blunt reply. I didn’t expect that she would ask me about what I felt.

“Do you resent me? Do you want to avenge yourself for what happened?” She bobbed her head. “Come, tesoro. I will allow you to do whatever you want with me. Just for tonight.”

But I couldn’t move. I couldn’t even speak back.

She rose from her seat and sauntered towards me, stopping to my front. I looked up and she looked down. Her familiar rosy scent wafted through my nostrils. Her hand reached to my head rubbing it like she’s petting a dog. Then it slid down to my jaw and all of the sudden, seized it. I winced at the unexpected roughness, her nails digging to my skin.

“That’s right. You’re not gonna do anything about it.” She crouched low and leveled her face to mine. Her grip on my jaw tightened, I grimaced.

“Isn’t that right... my fiance?”