Healed By Love

CHAPTER 21

AUDELIA'S POV

“Finally some stress-free time away from all the mafia stuff.” Valeria says, content as she downs a shot. “

“Indeed.” I agree, leaning back in the couch of the VIP room we got at the club, the fluorescent lights on the wall, accompanied by the ring-lights on the ceiling casting a light glow over the room.

Light music streamed through the speakers in the room as the world underneath us went on with their lives, loosing themselves to the alcohol and dancing their happiness and sorrows away.

“It has been so long since we sneaked out, you know.” She gives me a light smile.

“Too long.” I reply. “I can already hear Ezra’s lecture when he finds out we came out without informing him.”

“So,” I start, taking in a shot before continuing, “do you want to clarify your words from the other day?” I address the topic we have both been averting since last week. “What was the whole developing feelings for Lorenzo about?”

“Nothing.” She dismisses the subject, her eyes darting between me and the three guys sitting on the bar stools at the bar taking the entire left side of the room, a bartender behind the counters preparing their drinks.

“I know it’s not nothing.” I say firmly. “Your mood was off the entire time after you asked me that. What happened?” I take her hand in mine. “You know you can talk to me right.”

I give her hand a reassuring squeeze. “I know.” She sighs. “It is just that I wanted to know what you would do if ever you actually had feelings for him since you two were spending a lot of time together.”

“We are ‘spending time together’ only because it is for the mafia.” I make quote signs with my hands. “Nothing more. And, I am not going to have feelings for him.”

“If you did and he did too?” She continues.

“Then what?”

“What are you trying to say Val?”

“Would go ahead and get in a relationship with him despite the whole shit between your families?” She clarifies.

“That’s an odd question.” I frown. “But, if ever it happens which will not,” I glance at the man in question before looking back at Valeria, “I would find a way that we could be together without getting anything between our mafias more completed.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.” I shrug. “Mom used to tell me that when I can compromise for the better of others while still getting what I want, I should compromise.”

“And if you cannot get what you want?”

“Then don’t compromise.” I say simply.

“Now, I know that this question is not actually about me. So, spill it.”

Her eyes widens slightly but she quickly recovers.

“Just curious.” She mumbles, downing another shot and I wait for her, knowing she will speak.

“What would you do if I fell for someone from the Italian mafia?” She blurts out, nervousness etched on her features.

I let out a small laugh. “It’s your life Val.” I remind her. “You do you and know that I will always support you. But, if you are going down the wrong path then I won’t.”

She offers me a light smile. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Feel free to talk to me about the mysterious guy whenever you want.” I bite back a smile as I take a shot.

“Who said there is someone?” She interjects yet I see the light blush on her cheeks despite the lighting. “It was just for general knowledge.”

“I totally believe you.” My sarcasm does not go unnoticed as she shoves me lightly in the shoulder.

“I still cannot believe that the Russians have not tried anything in the past week.” I hear Giovanni’s voice as they approach us.

“We came here to get away from the whole situation with them.” I remind him as he takes a seat on the couch, Lucas following suit, their drinks in hand. “Discussing about them defeats the whole purpose.”

He raises his hands in mock surrender. “I was just saying.” He takes a sip of his drink.

“Well, sitting idly here also does not mean anything.” Lucas speaks up.

“No need to state obvious things Einstein.” I roll my eyes.

“Is there something wrong with your eyes?” He smirks at me and I hear Giovanni let out a laugh.

“The only thing wrong here is your presence in the room.” I give him a fake smile.

“You insisted  for us to come here.” Giovanni argues.

Valeria and I let out a scoff in sync. “There is a difference in being invited and simply tagging along.”

“And, the latter applies to you.” Valeria adds. “It’s annoying.”

“Keep lying to yourselves ladies. We know you love our company.” Giovanni tips his glass lightly towards us.

“Did you see any pigs flying on our way here?” I ask Valeria who pretends to be in deep thoughts at my question.

“Not really.”

“Really funny.” Lucas grumbles. “You two should be comedians.” He says plainly, his voice void of any humour.

“Though I doubt anyone would buy tickets to see your shows.” Lorenzo makes his presence known as he takes a seat next to Giovanni.

“Not everybody is born without a sense of humour like you.” Valeria retorts as he sips on his drink, leaning back in the couch, an unbothered look on his face.

“No but everybody is born with a sense of judgement and if they use it well, they will know your show would not be worth it.” Lucas supports Lorenzo.

“Given your guys’ insistence about us being comedians, it would seem like you appreciate our sense of humour.” All three of them look at each other before letting out laughs.

“Last time I checked hell was not frozen.” Lorenzo says, a smirk on his lips.

“Of course you will know that. After all it is your origin, Lucifer.” I say and unintentionally start a debate on nicknames.

***

“What are you looking at?” Lorenzo asks as he steps behind me.

After a long, torturous debate- bicker- Valeria left the room to go dance and not long after, Giovanni stepped out of the room and so did Lucas to attend a call which left only the two of us in the room.

“Looking for a potential guy with whom I can spend the night.” I joke, yet my voice says otherwise as my eyes roam across the room in front of me.

“Why?”

“We came here to let go of stress right?” I remind him. “What better way then?” I hold back my smile as I point to a random man sitting at the bar. “What about that one.”

“He looks like someone doing a commercial of a hair gel.” He comments and I find myself smiling at the man with an obnoxious amount of hair gel in his hair.

“That one?” I point to someone else sitting in a booth. “Actually, let it be. He is married.” I squint as I see his ring flash under the light.

“Him?” I point a guy leaning against the wall, sipping on his drink. “No signs of wedding ring and no hair gel. Plus, he looks hot.”

“Him just standing there, eyeing every girl up and down is a red flag.”

“Lucky me then.” I nearly beam at him as I turn towards him. “Red happens to be my favourite colour.”

He lets out a groan and I hold back a laugh.

“This one.” I indicate to another man.
“If you want a sugar daddy then go ahead.” He rolls his eyes.

“I think we found a winner then.” I say, turning on my heels to exit the room only to get pulled back by the wrist.

“You are not going anywhere.” He says firmly as he cages me between him and the glass pane with his hands on either side of my head.

“Why?” I cock an eyebrow at him. “You even approved of the guy.”

“I did not know my approval mattered to you.” He says, amused.

“Don’t let it get to your head because it does not.” I move to duck under his hand and leave but fail. As soon as I turn, his hand that was beside my head drop to my waist, pulling me back in.

“Is the idea of me spending the night, alone, with a man bothering you D’Angelo?” I loop my hands behind his neck, pulling him closer to me and his eyes fall on my lip so quickly that I fear I imagined it.

“Why would it?” He leans down.

“I don’t know.” I shrug. “You tell me.” My voice comes out low, in a raspy whisper as I find it hard to keep my eyes from lowering to his lips.

“It does not.”

“Jealousy?” I suggest.

“Of a guy that is nearly on his death bed?” He scoffs as his hand leave me and close around my own.

“No.” He slowly removes my hand away from around his neck.

“Jealous that he might spend the night with me.” I smile internally when I see his jaw tick.

“That he might get the chance to do things with me that you cannot.”

He locks my hands above my head in a tight grip with one hand as his free hand closes around my throat, his finger positioned under my jaw as he tips my head up to look at him.

“Who said I cannot?” His voice drops causing a strange feeling course through my veins, warming my body.

“Does that mean you want to?” I smirk.

“Do you ever think about it? About me?” I stand on my tiptoes, our bodies touching as our faces remain separated by a few centimetres.

“About what you want but cannot do?”
“I think about a lot of things.”

“Want to give me an insight?” The words escape before I can have any second thoughts.