Eyes So Blue I Drown

5| Photograph

ARABELLA

"What?! Are you kidding me?" I bite out a bit harsher, "Wherever I go is not your fucking business, dickhead. How could you think I-"

He sighs resignedly before interrupting, "I was not finished, bellissima" he sends me a steely glare as he stands right in front of me, his stance steady, "I hope you'll learn to filter what comes out of your mouth. Because I am, for sure, not the one who is very fond of getting disrespected. And I know you're not either"

He takes a step back, "It's for your own security. Now, you can leave for your room if you don't have any doubts" he speaks, surprisingly calm.

Bullshit.

"Is there any restrictions on any other activities? I liked a couple of guys back there" I ask. There is a bit of silence as he stares at me seeing every ounce of the thing I tried indicating here.

A smirk gets plastered on his lips, "Do you think they will even lay their gaze on you once I have a little chat with them?"

I scoff smilingly, "Don't tempt me, Luca, think by yourself. Or at least just hope you don't become green with envy by your own small army"

Suddenly, our gazes get locked in a heated battle.

"There are fifty men in my house and hundreds of other men from all over the country that work under me. None of them ever dared to go against my order and rules. So think of something else, yeah?"

"We will see." I inserted firmly and turn around to leave this room but he cuts off.

"The last time we made a deal I had your pants off your legs in the backseat of my audi" his acidic voice comes.

I laugh slightly, "That last time was your past, and it's never coming back again. This time try playing with me and I'll make certain I'm the one lightening the match when your this castle burns to the ground" I tell and walk away, slamming the door behind me.

Just when I step outside his room all heated and cursing, I clash into a girl by hitting my head with her's. "I'm sorry, are you ok?!" I rub my forehead and ask with care evident in my voice.

A silence creeps on her face, staring at me. I glance at the scar on her cheek. Why she's not speaking anything?

Scratch that. Why she was standing against the door in the first place?

"Are you ok?" I repeat, precisely last time. It wasn't my fault anyway.

She nods and I roll my eyes before passing by her. In spite of how weird she is, she's really pretty. The way her long black hair were styled, damn... my ash-brunette coloured hair are nothing compared to them.

I make my way to my room which was informed to me about by Fantino, but my encounter with Luca is very much on my mind.

I enter and I watch a big room which has its own walking closet and huge windows. I sigh seeing my belongings are already moved.

Did he got all of this land as a successor of his father's wealth to have such spacious places which screams rich? Because when the last time I met him he was a very simple guy with a standardized life. But right now, it's all is just so materialistic.

Whatever, it's not my goddamn business. I'll be training his sister, exploring Italy and then leave this place.

But right now, I just need a cold shower.

Sighing, I take out a pair of clothes from my closet and walk into the bathroom, finding the towels and the bathrobe in place. The bathroom essentials are here too. Great, at least a good shower I can finally take here.

After getting done with that, I walk outside my room to have a sight of this mini-castle. Like it really is one. It has its own gym, garden and what not.

I stop on my way on the corridor seeing pictures of various people hanging on the wall.

One is of Luca, Leah and his mother. The broad smile on their faces makes me realise how... cute they all look together.

His smile.

It's been a long time I saw him smiling this genuinely. It's pure and a sign of his happiness he found in his sister, and mother. He has wrapped his arms on them from behind as if they're his whole world. They really are.

As much as I've understood Luca, he had a very small group of people he truly cared for, whereas he was totally an ass to others.

His family is what this devil is an angel for.

I take a step further just to see a picture of Luca and his friends group. Fantino, Renzo, and other two guys. From all of the crowd he has in his house, I guess these people are closest to him.

They all are wearing black clothes and sunglasses, making me get into a doubt what work they do together. What's up with this team?

I take another step further and look down at the table to have my mouth slightly opened. It's a photo frame kept on it of Luca's mom and dad.

A funeral photo frame with black ribbon, roses and candles on wooden table. Wait. How did it happen? When did it happen?!

"Well, hello there" Renzo's voice startles me from behind. Not him again. "What are you doing here?" he asks.

"This photo" I say, eyeing the frame of Luca's parents, "How did it happen?"

Renzo's expressions changes bluntly, "They were killed by Krystallo"

"Who's that?" I ask surprising.

Because the fact he just told me with using killed word makes me feel stunned. I never met his parents, but I had seen their pictures back then. Luca never preferred talking about them.

Renzo rolls his eyes, "Obviously a dead person by now. You don't need to go in depth"

I glare at him, "I wasn't trying either. It was sentiment" I tell, "If Leah is free right now, I would like to talk to her before starting with her practices tomorrow early morning. Can you please inform her that I'm waiting for her at the gym?"

~~~

"Yeah, of course. This place is... epic" I speak on the call to Neville. I don't know if disguising all of this from him is a good idea or not.

But divulging him will only make it more messed up.

A few minutes more we talked and disconnected the calls.

"I'm sorry I'm late!" Leah suddenly shows up, she's standing at the door and panting heavily.

"No problem, Leah" I say, "So... just curious, why do you want to learn self-defense? Any specific reason?"

She becomes uncomfortable as if she could have her mind diverted from the lack of air in her lungs too, "I- I was attacked by some people back there in college" she hesitates and says.

Attacked by some people?

What's going on this house?

"Who were they?" I ask.

"I've no idea, they were wearing all black outfits" she tells.

That's so strange. It's just been a few hours of me being here and already feel something is off here. "You don't need to worry now, I've learnt martial arts, both hard styles and soft styles. I'll be teaching you how to defend yourself with those" I say and she smiles.

"I'll help you make a diet plan consisting of good foods for you and that you enjoy too. You'll need to properly fuel your body if you want to keep training" I add.

"Ok. Do you want to go to my brother's club? It will be so fun" she says, "Oh God, I miss hanging out with you"

So he owns a club? It will be fun, after the busy traveling, I surely need some strong drink anyway.

"But I doubt if Luca will let us..." she makes a small face and mutters, "He lets me go there only when he's around too"

I roll my eyes, I'll see how he doesn't let us. "Don't worry about that. I'll ask him, we will go there in the evening" I say and she nods excitedly.