Betraying Giovanni

Chapter Thirty-One: Night Changes

Juliet Ferguson

It's 19:30, and Gio is said to arrive at 20:00 with Vincent.

I can't be around people.

I'm not ready.

I don't know if I can trust them.

What if they come back?

What if

"Julie,"

I turn around from the window and find Monica rocking a sleeping AJ in her arms.

"You don't have to join the party if you're not ready, Gio and everyone else will understand."

That's why she's my best friend.

"It's okay Nica, I'll be okay and maybe this is what I need, a good time with the people I love,"

She gives me a sympathetic smile, "Alright, if you think it'll be good for you."

I nod, "It will, don't worry about me."

She lays him down on Vincent's bed and covers him with his blue blanket and kisses his cheek.

"Now let's get ready," she says as she pulls me out of the room.

"Where are we going?" I ask as I'm pulled down the stairs.

"Vincent told me that Sarah went to go pick a few clothes for us for the party," she says and walks into the kitchen where Sarah and what seems to be a catering team are setting up for the party.

How many people are coming to this party?

"Sarah, where are the clothes that Vincent sent you to get for us?" Monica asks.

"I'll bring them to you upstairs, Miss Pareja," she smiles.

Monica smiles at her and she pulls me out of the kitchen.

"Man, they must love Gio, this is more than just a welcome home party," Monica marvels.

I chuckled, "I was thinking the same thing, maybe they are celebrating something else?"

"Highly doubt it, Gio told me something though, he told me that he was second in command to Vincent, maybe that's why?"

"I thought Angelo was?"

Monica looks at me in confusion, "Angelo? No, he's barely involved in the business from what Gio explained, he helps out here and there, but he's not involved the way Gio, and Vincent are."

I hum, "I guess that makes sense because they never found him guilty of any of the charges, he barely had any connections to the crimes."

"Yeah, anyway, it's none of our business anymore, we left the FBI, and we are now independent and free to do what we want,"

There is something not adding up about Angelo...

"Yeah, you're right Mona,"

We walk back up to Vincent's room and Sarah follows in a few minutes later, she lays the clothes down on the bed, we thank her, and she leaves the room. Monica and I walk over to the clothes and look down at them.

"Your man has taste, chicka, and it's real Gucci," she grins, nudging me.

I blush, "He's not my man,"

"That's not what you say when he's deep inside you,"

"Mona!"

She throws her head back and laughs.

"You are so annoying," I groan and watch as she laughs.

We both start getting ready for the party, I put on the red Gucci dress, the moulds my curves and has an open back, I slip on the stilettos and put on the silver loop earrings and heart-shaped necklace, while Mona, has a Gucci black jumpsuit and gold stripes with black stilettos and some gold studs.

"Girl, we should both do sleep-back ponytails, it'll give us that baddie look," Mona suggests and I nod.

"I think so, sit down and let me do your first,"

Mona sits gown in front of the vanity, and I grab my gown and cover myself and a towel to cover Mona. I take some gel and hairspray and brush her hair up into a ponytail and use a thin band to tie, I lay down her baby hair and spray her hair.

"Oh girl, you've got magic hands," she smiles, "This mamasita looks good."

I laugh, "Do my hair biatch, I don't wanna be late,"

Mona stands up and I take her place, she does my hair and I look in the mirror and smile.

"Are you sure you wanna do this baby girl? You don't have to," she says, looking at me through the mirror.

I sigh, "I am sure, I want to be there for you and Gio as you get reunited and meet his son for the first, what kind of a godmother would I be if I wasn't there,"

"A good one, I'm sure AJ wouldn't mind chicka," she chuckles.

"But I do Mona," I argue.

Mona raises her hands in defence, "Alright, alright, I believe you."

Just then, there is a knock at the door, "Mi amore, are you ready?"

Vincent, how I longed to hear his voice.

"Yes, we are, we'll be out in a minute," Mona answers, "Girl, let's go."

She picks up AJ from the bed and holds him in her arms and picks up his dummy and favourite toy.

I check myself in the mirror and follow Mona to the door. I open the door and I'm greeted by Vincent's handsome face.

"Mona, Juliet, you both look stunning this evening," he says with a charming smile.

"Thank you," Mona giggles, "Sarah knows her job."

"My pleasure," he says, and Mona looks over at me and wiggles her eyebrows, I roll my eyes and shake my head.

"I'll go wait downstairs," she says and walks away.

Before Mona could even make it down the first step, Vincent pushes me back in back into his room and closes the door. Before I can even utter a word, his lips are on mine, and I'm surrounded by his warm embrace. I can't help but melt in his arms. It's a good thing that this lipstick is smudge-proof. We pull apart and giggle.

"I've missed you too,"

"Sei bellissima, mia cara, se non fosse per il tempo, ti avrei proprio qui adesso," he whispers.

[Translation: you look beautiful, my darling, if it weren't for time, I'd have you right here right now]

I don't know what the hell he just said but my core is about to become a waterfall.

"Are you sure you want to do this Julie? You don't have to," he says looking into my eyes.

"I want to do this, I want to be there for you as you welcome your best friend home,"

He sighs and places a tender kiss on my forehead, "You are strong, my love."

"Only when you're beside me,"

We share one last kiss, and we head downstairs to the party, where I'm greeted by Angelo and Kira, Juan and what seems to be the rest of the gang with open arms, they all say their fair share of apologies and revenge fantasies and I thank them all with a smile. I walk over to Mona who is seated on a single sofa with AJ playing with her arms, she seems nervous, but I only assure her that everything will be okay.

"Okay, he's here, dim the lights," Juan says and the lights are turned off, everybody stays quiet as we wait for the door to open.

A few moments later the door opens, the lights turn on and everyone yells surprises but smiles soon fade when we all realise that Gio, is in a wheelchair.