Hearts Divided: A Mafia Love Triangle Volume 1

Chapter 29 - Scarlett

Liz's demeanor around me made me uneasy; she seemed too composed in comparison to Cain. It was as if we had been friends for years, not mere weeks. What surprised me even more was that she didn't make any mention of the bruises on my body. She didn't even acknowledge them with a passing glance.

"Why don't we go to the real party? What you saw earlier was just an event to please the older crowd. The real party is somewhere else and not so formal," Liz said.

I wasn't sure where we were headed, but the strong scent of garlic made me believe we were heading to one of the nearby restaurants. Despite not being particularly hungry, I could feel my stomach growling and churning from the cocktail I had consumed on an empty stomach earlier. With all the nervousness building up inside me throughout the day, it was difficult for me to find an appetite and eat anything substantial.

She confidently led me into a large kitchen, heading straight for the chef and boldly requesting the best dishes he could create. He immediately obliged, but I couldn't help but notice that he had stopped preparing food for someone else to attend to our request. Liz then searched through a fridge so massive it seemed like something out of a movie, producing a bottle of champagne. She grabbed an opener before we exited through another door leading to a small balcony with a table and three chairs. I assumed this was where the chefs took breaks during their day.

I took a seat on one of the chairs while she leaned against the railing. My feet were throbbing, and I couldn't believe how I managed to escape from Cain but also retrieve my shoes from where he had left them on the chair. Those shoes cost me a pretty penny, and I wasn't about to leave them behind.

"Let's have a toast," she exclaimed.

"To what?" I asked, curious to know the reason for her joy. That's what toasts are for, right?

"To your first cruise, of course," she shouted cheerfully, taking a sip from the bottle before holding it out to me. I cautiously took a sip and handed it back to Liz, noting that she wasn't going to make any more toasts. She looked like she needed this champagne more than I did.

"Why didn't you tell Cain about the bruises?" I asked, wanting to know if I could trust her. It was clear that if Liz had to choose between me and Cain, she would pick him without hesitation. But I couldn't survive on this ship without an ally, someone I could trust not to harm me. Yet, even Liz had a hint of the same craziness in her eyes as Cain did. The thought made my stomach churn uncomfortably. I refused to be drawn to someone with such volatile behavior; it was toxic and unhealthy for any relationship. So why, despite knowing better, was I still attracted to him?

She dismissively waved her hand, saying, "It's not my concern." Her words dripped with indifference as she added, "Interfering in others' affairs only makes things worse."

Her words struck a chord with me. I couldn't help but admire her mindset, and true to form, she followed through on her promises. There was no façade or pretense with her; she was genuine to the core.

"Are all these individuals," I questioned, "truly affluent?". My curiosity piqued as I observed the extravagant designer labels adorning their clothing.

"Don't be fooled by them. Many have borrowed the outfits they wear," she said.

Her head tilted back and the wind tousled her hair, and I couldn't help but admire the tattoos on her neck. My eyes lingered on her chest, where I could almost make out the tattoo hidden between her breasts.

"How was Cain?" she asked, taking me by surprise.

"Uh... what?" I said.

"I was inquiring about your night with him. So, how was it with Cain?" she asked, turning her gaze towards me before taking another sip of her champagne.