Mafia Love

Chapter 37

Grace

Silence is what the room was filled with. Men exchanging deadly glances at one another while others made sure their firearms were displayed at their sides. I was standing on one side of the parlor while our "guests" sat/stood on the other side.

Earlier, after showering and changing into appropriate clothing, such as a white dress shirt, a black blazer and black bootcut trousers, I went downstairs where Alessio went ahead and told me to call the number. I made the call about thirty minutes ago, and about ten minutes ago the man who I followed/approached outside the restaurant arrived. He was now seated right in front of me along with his own company.

By "company" I mean his own personal henchmen, bodyguards, butlers whatever the hell they were. I certainly cannot find a better way to describe them. Alessio, Lorenzo, and the men I met earlier were all in the parlor giving off the same hostile atmosphere as the other men. However, I felt like I was actually safe with them; I felt that they weren't hostile but protective, and that caused me to smirk a bit. Still, I was nervous as hell about this.

I take an uneasy step forward to make an attempt at being the first one to speak when I feel Alessio's hand snake around my waist. He pulls me close to his body and whisper, "Be careful, amore. Remember, I'm right here."

I simply nod my head and give his arm a reassuring squeeze. Alessio lets me go, and I take a couple steps towards the man. His eyes bore into mine, as if he was trying to anticipate what I was going to say to him. He then looks back to his men motioning to them with his right hand. I watch as they cover back up their firearms but still diminish a cold demeanor throughout the room.

Okay, time to get my shit together. I exhale real quick and begin talking, "Well, now that I can actually speak to you without worrying about getting caught, I suppose I should know your name." I state, looking at the man.

A small smile plays on his lips as he sits up from the sofa. "Javier Colón, Miss Sánchez. It is a pleasure meeting with you again to where you will actually remember me."

"It's Miss Collins now, Mr. Colón," I add. "I'm sure you are aware I changed my surname about five years ago."

"Yes, yes I am aware," he states, "but I assumed that you would now like to be called Sánchez again in regards that it was your grandfather's surname as well. Almost as a way to honor him, no?"

As much as I didn't want to believe what Javier was saying, he was right about that. I was so quick to change my name that I didn't even consider that the person who I loved the most also had that name. I brush off the thought and refocus my attention on Javier.

"We're not here to discuss my personal decisions, Mr. Colón. We are here to discuss what you know about my grandfather. Considering that you said you knew him pretty well, and that you knew me."

"Ah, yes," he says, now sitting up straighter. "Your abuelo and I were quite good friends up until the time of his death."

"Funny," I say, "because I don't ever recall him mentioning you when he was alive." I glare at the man.

Javier chuckled. "That's because he didn't want you to know about me, querida." He pauses a moment before continuing. "You see, Grace, your grandfather was involved with something that he would have never wanted you to know about. Ignacio, your grandfather, was involved in doing business with me. In fact, he ran a very important piece of the business for over 40 years."

"Wait," I cut him off, "you're just telling me you and my grandfather worked together. Big deal what does that have to do with anything right now?!"