Chapter 26: distraction
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*Isabella Marciano*
Kon brought me to a homey restaurant in the heart of the city. It was small, crowded but the food was heaven. He made me try tomatokeftedes, Greek fava dip, feta me meli, gyros, and ellinikos. I love food and I love hearing Kon laugh every time I make a moaning sound with the tasty Greek cuisine.
We strolled through the city, holding each other's hand while walking. Kon was attentive the whole time, he stole a few kisses from me here and there and he's super sweet. I almost forgot about the wall hovering between us until he asked me to sit on the bench by the docks.
''Why didn't you tell me?'' he asked in a soft tone.
''About what?'' because of the secrets I'm keeping, it was hard to pinpoint which one he was talking about.
The sun was setting, the burst of colors in the sky was a sight, a wonder, how pretty the sunset was all the time. No matter how many times I see those red, orange, yellow, and pink colors in the blue sky, I still admire its beauty.
''About who you really were,'' his arms were draped over my shoulder, drawing soothing circles on my skin with his thumb.
''Do you know my history?'' Apart from John, no one really knows what happened to me. Kon was the first person outside the Italian mafia I'm talking to about this.
''Bits and pieces'' he planted a lingering kiss on my temple. ''You're history doesn't change things between us.'' I wonder what he's referring to. Are we anything?
''My parents and brothers died when I was eighteen. I was supposed to take over after my father but my Uncle wanted everything to himself. John helped me escape from the attack at New York City but my cousin Enzo found me in Mexico. He… he tried to touch me.'' Kon stiffened beside me, my cheek that was resting on his shoulder could feel the hitching on his breath but I continued. ''He's Santi's adoptive son and a friend of mine helped me escape from the warehouse, at least I thought we were, but he shot me in the heart before kicking me over the cliff. John found me before they could.''
We were silent for a while, Kon pulled me impossibly closer to his body. Allowing me to feel his warmth, to let it sink into my skin until it reached my heart. We're not making out but I feel even closer to him than before.
''We'll make them pay, Isabella'' he whispered, the same time the sun sets, the night engulfed the beautiful sky and replaced it with its blanket of a dark abyss. A never-ending gloom that mirrors my life. ''I'll make them pay for what they did to you.''
''You don't have to do anything for me, Kon,'' I tilted my face and looked up to Konstantine. His silver-gray eyes were already staring down at me.
He cupped my face with one hand while the other rested on my waist, his eyes roamed over my face until they settled on my lips. The dull light of the lamppost gave light to how his irises darkened when I bit my lips. ''Stay with me tonight.''
Here he went again, offering me indecent invites yet the fluttering of my heart was betraying me. Thousands of butterflies in the pit of my stomach was all flying at the same time, urging me to take his offer.
''John wants me back at the suite before dinner'' I lied.
I wouldn't want to repeat what happened when I agreed to come with him to his penthouse.
''I told you, she means nothing to me,'' he insisted, ''it's only you that I want. We don't have to do anything you don't want to do, Agápi mou.'' his silver-gray eyes were hopeful. ''I just want to spend some time with you.'' (my love)
''Uhm…'' the sincerity in his voice sent my heart pumping out of my chest. ''I… I'll ask John first, is that okay?''
I know I should decide for myself but I want to know what happened with Damien. John was supposed to give me an update but he hasn't called or sent me a message. That's highly unlikely of him.
Kon nods and my phone pinged. I was paralyzed in my seat when I opened the message. It was John, blood dripped all over his face while his hands and feet are tied on a metal chair. Only a single yellow bulb gives light to his state.
'Warehouse 47' the caption said.
''What's wrong?'' Kon took the phone from me.
John might have aged but he was as fit as a horse. He must've been outnumbered when they took him. I wasn't there to protect him because I went on this stupid date.
''I know the place, let's go'' Kon clasped my shaky hands in his, pressing it gently as he pulled me up with him. ''We'll get him back.''
Why was I thinking? Nothing in my life was simple. No happiness could last a whole day without something happening to the people I love. I should have known. People knowing who I really am will endanger those who's helping me.
Trusting the hold I have on Damien was a sloppy move and it backfired, it might cost me John's life.
I will never forgive myself if anything happens to the only family I have.
''Isabella'' Kon held my hand, twined our fingers together, and placed it above his lap. ''Do you trust me?''
I stayed silent. I don't know who to trust anymore. What if Damien sent Kon to distract me while they got to John. It's possible, John was the one holding the evidence against Damien. He was the one who killed his wife and not Santi. He killed Agnetha because he believed that she's cheating on him with Santi. I thought he'd be wise to follow my will but I thought wrong, he was a backstabbing bitch who needed to be thought of as who's the boss.