-Two months earlier-
"Revenge is a palate better served cold" A reckless man type said; obviously he was bragging about a plan that has never belonged to him, his hand tailored suit, walking manners and his attitude showed that he wasn't just a normal guy, he was for sure someone that belonged to an upper class of society, yet he seemed more unaware of the danger brought up by this so called revenge, but the man that was standing just next to him showed a whole different behavior, he was sipping his hand dripped coffee, enjoying the calm surrounding this beautiful island of his offering, Tall, handsome, well-shaped body and this slick back, chocolate colored hair, but more he had this air to him that didn't feel right.
"Revenge?" the other man smiled faintly, somehow it brought a cold current as their eyes met, the other spoiled man didn't seem to gather any of his fake courage to stand in front of this lethal gaze, silence spread more and more," I'm just here to take what I believe to be mine" His words kind of echoed in this huge white marbled room breaking the scary silence
-Back to present-
Both families under one ceiling, it's more like a strategy to gather up all of you enemies before bellowing them up, but there must a reason for all of this isn't it?
Back to Italy, where some of them couldn't understand, some got scared and some were just ready for the fight, but all the Marouikous knew that Senior Ilyas wasn't an easy man to read, and he certainly wasn't reckless either.
"Welcome back children, we missed you" Isabella came closer to her children hugging them all in one embrace an attitude that Lady Catherine never admired
"Nonna , you didn't seem to miss me at all, I have a lot of things that I need to speak to you" Dahlia was very frustrated by the hug that didn't include her, that she wanted to spell all of her journey that quiet contain a lot of secret to her Nonna
"Bunny! how could you say so, you are very special" Isabella grabbed her grandchild and hugged her even more tight, and Dahlia didn't seem to mind, yet Norah and Zach really cared for what she was about to say, Zach carried her back and kind of nodded to Norah and Rumi that were dodging Isabella from discovering the bitter truth
"Mother, her bed time had arrived, maybe tomorrow you can talk, we are already tired and have guest" Zach said with Dahlia in his hands feeling all sleepy and fuzzy it was a very long day on all of them, Isabella smiled delightfully sensing the scheme her kids were playing on her
"Well there is some family business that we all need to solve, to those who are not involved, go to your room" Senior Ilyas said looking at all those people staring at him wanting to know, 'what was actually going on, the Blackwaters and The Marouikous don't usually stand under one roof just like that, this must be the end of the world' …
"Honey you go to the garden and enjoy the fresh air" Carlisle said to his little princess Angelika with a little smile more like a comforting one, she saw a frightened weak man in her father's eyes and couldn't say more but,' I love you dad'
"Norah you too" Isabella said nodding at her daughter, and when Norah was about to say something Ander also nodded at her so that she would go upstairs
"Old folks you better tell us what's going on here?" Jasper smirked, yet he knew that the air was tensed and he knew that this matter is getting serious, first their arranged marriage and second the attack on his sister and now this, what was really going on made them all wonder is there going to be a tomorrow.
"Well, Gabriel and my Ida aren't here for the moment, never the less there is things that we have to say for all of you to hear" Senior Ilyas said his eyes kept running away from them, like if he was afraid to confront them all
"Spell it already" Jasper getting more serious about this entire situation said when he found out that he lost his patience, beside him there was Rumina not feeling well, she was new to all of this pregnancy thing and hormones drove her crazy, yet she kept holding her husband's hand trying to calm him a bit
"Our two families are getting attacked" Lord Carlisle said with despair, his face pale and stressed
"I'm trying to locate this secret buyer and his associates, they've gone so deep in our companies" Andrea said making all of the rest in a shock, as he looked at his adoptive uncle and nodded
"You knew about this?" Zach asked in disbelieve, trying to understand more, they all knew that Andrea is the most trusted one in the family, but leaving him aside hurt his feelings what was their motive to do so?. Is he not good enough? All these thoughts were clashing inside of him
"Kind of" Ander's reply was a bit blurry, Isabella and Catherine did nothing but stare at their kids, to what they've grown to be
"Someone has been secretly buying shares from our holdings, and guess what from both families only" Ander added," I've been trying to know who is this person but I couldn't find records of anything, buying our shares with a newborn company"
"What are we going to do now?" Zach asked looking at the two families, "Wait, is this related to the New York attack?" He asked again
"Probably! " Jasper replied calmly
"This has reached both households last week" Lord Carlisle said handing them a post card
"A post card! Really" Zach laughed on himself, the situation sounded silly to him as if it was a kids game
"Read what's underneath" Senior Ilyas cleared the situation to his son
" A rose for a rose and a life for all of yours" Zach read the first post card, " Hope not ever to see heaven. I have come to lead you to the other shore; into eternal darkness; into fire and ice" After reading that Zach was shocked and even scared he has more to lose, more he loves, and more he needs to protect, "Father what the hell is this? This guy must be crazy to dare to pull out a threat"
"Yes indeed, Inferno by (Dante Alighieri), is a perfect quote to use when you are threatening someone" Senior Ilyas spoke his mind, like if he was clapping for the boldness of this anonymous sender
"He is not just after our business, he is after our lives" Lord Carlisle added
" For God sake, can't this family live a normal day" Jasper asked already knowing the answer and Rumina who didn't leave his side said nothing, as she was feeling pain through her body like electricity perturbing her sanity, what the post card had was more meaningful than just a threat. A fact that nobody in the family knew, she received more post cards, more threats and more memories.
"Calm down, this guy is not normal, nobody had ever dared even the assembly members to sabotage us, this one is confident" Ander was trying to think through this carefully, but her picture never left his eyes…
Rumina just stood there analyzing the situation, not a word came out of her sealed mouth. Yet the pain didn't leave her, the soreness was burning inside of her body, it was then when she reached out to Jasper and held his hand tightly, he sensed the pressure that she was practicing like if she was urging him to look at her, his blood was boiling and so was hers.
Her vision turned blurry and a feeling of dizziness dominated her, the room was dynamic swinging and turning upon her till she lost conscious everything converted to black, swiftly when her head was about to be clashed with the marbled floor somehow Jasper managed to use his body as an airbag, the room suddenly changed Isabella's face lost color out of fear, Zach who didn't anything about Rumi's condition freaked out, Jasper knew what was the reason as he exchanged looks with Ander, they swiftly carried her room followed by the rest of the family
"Everybody out, me and Jasper will deal with this" Ander tried to clear up the room, after all both of them promised that they won't tell
Isabella and Catherine didn't seem to clear the problem between them two, but somehow they were supportive even if they didn't show, now it's different her son is married to the other one's niece, they have too
Down stairs at this fancy living room, Lord Carlisle alongside Senior Ilyas played the chess, Lady Catherine slept in her room suffering from a migraine, Isabella talking to Ida assuring her scared little heart, Dahlia already dozed reaching the 7th sky, as well as Angelika who kept thinking about how she is the cause of everything that's happening to all of them
Till she slept in her tears
Norah in her bedroom balcony gazing the stars, she knew that what was bothering them all wasn't something that they'll spell out to her easily …
And our dear Rumina pained to her bed, with Jasper that refused to leave her side, staring at this beauty that holds so many secrets under her layers. What actually she meant to him? he really wanted to know, no matter how hard he tries to stay away from her, she would always pull him to her side, she is a mystery that drives him crazy, he wants to know everything about her, to love and cherish her, to be an irreplaceable piece in her life.
...
"You shouldn't stay there for too long, you'll catch cold" Ander who managed to enter Norah's room so quietly that he made her jump from her place when she heard him
"I'm not afraid of that" She replied to him with a little grin
"How brave of you! " Ander who was more surprised by her new attitude replied rising an eyebrow
"I have you to take care of me" After a moment of silence Norah said breaking it down trying to tear these walls that he keeps around him whenever she's near.
"Always" A fainting smile broke free from Ander's firm lips before saying his words
"Always? " She questioned with her sparkling greedy eyes, hoping maybe that she would hear what she always prayed for, his love confessions
"You know you guys are the only family I have, I vowed to protect you" He replied to her trying to change the subject, he loves her and so did she, but wasn't really good at these love things he never confessed to anybody
"Do you know how much I care for you?" She asked with a tearful smile, he couldn't say much but staring at her, slowly reaching out to her face cleaning her pearly tears, and before he could say anything, she raised her hand to the starry night and said "Even if you counted all the nights stars you wouldn't be able to know how much"
"I care for you, you are everything I have, but you deserve better than me" He replied unable to look straight into her eyes
"I don't want the world, I only desire you" Norah said and hugged him tightly as well as he did
...…
Somewhere in the mansion's walls, Zach was practicing his favorite hobby, climbing the walls to her room, his sleeping beauty Angelika
"Oh thank God" Those words escaped from him when he nearly slipped, the door to her bed room balcony was open, he was injured, but he loved watching her sleep
He looked over the room she was staying in until he found the perfect spot, he took off his jacket and sat on the floor, watching her face, her blushed cheeks and golden waves surfing down to her face and the pillow under, everything about her just pleased him, they would always tease each other, she was prejudiced toward him, he hated her innocent self
Yet down deep, they enjoyed each other in silence
"What are you doing here?" Angelika woke up when her phone alarm suddenly rang at dawn, waking Zach who found shelter in corner of her room
"What, what happened?" Zach who was half asleep startled, however he her coming closer to him managed to get him out of the dream he was dozing in
"My wound hurts! " Zach who was kind of scratching his head looking for some kind of excuse noticed the slight bleeding on his white shirt
"Oh, okay let get the med kit in my bag" Her eyes widened at the sight of his blood stained T-shirt and hurried up searching for a box that contains all the tools she would need to clean up his wound
"How long have you been carrying that around?" Zach questioned her act that seemed a bit weird, the girl who is afraid of gun shots; carries a med box with her
"Well, it's a long story" She smiled back at him
"Tell me! I have plenty of time" He winked at her, smiling and smirking
"When I was a a bit younger than this, I found a little cat that was wounded and helped her with Jas, since then I carry this box just in case, there are a lot of homeless animals that needs help" She smile through her eyes all sky and embraced, "And since you were injured, I had to carry your meds too" She added
"Oh, I'm honored that you don't see me as you used to" Zach felt touched by her small gestures and little acts
"I'm sorry, I did you wrong. Thank you for the rose by the way" She couldn't bear to meet his eyes as she focused on his wound located right in between his well-lined packs
"Which rose?" He played stupid asking her about something he already knew
"Last time you and your family visited, when you climbed my room like today, you left a rose for me, and said something in Italian maybe" She bit her down lips and smirked the situation was already awkward for more words
"Thank you, what was I supposed to do without my savior " Zach smiled when she finished cleaning his wound and said to her
"And you are my guardian mafia Angel hhh" She replied, drawing a big smile on Zach's face
"By the way, why did you set the alarm? It's pretty much early, and none of us slept well these few days" Zach asked
"While I was volunteering in a hospital, I found a friend who is really sick and have no family around, I get up every day to light up a candle for her and pray" Angelika answered leaving Zach with this weird expression on his face, he just couldn't believe how good this girl was, he felt happy but sooner his joy demolished facing the darkness he holds
"You are an Angel" Zach staring at her blankly, he really is not good for her he thought to himself...
.........
Rumina woke up, body all frail and weak, and head is still fuzzy from everything that had passed these few days. Clothes already changed, laying alone in her bed
"Good morning sunshine!" Jasper commented, on his was out of the bathroom, half naked, only a towel rapped around waist, his hair all wet dripping on his cervix down his wide shoulders
"Good morning!" Rumina all flushed out like a red tomato, couldn't bear to look into his eyes, "Couldn't you dress properly?" She questioned still avoiding the eyes contact
"Will, there is nothing new to hide" He replied with a smirk
"Oh, right "She replied back at his so annoyed by his swift replies
"I think we need to talk love" Jasper approached her so close to her that there weren't any space left, as she felt his hot breath, and he felt hers, Rumina froze in her place, then he smiled and whispered in her ear before rising up
"What you want to know?" Rumina asked all frustrated and annoyed with by this guy
"Everything!" Jasper answered her question, urging her to tell more, she and he knows that their lives were full of secrets and hers were most deep and frightening
"Those two post cards weren't the first, nor they are going to be the last" Rumina added as she rose up from her place though she couldn't help but to feel dizzy and nauseous
"When are you going to trust me and tell me everything?" Jasper so shocked by her attitude and the secrets she's hiding said
"When its time" Rumina replied staring blankly, like a lifeless corps. She knew that the unknown of her past, will bring him nothing but troubles once it's revealed
"My patience is running out, love" He said while wearing his shirt, "You know that I'm willingly waiting to hear everything from you, I can easily found out" He added giving her a passionate back hug, enjoying her scent and caressing her skin
"When its time love, everything is good in its time" She smiled enjoying his embrace, warmth and the feeling of safety that he offers her
..............
Back to New York with Ida and Gabe
"Ida! what are you doing here?" Gabriel smiled yet in shock, the woman standing in front wasn't the one he saw just few days earlier, she was kind of hurt and broken, her swollen two red eyes, and pale yellowish face
"Nothing, just thought I would check on you" She replied with a dishonest smile avoiding his eyes, like if they were projecting her state of mind
"Come in, its cold outside" He approached her, her reflex exposed her, swiftly evading away from the warm embrace he thought he would offer her
"Don't "All she managed to say with her quivering declare
Gabe couldn't do much but look at her changed personality; he thought he knew what she truly is, until he realized that she was shadier than an onion the more you peel the more your cry
"Would you care for some hot chocolate" He added reading her every move, like if he was walking on egg shells
"Yes" All she said, this woman that used to speak all her thoughts and smile like if she is the happiest person on earth, everything disappeared and this sad agonized little girl showed out of nowhere
"What's wrong with you? Ida you don't look fine" Gabriel gambled his luck and asked, the moment she heard him talk, her tears broke out, she shattered into pieces in front of him, when he couldn't do a single thing but to hug her tight may she feel safe. The small silky scarf she had around her neck fell, exposing these black and blue shaded spots, it wasn't just there yet her entire body held these things
"What happened to you? TELL ME NOW" Gabriel's eyes widened as she noticed how much pain she was in, even a Mafia guy wouldn't dare to do this to a woman, anger surrounded him, his blood boiled and her tears made it even worst
"A guy that I met in a pub" She couldn't speak with all the soreness she felt down her throat, "He held me hp hmp captive for days, he he…"She could not finish the last sentence, trembling in fear, what on earth she did to deserve such a life, she lost conscious in his arms, Gabe carried her petite damaged body to the upper floor
"Will, call the doctor for me and I want you to find me this guy" Gabriel called a friend of his
"What's wrong didn't something happened?" The other guy questioned
"Not to me, but it's about to happened to someone" Gabriel answered
"Find me the guy that was with Ida Marouikous 3 days ago or something, that'll will be easy for you" Gabriel asked his friend to find the guy who hurt Ida, and when he was about to hang up, Ida's phone rang and a message popped out on the screen, 'Thank you for the most beautiful two nights, your body is something to die for', Gabriel's eyes lit with fire
"Will, I got his phone number, locate him for me" He added, he came back to the only furniture room in his huge house, and stayed by her side, gazing this broken side of her that he never knew .
The doorbell rang and a post card arrived, " A new chapter has begun, what will you choose, truth or dare?"