Scott"
Lara, your husband, is here." Owen hollered downstairs. I stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my body. Last night, I went home around eleven in the evening, and Scott sent me home despite my protests, but he's too stubborn for my liking. He asked James to drive the car, and I gave in.And here he is again. This guy is more stubborn than me. I pulled clothes out of my closet and laid them on my bed when I heard the door click open. My head quickly whips around, and I shriek to see Scott looking at me."Yah! Get out!" I screamed."Shit! Sorry, Love." He said, slamming the door closed. I quickly put on my clothes, blushing, ready to strangle that guy. After I put on my clothes, I yank the door open, and there he is, leaning on the wall.I grabbed his arm, pulled him inside, and smacked his head as soon as I closed the door. "You don't know how to knock?" I asked, glaring at him."Sorry, Love. Owen said you are inside the bathroom, and you wouldn't hear me if I knocked. He told me to go into your room." He explained."But still, you should knock. And why are you here? It would be best if you stopped moving around. Your wound still has not completely healed." I scolded him. He smiled, then wrapped his arm around my waist, then kissed my cheek. "Morning, Love. I want to send you to school. Don't worry, James is driving the car. And I got a wound worse than this many times, and it doesn't stop me. This wound is just like a scratch." He said, smiling, and kissed my cheek again. My eyes softened, and I pouted. He grins and pecks my lips. I smiled and wrapped my arms around him, leaning my face on his chest.He sways our bodies softly and plants a kiss on the crown of my head once in a while. I loosened my arms around him after a minute, looking up at him."Give me a few minutes. I will fix myself," I said and pulled away from him, but he held my arms and cupped my face. "Kiss first." He whispered. My face flushed, but he just chuckled and captured my lips with him. My arms quickly wrapped around his neck, and he deepened the kiss. And after a few seconds, he pulled away, smiling. He kissed my flushed face and ushered me to sit on the chair before my dresser. He kissed my forehead, then settled on the edge of my bed.That is one of the things that I love about him. He doesn't tease me if I feel giddy or turn into a ripe tomato in front of him every time he does something sweet to me."Hurry, Love. You're going to be late." He said after a minute, seeing me staring at him in the mirror. I smiled and nodded my head. I blow dry my hair, just let it down, and apply some mascara, foundation, and light lipstick, and I'm done. "Did you change the bandage on your wound today?" I asked while gathering my things, putting them in my bag, and slinging them on my shoulder."Yes! I did." He replied, smiling. He stood, then held my hand, entwining our fingers. "You're done?"Yes! Let's go." We left my room and we headed downstairs. Owen and James were in the living room chatting about something I didn't know."Morning, Lara." James greeted me, and I nodded in reply, smiling."Hey, you, why are you here this early morning?" I asked, pointing my finger at Owen."For your safety. Now that Boss is so open about you two and those men that were after him, I'm afraid that they will come after you."Now that you mentioned it. I think I can't avoid the mafia anymore, but now not a successor, but the underboss woman."I'm sorry, Love. I forgot about it. I'm sure the Mafia already knows about you being my woman because we've been together many times this past month. I know you don't want to have any connection with the Mafia."My mind has already changed now. You're the Mafia boss, and I am your wife. You cannot leave the Mafia, so I stay where you are. My father said before that the safest place for a mafia is inside the Mafia itself. So, better stay than leave to live a life with fear and being hunted."But you don't want any of it before. That's why you are hiding," Scott said. I could see the guilt in his eyes."That was before; I don't know my husband," I said, smiling. "Are you sure?" Owen asked. I nodded my head in reply."You know the initiation of every new member, especially those who become a lover of a mafia member, right?" Did someone mention it to you?" James asked. Scott cursed. I'm sure he forgets about it as well. I nodded my head again. I know every rule the mafia has. I have been schooled about it since I was young. My parents prepared me just in case in the future I needed it. I know about the initiation because my mother went through with it.Every year, the Mafia has this initiation to accept every lover of every Mafia member to become officially part of the Mafia. In this initiation, you need to know how to fight because, being part of the Mafia, you should learn self-defense, or you'll die.During the initiation, every new lover of a mafia that their lover officially introduced will fight a member of the Mafia. It depends on the rank of your lover. For example, if your boyfriend or girlfriend is just a regular member or they are called an associate, you will only fight one member, but as the rank goes up, the number of fights you'll undergo will increase, too. There are five ranks in the Mafia: The Boss, Underboss, Capo, Soldier, and their associates."The associate is the lowest rank. Their lover only fights one time. The soldier or those under the Capo need to fight three times. The capo's women or men six times, the underboss, like Scott, his lover, fights eight times, and the Boss ten times. My mom trained hard before my father officially introduced her to the mafia so she'd survive. At that time, my father was just a capo, and she almost died. She got multiple broken ribs and arms. She got internal bleeding, but luckily she survived. This initiation sometimes lasts for a week. The longer a month depends on how many people are involved. Some didn't come out alive. It's scary, but it's reasonable. You will not survive long being a part of the Mafia if you don't know any self-defense. Your enemy is not only the authorities but also your fellow Mafias." The Mafia cannot initiate Lara until I officially introduce her to them. So, as long as I don't do it, She will not go through with it." Scott said, snapping me out of my thoughts." You cannot avoid it, Boss. Once the Mafia knows about her, they won't stop until you introduce her. It is either willingly or by force.", James said, and I know about it. Since Scott is a high-ranking official of the Mafia, everyone wanted to see his woman, and they would do everything so that he would bring me in."I'm ready for it. I have thought about it long and hard since I found out that Scott was Blade, and I had made up my mind already. If you are ready to introduce me to them, I'm ready too."Did you consult Grandpa about this?" Scott asked in a voice laced with worry."No need to consult him. I'm sure he knows this thing will happen since the day he forced us into a marriage." Scott let out a shaky breath. " I forgot about this initiation. I shouldn't take you into the open where the Mafia could see you. I should hide you."Scott! I'm fine. You have a kick-ass wife. I'm strong, skilled, and confident that I will leave that initiation hall alive." He let out a shaky breath again and pulled me into a tight hug."I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Lara. I don't want this life for you, but I love you too much to let you go." "I'm good, don't worry. Maybe being part of the Mafia was my fate, and I couldn't change it, no matter how I tried to avoid it. Now stop with this drama. Let's talk about it again some other time. I'm already late for my first period."Don't worry, Boss. I'm confident Lara will step out of the initiation hall breathing." Owen said, smiling."I know, but some don't play fair. But you are right to talk about this some other time. The initiation will not take place until April. We still have four months to prepare, just in case. Let's go. Let's talk about this again." Scott said and led me to his car outside, with James and Owen following behind. I'm sure he's still worried about it, but I'm confident with my skills.He opened the door for me and let me settle down first before he followed. James went to the driver's side and drove off to school, with Owen following us."Love, can I put some of my men to guard you?" Scott asked after a few minutes passed. "You know more danger is coming for you now, and I only want you safe."No need for additional guards. I already have four.""Please, love. I won't be at ease until I have my men guarding you. I'm not saying that I don't trust your guards. I know they can protect you, but I want to have a person to contact every moment. I want to know if you are safe."You can contact Owen or Ashley if you want."But they are not my men. They are Grandpa. And they followed and reported to Grandpa."But! "Please, Love." He whispered and pulled me into his embrace, kissing my forehead."Fine! But only one."Two."One," I said, arm crossed over my chest. I'm getting annoyed now."Two, Love. Promise you won't notice them."One!" I said, not hiding my irritation now, turning my back to him."Two, Love. I plan to put five of my men, but I guess you won't like that many guards. That's why I reduced it to two."What? Yah!! I seethed and punched his shoulder. He chuckled."It settles then, two." He said, smiling. I glared at him and moved away from him, annoyed. Why ask me if he won't listen to my opinion anyway? He had already decided before asking me."Let go of me." I snarled when he pulled me closer, pulling me to sit on his lap. I struggled, but he only tightened his grip on me and buried his face in my neck."I said, let me go," I screamed this time and smacked his head, but he only looked up and stole a peck on my lips. I pushed on his chest, but he wouldn't budge. I smacked his shoulder repeatedly, but he just let me and kissed my cheek."Scott!!! I seethed in anger, pounded on his back, and wiggled free from his lap. He grunted in pain but kept holding me."Ouch, Love. That hurts already." He voiced out this time after a few minutes. "I'm only doing this because I'm scared of losing you. Please understand. Love. I won't force you to do anything against your will but your safety. I will do everything possible to ensure your safety, even if you get mad at me." He whispered. My lips quivered, and tears rolled down my face. He quickly wiped it away and pulled my head to lay on his shoulder."I know you feel suffocated with all these people guarding your every movement, but this is the only way to protect you. I promise you won't notice them. They will just be around. They won't get so near." He whispered and kissed my cheek. I hiccup, wiping my tears, but don't utter a word. "Please don't cry. I don't want to see you cry." He cups my face, kisses my eyes and red nose, and softly places his lips on mine for a few seconds. I hiccup once again like a child wiping my tears. I couldn't help it. He was so sweet and so gentle towards me, the very opposite of what I pictured Blade in my mind.I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my face in his neck, with his arms soothingly rubbing my back.The car stopped in front of the school after one hour of driving. I think James purposely drove the car slowly so that Scott and I could fix our misunderstanding before reaching school.I pulled away from the hug, and he quickly pulled a tissue in front of him and wiped my face, maybe to remove a tear stain on my face. "I'll pick you up later. Okay?" He whispered and tucked the loose strand of hair behind my ear. I nodded my head, and he smiled. I bit my lower lips and lowered my head, but he held my chin, making me look at him. He smiles again, and this time, I smile. He kissed my forehead, then ran his finger on my hair. "See you later. I love you, love."I love you too," I whispered. He pulled me back in his embrace and kissed my forehead."Take care, love." I nodded my head, then moved away from his lap. I sling my bag on my shoulder and fix myself, ensuring I look presentable. "Bye!" I whispered. He nodded his head, smiling. I leaned to him and kissed his lips, who gladly responded. I pulled away after a few seconds, blushing, but he only smiled and pinched my cheeks. I waved my hand one last time before I stepped out of the car.James rolled his window down and waved at me, smiling. I waved back at him before I made my way inside school super late for my second-period class for the first time.