Lina
"That is a ridiculous thought,Papa,"I say, feeling Bruno's predatory eyes on me.
"Is it though?Why else would you dump your fiancé who you were clearly happy with to date this man?"Dad says.
Alright,Dad is not entirely wrong but he is exaggerating my relationship with Miles just to make a point.
"If you think that then you clearly don't know me,Papa.I couldnt ever be happy with Miles because I was still in love with Bruno,"I say,hoping that Bruno thinks that I am just trying to make a point.
"That is why I broke up with Miles and am with Bruno.No one forced me to do anything,"I say.
"And to be clear,Lina and I aren't dating,Antonio.We moved in together,yesterday,"Bruno says,revealling that last huge detail.
It's almost as if he craves chaos.
"What?"my parents exclaim simultaneously.
Well,at least all the cats are out of the bag now.
I'll be sure to thank Bruno for this at some point.
"This is what I was talking about,Lina!It's been less than two weeks since you were happily engaged to Miles and now you're telling us that you are moving in with this...this criminal.This isn't like you.It doesn't make sense,"Dad says,looking at us suspiciously.
I squeeze Bruno hand tighter for strength.
"I love him,Dad.I always have!"I say to him using the only words that I know he can't challenge.
******
Bruno
With three powerful words,Lina shatters the desperate hope in her Father's eyes.
If my heart wasn't beating so loudly,I would maybe enjoy this moment.
I know that Lina is just acting but damn I almost believe her myself.She is a better liar than I thought.
"Don't be stupid sweetheart.This man isn't serious about you.He will throw you away like trash when he is done with you,"her Dad says,pointing an accusing finger st me.
A'ight,now I'm pissed.
"I would never do that to her,"I say,for her Dad scoff at me.
Lina glances at me,as if she is also unsure about this.
Seriously? I thought I had already proved that she is the only woman I want.
I won't bother with her Dad but I will definitely convince her.
Her Dad opens her mouth but Lina cuts him off.
"I am not so stupid that I will just move in with a man who I don't believe will keep his promises.Trust me when I say that I took this decision because I truly feel like it is the right one to take."
"I can't let you do this, "he says.
"I am an adult who can make her own decisions and it is already done."
"It's not too late.You can undo it,"her Mom says in frustration.
"No,I can't Mom...I mean I won't.And there is nothing you or Papa can say to change my mind.I am only telling you this because you are my parents and I thought you should know, "Lina says,her voice starting thicken with unshed tears.
If she stays here too long then she is definetely going to break down completely. I can already feel it.
Shit.
I think that it's my cue to step in.
"You heard ,Lina, Antonio.There is nothing you can say to change her mind. I think it's time that you accepted that your daughter is with me now,"I tell him,my patience wearing thin now.
"I allowed this nonsense five years ago but I won't accept my daughter's foolish decision this time!"Antonio says stubbornly.
"Then ,it is clear that we are wasting our time here.Let's go,Lina,"I say,griping her hand tighter.
I'm starting to pull her towards the door when the sound of her Father's voice stops us both.
"Adelina Rivera, if you walk out of that door with that man then you should not bother coming back.Ever."he says,his voice grave.
"What?"Lina asks when she turns,tears misting in her eyes now.
"You heard me clearly.If you leave this house then you are no longer welcome in this home.I refuse to be apart of your life when you insist on being with this wretched excuse for a human being,"says Antonio,gesturing at me with his hand.
That's it.
There is only one person who get's to call me names and she is right next to me.
Taking a deep calming breath,I say, "If you really believe the rumours you have heard about me then I would watch what I said about me,if I were you,"I say to him calmly.
This man should really thank his stars that I am desperately in love with his daughter.She is the only thing standing between him and a body bag.
"See,Lina.This is what I am talking about.He is a criminal and I cannot let him be part of our family,"he says,looking at Lina.
"So let me get this straight,you are making me choose between you guys and my relationship with Bruno?"Lina says,looking between her parents.
Her Father stubbornly stares at her while her mother folds her arms, a mute spectator.
Lina nods her understanding,tears rolling down her eyes now.
"Well,in that case then I guess this is goodbye,"she says,tears now rolling down her face.
She then looks at me with eyes that beg me to get her out of there and I am more than happy to comply.
"Lina!"her Dad calls as we go but she doesn't even look at him.
I wonder if he realises what he has done.
By asking his daughter to choose between us,he just handed her over to me on a silver platter.
And for that I flash him a grateful smile before we are out the door.
******
"You just gave an Oscar performance,"I tell Lina when we leave the porch,not being able to help saying it.
It was remarkable.
"Glad you enjoyed it,"she tells me in an icy voice,wiping her tears.
Her fingers distangle from mine when we near the Mclaren.
That's alright by me.She clearly needs some space right now.
Wiping the tears in her eyes,she opens the car door and surprises me by getting in the driver's seat.
I raise an eyebrow and watch her grip the wheel through the car window.
I whistle to get her attention.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"I want to drive,"she tells me,still looking ahead.
"Drive where?Do you even know the way home?"
"I'm not driving to your penthouse.I want to go somewhere where I go whenever I want to clear my head."
A place that she goes to clear her head?Interesting.
"Sure,we can go.But why do you have to drive.Just tell me the directions and I'll take you there."
"I want to be the one driving,"she insists,still not liking at me.
I frown, torn.I don't usually let people drive my babies but how can I deny my precious,especially when she clearly needs to let loose.
"I'll allow it this one time,"I agree grudginly "But only if you are sure you can handle it.This is my baby."
"Yes,I'm sure,"she says,smirking now.
I look at her suspiciously but end up reaching inside my pocket and handing her the keys.She snatches them away before trimphantly inserting the key in the car,making the engine roar to life.
I move on to the passenger seat and watches as she grips the wheel of my Mclaren,which I have to say,makes me a little nervous.
"Put on your seatbelt,Bruno,"she says,still not looking at me.
I don't know why but this makes makes me feel uneasy.
As soon as I do as she says,she slowly moves out of the her parents driveway.Byt all that changes as she drives through the neighbourhood.
"What are you doing?Where are you going?"I ask,when she really starts speeding up.
She doesn't say anything but just continues pushing my car to it's limits.
Looking ahead,I start to get more nervous,wondering if she planned on getting us killed in a car accident but then I look at her and become mesmerised in the way she expertly handles the Mclaren.It actually gets pretty fucking sexy.
All thoughts of the fear of death fly from my mind as I watch Lina.Watched how wild her long hair looks,how icy her eyes seem and the way her manicured fingers confidently steered the wheel.
If I died in this moment,I honestly wouldn't mind.At least I will be next to the most magnificent woman in the world.
The spell is however broken when Lina viciously tilts the steering wheel to the right,scraping the side of my fifteen million dollar Mclaren against a brick wall fence of her parent's neighbours.
"What the fuck,Lina!"I say as sparks literally start flying.
"This is for making my parents disown me,asshole!"