{ S*X AND HATE... }
THEME: I DARE YOU
By, Dammrare
CHAPTER 07🦋08
★~•★~•★
{ CONFRONTATION }
🔥HARRY'S POV🔥
Father examines the mark on the head of the knife, he has a deep frown on his face as he studies it.
He hasn't said a word since I showed him the warning and threat we got a few minutes ago.
Hugo and Hudson were standing behind me, both watching him closely just like I am.
I don't get why he is silent about this. Shouldn't we just send some men over to the Osvaldo and kill them without leaving a f**king soul alive?
To be honest, I regret not killing that little bitch when I had the chance to do so.
I literally had my fingers wrapped around her miserable life. Just one snap and she would be gone.
However, will that be the best way to solve this situation? What if they are not the ones who sent this threat and warning message to us? What if there is an enemy we are ignorant about because we are just too focused on the Osvaldo?
"They've crossed the line," Father finally speak, dropping the knife on the desk. "How dare them send a warning to the Maynard?"
"As if killing Linus is not enough," Hudson add, balling his fist in anger.
"We can't sit back and watch them insult us like this. Just like the phrase goes; 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'" Hugo state. "It is time we show them who is in control."
"Hugo is right, boss. Let's fight this war and see who gets the victory. We are going to use them as scapegoats for the rest of the mafia world to see and learn. We are going to show everyone that we are not to be disrespected or taken for a joke." Hudson says.
"And what if we lose the fight?" I raise a brow, staring at the twins.
"Are you underestimating our capacity?" Both questions in sync.
"I'm not." I sigh. "I'm only saying we can't act rashly. We have to take things one step at a time."
"One step at a time? Have you seen yourself in the mirror?" Hudson growl. "Your throat was almost divided. Moreover, that knife was directly thrown at you. What would have happened if it had touched you? Huh? We don't have to wait for any perfect time, Harry. We_"
"That's enough." Father cut him off as he sits on the chair. "Hudson mind the way you talk to Harry. Don't forget he is the next boss in line after me."
Hudson bows his head to my father and then to me. "I'm sorry. I crossed the line."
I wave him off. "What should we do now, Father? You are the one with the final say."
Father hesitate. "You tell me, son. What would you do if you were in my position?"
This is a trick question. More like a test. Father always does this to test my capability, capacity, intellectual, and understanding. And I never disappoint him.
I shove my hands inside my pocket and shrug. "Confront them."
"Wasn't that my suggestion?" Hudson frowns at me.
"Not a confrontation to fight them," I emphasize so he will see the angle of where I am looking from.
"Is it a confrontation for peace then?" Hugo narrow his eyes at me.
"Peace?" I scoff. "F**k that shit. The Maynard and Osvaldo can never be in peace. We are enemies and nothing can ever change that."
"What confrontation are you talking about then? Be precise with your answer, son."
"We can't be certain that they sent this warning to us," I begin. "Everyone knows the Italian Empire and the Russian Empire are enemies. Whoever sent this threat came anonymously which means that he or she doesn't want us to know that it was sent from them. And that made me wonder, why will the Osvaldo send a threat to us anonymously when everyone knows that we are enemies? They don't hide the hate they have for our empire from us. We all know how much that little brat has tried to kill me. The evidence is here," I point to my throat. "it's nothing new." I explain.
I might be wrong with my reasoning but as I've said, my intuition is never wrong. And right now my instinct is telling me that the Osvaldo is not the one who sent us this threat.
But we don't have any other enemy aside from the Italian mafia. And now, that is where the confusion and complication lies.
Everyone is silent in the room. They seem to be in deep thought over what I have just told them.
Hugo turns to look at me and asks, "Why then did you suggest we confront them?"
"Just for confirmation. If they really sent us the threat..." I grit my teeth. "We will have to go with Hudson's suggestion and fight them to the last."
Father nods his head and stands up to his feet. "Tomorrow. I will confront them." He face me and mouthed, "I just hope your suggestion is for the best."
I hope so too.
"And oh, you will be coming with me, son."
Okay, wait a minute, I never bargain for this.
•••••
🔥SCARLETT'S POV🔥
"The Maynard are really crossing the line. What is their problem? First, they sent that fool to steal my shipment and now, they are sending us a threat message?" He tosses the knife to the table in fury.
"I guess they want to avenge the death of Linus." Mario says.
Mario has been working for the Empire for a long time now. He is the same age as me. His father also worked for my father but died two years ago. Ever since then, father took Mario like a son and treated him quite better than he does for his own son, Nelson.
Mario and I were once best buddies when we were kids but as the saying goes; 'Change is constant in life.' We didn't fight or anything. Let's just say... We grew up and started working our a*ses off than to have spare time to play or chat. That doesn't mean when we see each other, we walk past by without saying hello. Only kids act like that. Adults don't.
"I don't think so," I interject, scowling.
"Why not?" He asks.
"Harry and I met after I was done with the mission..."
"I see. Now that explains the band-aid." He nods at my face.
"Yeah."
"So what happened when you both met?"
"Is that a question? What would have possibly happened if not the usual? Have Harry and I ever met and stayed calm? Of course, we fought, goddammit."
Mario throws his hands in the air in surrender. "That was a dumb question to ask. I'm sorry."
I roll my eyes "Anyway like I was saying, Harry could have killed me but he hesitated."
Father and Mario's face drop immediately. Both have a look of surprise on their faces.
"He hesitate?" Mario asks and I nod my head as a yes. "Why?"
"I don't know. Well, I took the chance and attacked him. I was going to slit his throat when we heard the sirens of the cops and I let him off my hook." I explain. "In other words, this message might not be from the Maynard."
"Because Harry hesitate to kill you?" Mario scoff. "I'm sure you managed to overpower him and not that he hesitated. This threat is definitely from them. We don't have any other enemies aside from them."
"This message was sent from an anonymous person. Why will they do that when everybody in the mafia world knows about our enmity?" I reason. "My instinct tells me that they do not have a hand in this."
Father pinches his brows together, observing the whole confusing situation.
"I have ransacked through my brains, we don't have any other enemies but the Maynard. Who else could have done this if not them?"
"Exactly my thought!" Mario agrees.
"Then let's confront them." I simply say with a slight shrug.
"What?" Father frowns at me.
"What are you saying?" Mario adds.
"If they really send this knife, then we should confront them about it. If it is war they seek then they shall find it."
"Why don't we ambush them instead," Mario suggests.
Sometimes this boy thinks like a f**king child. Didn't he hear all I have just said? Do I need to speak Italian for him to understand me?
"Mario,"
"Yes?"
"How much does a brain cost in the market?"
"Uhm, I don't know. Wait, do they sell brains? I don't think they do." He says.
"I wish they do."
"Why?"
"So that I can get you one."
Father burst into fits of laughter, throwing his head back. Mario bites his lower lip and looks away from me.
"I just said they might not be the culprit who sent this shit and we should confront them about it and here you are suggesting we ambush them. Like f**king hell." I growl.
Mario rubs the back of his neck, lowering his head to stare at the ground.
"Scarlett, that was pretty harsh." Father scold me.
I don't say anything.
"But I will take your suggestion." He tells me. "Your instinct is always right and I trust you."
I force a smile onto my face. It is not like I am not genuinely happy with what he has just said. It is just that... I don't know how to smile.
I can smirk, chuckle, laugh evilly, and snicker but I don't know how to give an adorable and cute smile.
"Go to bed. The both of you. Tomorrow will be a very long day."
"Hmm." I stand and head to the door when Father says from behind.
"You will be coming with me, honey."
Shit. Shit. Shit.
••••
What is sitting on my face? Who the f**k dares to sit on my precious face!? I push whatever thing on my face and sat upright, looking around for the culprit.
"Meow!" Scar purr and starts to walk away from me.
Of course, it has to be her. She is one person who does shit and goes freely without getting a punishment.
"Good morning, Scar." I pat her head and she purrs in response.
I have a long day ahead of me. I stretch my body and go inside the bathroom to have a quick bath.
••••
I descend the stairs, dressed in black leather trousers and a jacket with a black crop top underneath the jacket, and black knee boots.
The house looks so busy as usual. Maids and guards were littered everywhere. All doing one thing or another.
They all bow their heads as I walk past them, humming armed and dangerous by juice world.
I am almost reaching my father's office when I hear my name from behind.
"Scarlett,"
Oh, shit. There is only one person who calls me like this. The authoritative voice. I must have skipped a part during my introduction... I lied. Dad is not the one who controls or scares me. Mother is.
I don't even dare to turn around and face her because I can already imagine her angry look. Red face, brows pinched together, hands on hips, lips pursed, and nose flaring.
"Your back isn't that fun. Turn around." She tells me.
I slowly turn to face her and yup, my description matches perfectly.
"Good morning," I let out a small wave.
Her eyes search my face until it falls upon the band-aid on my right cheekbone and the frown on her face deepens.
"What the hell, Scarlett?" She steps close and cups my cheeks. "What happened to your face?"
"Nothing."
"Don't you dare lie to me, young lady. You fought with Harry, didn't you?"
"Mm-hmm."
"How many times do I need to remain you that you are a lady for goodness sake? How can go about fighting like a man, huh? Don't you know your beauty lies in your face? What man will marry a girl whose body is full of scars?"
"It matches my name, doesn't it?" I say through clenched teeth.
"Shut up." She hit my arm.
"Ow, Mom. It is just a tiny scar and nothing serious." I say.
"I am going to deal with that boy called Harry. Why does he keep inflicting you with cuts? The scars on your body are all from him."
I inflict him with cuts too. We are both even in terms of that. Whenever we cross paths, we will fight and cut each other with whatever sharp object we come across.
Although, Mother is a bit exaggerating it. I do not have plenty of scars on my body. Just a few. I can even list them: I have scars on my stomach, back, inner right thigh, and face. And before you start imagining a lot of scars on the mentioned places above... They are only one scar each in the places I mentioned. You see, nothing serious.
"Mom, it is fine. This is what comes along with being the heir of the empire. I have to be strong and ready to defend myself, my family, and properties. And if I have to acquire scars then so be it. Even if I have to die then so_"
Mom hit me once again on my arm and throw a hard glare at me. "Don't you dare think about dying, you silly child. Why are you dressed up?"
"I have somewhere to be with Father," I answer.
"You spend more time with your father than you do with me. I'm not gonna lie, it makes me jealous."
"You don't have to be jealous, mother."
"I am." She pout.
Oh, no. Not this. She wants to ask for a favor. Whenever she pouts or tries to guilt-trip me just know she wants to ask me for an impossible request.
"What do you want, mother?" I ask.
She smiles. "Listen, child. A friend of mine has a son who just returned from Canada and I kinda arranged a meeting for the both of you."
"Like a blind date?"
"Yes."
"No."
"Excuse me?"
"No, I am not going on a blind date with some boy I do not know."
"You will get to know him when you meet him, Scarlett."
"I do not want to know him and I do not want to meet him either. Can you stop trying to set me up with the sons of your friends? It's becoming annoying."
"Is it my fault? If you can simply introduce a man of your choice to us. Maybe I won't be stressing myself to find one for you."
"Honey, leave my precious daughter alone." Dad says, coming up from behind Mother.
"I'm not talking to you. Mind your business."
"Are you mad at me about something?"
"Yes. It is your fault my daughter is like this."
"Good morning, people!" Nelson screams from the stairs and walks out of the house.
I don't get why they don't stress Nelson as they stress me. I get it, I am older than him by two years but come on, I have a lot on my plate already.
Mother and father were still arguing while I stand in between them, staring into space. The argument isn't a serious one. It's just mom scolding dad for making me forget about my gender all in the name of being an heir to the empire.
Mario running towards us stop their argument. He eventually reach us and start breathing heavily, pointing towards the front door.
"What is it?" Father asked him.
"The... The Maynard... They are here." He breathes.
"What!?"
"Why is the Maynard here?" Mother asks no one in particular.
Was my instinct wrong? Could they have been the ones who sent the warning message? Are they here to fight us now?
I pull out my knife from the back of my pocket and step up to stand beside Father as we make our way to meet them.
We are always ready for war whether or not we get ambushed.
"Mario, go and get the warning knife and meet us outside. Hurry."
"Yes, sir." Maria runs off.
Mother follows us outside.
As soon as we get out of the house, my face drops and I look around to see if they are really the only ones here. But it seems like it.
Harry, Mr. Maynard, and two other boys whose names I don't remember. Okay, here is the thing. I don't care about their names. I've met them a few times but to hell with them. Anyway, the four of them were the only ones who have come.
"Osvaldo," Mr. Maynard begin.
"Maynard," Father says, matching the man's tone. "To what do I owe this undesirable visit?"
"We need to talk." He says flatly.
"Yes, we really need to. I was about going to your residence. I wonder why you came here by yourself."
"I see. Let's go inside and talk." Maynard suggest.
Father hesitates, "Sure. Come with me. Scarlett, take care of our guests." He nods his head toward Harry and his cohorts.
Maynard and Father go back inside the house and I'm sure they are going straight to the office.
I stare at Harry, he has a band-aid over his throat. That is a work done by me. I'm so proud of myself.
"Boys, come with me." Mother says.
"Okay." The boys standing with Harry agree and follow mother inside the house.
Harry is about to walk past me but I step in front of him, blocking his path.
"Why have you come? What do you and your father want?"
"Are you curious, Foxy?" He smirks. "Why don't you ask your father?"
I grab his shirt collars, pulling him close to my face.
"If you want to kiss me, just say it." He tease, his eyes momentarily moving down to my lips and I did the same as well. We both stare at each other's lips for a split second until...
"Scarlett, no fighting in my house. Come inside." Mother says from inside.
I quickly pull away from Harry and immediately go back inside.
What the f**k just happened?
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