Chapter 121: 121 ~ Mira
I was basking in the euphoria of what Jace and I had going on. The way he continuously claimed me as his and confessed his love for me in that bathroom had me grinning like a teenager. But my mood immediately changed when I got a text from Massimo.
I felt my heart lurch in my chest as trepidation washed over me. He had not contacted me ever since he sent his men to harm me weeks ago.
His message was a threat;
’You have something I want. The velvet suede file. Don’t keep me waiting Mira or your brother’s blood is on your hands.’
My blood ran cold at the sight of my brother’s photograph. This photo was taken somewhere in Manhattan.
I squeezed my dress, trying to keep my trembling hands still.
I had to warn him. But that meant I had to tell him the whole truth. I wasn’t sure I was ready for that conversation. I had been keeping him in the dark for way too long. It was only to protect him but now it was beginning to look like more harm than good.
I thought about the man who had put me in this mess in the first place. The man who had stormy gray eyes that told a thousand stories but were locked somewhere I had stopped trying to reach so I could save myself instead.
I shook my head, deciding against the thought that came to my mind.
Jace had a lot going on so I couldn’t tell him about this. It would only add to his problems.
I could figure this out on my own.
What I had to do was see my brother first.
Jace didn’t exactly want me to go anywhere but this was too big of an emergency to listen to any of his instructions.
So I went to the one person who didn’t fear him. His mother.
"Donna," I said, nodding to acknowledge her.
She was seated in her living room, staring at the blank television clad in an outfit darker than I was used to seeing her in. Her face was completely bare and she had a lost look in her eyes.
Donna Carmela was mourning in a way I had never witnessed. She portrayed herself as strong all the time so I never thought the day would come when she looked this distraught.
It felt like I was not supposed to see her like this but it was too late now.
"Mira, sit." She said after a few seconds of heavy silence. "What has my son done to you this time?"
I chuckled before I could stop myself as I sat next to her. "He hasn’t done anything. Yet."
She smiled. "Good answer."
My own smile morphed into concern. "How are you, Donna?"
There was another bout of silence before she spoke up again, staring straight at the blank television screen.
"My heart is heavy. But I’ll live." She said. Her tone was plain but I could feel the pain hidden behind those words.
Reaching out, I carefully placed my palm on hers.
She returned the favor and smiled at me again. I saw the sheen of tears in her eyes but she blinked them back before they could drop.
We sat there in comfortable silence.
A woman like Donna didn’t need comforting words. She needed the silence so she could grieve in the way she knew how to.
I had to hurry up and leave her alone.
"I need to go somewhere but Jace wouldn’t let me. Can you please help me? I’m not going to take long I promise."
"Is it a matter of life and death?"
I bit on my lower lip before answering. "Sort of."
"I’ll arrange for a car and enough guards to go with you. That boy would kill me with his bare hands if anything happens to you on my account."
I grinned. "I’ll be careful I promise."
She told me she’d have everything arranged, I just had to hurry up.
As soon as I left her, I placed a call to my brother.
"Roberto, meet me at Cafe Delamonte in thirty minutes."
"You’re in New York?!" He exclaimed in surprise.
"No questions. Just get there soon. We have a lot to talk about."
I ended the call and hurried towards the stairs when I bumped into someone.
"If it isn’t my favorite cousin in-law."
I frowned at the sight of Enzo and his charming smile that could make other women swoon. But for me he looked like a dummy head with a ridiculous smile.
"What do you want?" I asked, my tone as cold as ice.
"Be nice. I haven’t seen you in a long time and this is how you treat me? That’s not fair now is it?"
He tried to touch my hair. I slapped his hand away, my nose flaring up.
This dude was like that one bug that hovered no matter how much you tried to swat it away.
"Don’t ever try to touch me." I warned him sternly.
"You’re feistier than I remembered. Makes you even more attractive. I wouldn’t mind taking on my cousin’s widow."
My heart plummeted at the implication of what he meant. This psycho really wanted to kill Jace. My Jace.
I heaved a breath to steady myself so he wouldn’t know how much his words got to me.
Nothing was going to happen to my husband.
"In your dreams." I spat.
Speaking of Jace, I had to be out of here before he would return from wherever he went to. I had wasted enough time speaking to this jackass. His presence made my skin crawl with irritation.
I tried walking past him and he pulled me back.
"Guards!" I yelled.
They sprung into action and pointed their guns at him. Apparently they had been waiting on my instruction.
"I see you know how to exercise authority now. Impressive." Enzo smirked.
"Let me go this instant or I’ll have them blow your brains out." I gritted out.
There was a glint of mischief in his eyes. "You wouldn’t."
"Dare me. I would save my husband the stress and as a good wife, I really want to." I showed him a sinister smile.
I had never been more serious in my life as I stared into his eyes with sick determination.
He noticed I wasn’t playing around so he let me go.
I stormed up the stairs, got dressed as fast as I could, making sure to wear sunglasses and wrap my hair in a silk scarf. It was the best disguise I could come up with. I had limited time.
I jogged down the stairs and made my way outside to the car waiting for me.
I urged the driver to move faster. I was already running late because of that bastard, Enzo.
"Motherfucker," I cussed aloud in annoyance.
The driver looked at me nervously.
"I wasn’t referring to you, I promise." I flashed him a smile.
He smiled back. Nervously though.
We soon arrived at the cafe.
Roberto didn’t notice when I walked in. He was facing the opposite direction.
For the first time in nearly three years, I saw my brother. He looked more manly. His hair was longer, he now had a neatly trimmed beard and looked slightly buffed up from working out.
I looked at him like a proud mother, watching on the side as he looked around anxiously, checking his watch at intervals. I was only ten minutes late. He didn’t have to be so dramatic.
I rolled my eyes underneath my glasses as I stood there for a few more seconds before walking up to him.
"Is this seat taken?"
He looked up with a frown. And then the look of recognition crossed his eye.
"Mira?" He sounded unsure.
I smiled and nodded.
Roberto pulled me into a tight hug. I was not expecting it but I hugged him back as tightly as I could. I could barely wrap my arms around him anymore. He wasn’t as lanky as I remembered.
When we pulled apart, I took off my glasses.
"It’s really you." He breathed out.
"It is." I gave him a watery smile, trying to hold back my emotions. I was going to cry any minute and I was in public. It was unacceptable. We were already causing a scene with how we hugged like a long lost couple who had finally found each other.
"You look different."
"So do you! My goodness what happened?" I exclaimed.
"I stopped drinking, started working out, eating healthy. I got a pretty good job." He listed his achievements one after the other.
"No more shady deals?" I asked quizzically.
"None." He grinned like a proud kid.
I couldn’t help the tears that flowed.
Now I felt like the bad guy because I was about to drag him back into the messy world he had intentionally left behind.
"Why are you crying? Are you okay?" He looked very concerned.
I nodded. "I am. I just missed you so much."
Placing a palm on his face, I stared at whom could be regarded as the male version of me.
He wasn’t ready for the truth. It would crush him and make him spiral.
I had to find away to protect him without him knowing about everything going on.
Then and there I decided in my heart that I would do whatever it takes to protect my brother.
Even if it meant betraying Jace.