Chapter 73: 73 ~ Mira
It had been an uneventful day. Well at least for the most part.
I was cooped up under the sheets reading a book when I heard a knock.
"Come in," I said as I sat up.
Surprisingly it was Jace.
"You’re back early." I said.
"Yeah." He answered, looking around my room.
I wondered what he was thinking. There was no way to read the expressions on his face so I did not even bother.
"I have something for you." He said.
My eyes followed his movements as he handed me a small shopping bag.
"Open it."
Reluctantly, I took out the box out of the bag and opened it. I involuntarily gasped.
It was one of the most gorgeous pieces of jewelry I had ever seen. It was a silver chain with gorgeous dull pink floral pendant. It was adjustable so it could fit the neckline of almost every dress I had. This was the perfect all purpose necklace.
"Jace, it’s beautiful. Thank you." I said with a small smile in his direction while I kept admiring the piece of jewelry.
"Not as beautiful as you. But you’re welcome." He said smoothly.
I found myself giggling like a little girl.
"Let me put it on you." He offered and I handed it to him, pushing my hair aside as he clasped it around my neck.
"Never take it off." He whispered against my ear.
I shuddered slightly before I looked up at him. I was wondering why he said that when he spoke again.
"Got it?"
I swallowed and nodded.
Placing a quick kiss on my temple, he got off my bed and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him.
I stood in front of the mirror and admired the piece of jewelry over and over. It was beautiful and felt like my neck was the perfect place for it to settle. I wasn’t sure I would ever take it off.
~
I decided to take a walk after a while. I soon found myself by the poolside, letting the breeze blow my hair in different directions as I kicked my feet in the water.
"Mind if I join you?"
I bit back a groan as soon as I heard him say that. I really wanted this guy to go back to Italy already. His presence made me uncomfortable. And knowing he nursed a lot of hatred for someone who was his his blood made me hate his guts even more.
"Sure," I sighed. I was not going to let him make me leave the poolside. I came out here to get some fresh air and even his annoying presence would not stop that.
"So, how are you doing today?" He tried to make small talk.
I fought the urge to roll my eyes.
"I’m well."
"You don’t like me enough to know how I’m doing?" He joked.
I was trying so hard to hide my irritation.
"How are you doing Enzo?" I asked for the sake of it.
"Not well."
"And why is that?" I retorted sarcastically.
"Oh that’s because a beautiful woman like you isn’t mine."
My face immediately scrunched up in disgust.
"You do realize, I am your cousin’s wife." I reminded him just in case he was forgetting it.
"I know he’s incapable of treating you right. I can be your perfect gentleman."
"You just proved you have a very questionable character." I spat out.
He found it hilarious and let his raucous laughter fill the air. "You’re married to the Don of the Italian Mafia. There should be no doubt that you married into a family of questionable characters. "
I did not doubt that. In fact he was absolutely right but it did not make this any less disgusting.
"Even if you do not have respect for Jace. Respect me as a married woman." I said through gritted teeth.
"Mira you need to relax," he tried to reach for my hair and I smacked his hand off.
"Feisty. I like it." He smirked.
I almost spat in his face. Enzo was absolute slime ball. Yuck!
I immediately got on my feet and walked away.
Now I was conflicted on telling Jace what his cousin was trying to do. I already snitched about them trying to overthrow him. If I brought this up, I wondered if he would believe me or think I was lying and trying to cause a rift between him and his family by sowing seeds of confusion.
I huffed and puffed in confusion as well as anger.
I almost bumped into Donna Carmela as I furiously stormed into the house.
"I’m so sorry." I apologized profusely.
"What is getting you so blinded by anger young woman?" She asked me.
I exhaled. "It’s Enzo. He keeps trying to flirt with me. It’s so disrespectful!" I said, trying to hold back from yelling.
She shook head and sighed. "That boy,"
"Go in. I’ll handle it." She said, placing a palm on my shoulder.
I let myself sigh in relief. "Thank you, Donna."
I walked back upstairs and stayed in my room until dinner time.
~
I was supposed to be heading down for dinner when I heard the unmistakeable sound of a gunshot. I froze my movements.
It sounded again and I rushed to my window to check outside and see if the house was under attack again like in Rome.
It seemed calm but the guards looked like they were high on alert.
Out of curiosity, and obviously a lack of survival skills, I decided to go outside out of my bedroom and see what was going on.
I snuck out and headed to the balcony that was right above the living room.
Jace stood there with a pistol pointed in the air. He was obviously the culprit.
"I will end your life here and now and there’s nothing anyone would be able to do about it you motherfucker." He gritted out murderously.
I covered my mouth to cover the sound of the gasp that was about tho escape it.
He was talking to Enzo who stood toe to toe with him.
Ricardo sat there seemingly unfazed while Donna Carmela stood on the side, watching their exchange with a bit of scrutiny.
"I dare you, Jacopo."
The punch that came next was a hard one. I was sure I heard Enzo’s nose break.
"Call me that one more time." Jace said in a deathly tone, prepping his gun.
"Jace that’s enough." Donna thankfully stepped in.
"Figlio di puttana." Jace cussed and stormed off. (Son of a bitch.)
Well, that was intense.