CHAPTER 9

I rest my hand on the palm of his that is exposed waiting for me. His brown eyes like the unforgiving dry and austere mountains of life, pierce mine deeply. It is gray against the raw lifeless stone of the mountains. Of course, he wins.

His would be beautiful in themselves, if they weren't devoid of human warmth.

Not a second goes by for me to clench my fingers causing severe pain. I bite the inside of my cheeks, but I don't give him the satisfaction of asking him to let me go. Walk with me throughout the room, savor seeing that the gazes of your guests are moved by the great man who, being so young, assumed control of family businesses and protected his little sister by providing shelter and love in the face of the cruel tragedy of the death of the family patriarch.

That is his preferred role and he knows how to play it very well.

__ Commit some recklessness dear sister __ whispers between teeth just for me, while turning to look at me __. And I will make your life the most raw hell __ he threatens swearing with his look full of anger before kissing me on the cheek.

I wish I had the courage to laugh in his face, or say something, but the fear that spreads through my body when I feel him come closer to smell my skin makes me dumb.

__ You are so desirable __. He sighs with his lips against my skin, makes my body tremble even more and a treacherous tear escapes me.

As he turns away his eyes are blackened and his satisfaction at seeing me tremble with fear makes his pupils shine like those of a wild animal.

__ Miss Suhaila __ a thick and familiar voice forces Leceth to keep her role and look away from me. I appreciate the interruption with all my heart __. It is a pleasure and an honor to see you again.

A stocky man with a well-groomed beard approaches us, taking my hand and leaving a small kiss on the back. He lifts his gaze, revealing the wrinkles that formed on his face when he smiled, betraying his maturity.

I just nod slowly, while a storm rages inside me threatening to topple all the defenses I have built over the years.

A man in his thirties stands next to Mr. Zagin and, bowing gently, introduces himself.

__ I have to say without fear of being wrong, on behalf of everyone, that it is an honor to finally meet her __. He comes over and kisses my hand __. It has been many years that have passed, where only a few have had the privilege of enjoying its enchanting beauty __. He smiles in Zagin's direction.

He bursts out laughing, Zagin was my father's right hand man, he helped him transform the family business into the Korkmaz empire. Leceth allows him and my father's associates at the time to participate in his annual death commemoration ceremony. Only they have seen my face year after year. Leceth consents because it is a way of proving that he fulfills his role as head of the family.

__ You better keep your hands off my sister Casin __. Leceth threatens making him let go of me immediately __. Or do you want to lose them?

His cold and lethal voice takes the man by surprise, apparently poor Casin still does not know the monster and he better not unleash it if he appreciates his life in something.

Zagin is quick to pat Leceth's shoulder trying to take the weight off the threat with a nervous laugh __. Casin, Leceth is an old-fashioned man, unfamiliar with today's polite respectful flattery __. He gives him a smile to soften, at this rate, at the end of the night the man will have a strong pain in his face from so much stretching the tense muscles of his face __. Here in India those compliments to a woman who is not yours is not well regarded.

Casin opens his eyes in amazement understanding only the beginning of what his flattering words could have caused __. I'm very sorry, I didn't mean to be disrespectful __. His brown features show concern.

__ We know __ Zagin agrees to prevent the night from ending in death.

Disrespecting a man in your home by even looking wrongly at one of the women in your family can cost him his life, and that man with the weird accent doesn't seem to be aware that he almost lost his mind tonight.

With the matter apparently settled, Leceth allows Zagin to introduce me to the other guests, at least the important ones. It's funny, because many of them looked at me in disgust at my appearance this morning and now they are dazzled by the honor of touching my hand and leaving a kiss.

I will have to wash it well afterwards or I will lose it to the infection. Something tempts me to sniff her to see if they've left her smelly after a dozen kisses, somewhat… wet so to speak, but the survival instinct in my stomach won't allow it.

Leceth does not detach from me, he looks with the desire to kill every time someone is slow to let go of my hand. He looks like a mad dog as he grabs my free arm to pull me away from them as he wedges his fingers into my skin.

I've walked the entire room between introductions because he won't let me leave his side for even a second, even when Kiara asked him to let me go to the table with her to take our places. He could not hide that his denial seemed strange to him. Leceth isn't even that suspicious of her, but in her gaze I saw how she let it go as she gave me an apologetic look for not being able to get it.

But how can I blame her for letting it go by. How could she imagine what it hides, how could anyone do it?

A few meters from us, a strong chest and marked legs make his footsteps echo through the room. They walk through the place as if no one existed, at least not long enough to waste their time noticing their presence. He does not make eye contact with anyone, he looks straight ahead and at nothing alike, his back straight and shoulders relaxed as if he were walking through his domains, in a leisurely walk and at a safe extreme.

__ Buona sera __ a manly and familiar voice resounds, but speaks in a different language. Those words are an Italian greeting, I recognize it thanks to Georgeo, with him I have learned to master it a little.

There he is, the rude masked man in front of me.

Leceth stiffens in a matter of seconds, will it? Could it be that the great Leceth is nervous? I don't hold back from looking at him carefully, my brother lifts his well-trimmed chin as he struggles to make a smile appear. But it only makes him a strangled grin.

That man must be important.

__ Welcome __ greets with a painful attempt at sounding pleasant. You can try all you want, but he's not going to be nice even on the day he dies.

In a matter of seconds my brother remembers my existence and after looking at me with annoyance, he makes the presentation as if a hot nail were plowing down his throat.

__ She is Suhaila, my sister __ highlights the penultimate word possessively.

The masked man who until now does not seem to have noticed my existence, lowers his gaze until he connects it with mine. For a thousandth of a second I am afraid he will recognize me, I pray that he does not, or Leceth will rip out my face or tongue, depending on the order in which he finds out that he has spoken to me and has seen my face perfectly.

Thank God it only lasts a second, then he looks at me as if I were just one of the boring women of India, who even open their mouths unless it is to eat when ordered.

__ Molti parlare della sua bellezza (Many speak of her beauty) __ nods towards me and then looks at Leceth __. Vedere che é certo (I see that it is true) __ concludes without even looking at me as if his praise were mere formality. My brother seems to love to watch with indifference that this man addresses me.

That does not worry me, that he does not recognize me I am more than happy. Long ago I learned to disown a man finding me attractive. What I do not understand is why the masked man speaks in another language when he understands ours perfectly. Why not speak in our language now as you did with me.

Without warning Leceth takes my hand tightly to draw me closer __. Now you will go to where Kiara is, if a man approaches you you will pay the consequences __ threatens in a whisper, but that does not stop having the desired effect.

As soon as he makes a sign to the masked man, he continues, leaving me in the middle of trembling alone in the living room. I do not wait for him to confirm that I have obeyed his order, I hurry to reach the table and take my place.

__ Are you okay? __ Kiara holds my hand looking at my face __. You are trembling.

__ Yes, yes, I just don't feel very well __. I can't let her know, that will only make her ask things that I can't answer.

__ Are you in your days?

Just nod, that's a good excuse. He holds my gaze a little longer and I don't allow myself to waver. When she feels satisfied, she lets go of my hand and continues with the conversation she had with some ladies who wear masks more exaggerated than their bombastic dresses.

They are the definition that money does not buy good taste.

I just sit there in total silence, from time to time a lady approaches me to talk with the mysterious sister of the New Black Gold Tsar, as I have already heard many murmur behind my back.