Chapter 10

Kayla Santino.

I have to tell them about the flowers in my room. I will do it after the ball though.

He offers to take me home and as we ascend the stairs, carl sits up straighter and pushes the woman from his lap when he sees me. Too late Carlos.

"Princess!" he sounds surprised getting up from his seat but I don't give him attention. Theo holds my hand leading me outside instead.

"Hold up" he firmly snaps and then freezes in his steps. Carl walks to us followed closely by a scowling Sam. That serious face is scary as fuck.

"Leave us" he commands and everyone leaves the room as I silently watch and wait for him to talk.

"Hi," he says scratching the back of his neck. Seriously dude?

"What is I,t Carl?" I ask boredom clear in my voice.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming over " Is that even a question?

"Why? so you'll get enough time to push the bitch from your lap" I spit harshly and he looks away guilty avoiding my gaze.

That's what I thought.

" If you'll excuse me, I need to get home " I turn back to leave but stop when I remember something "

Don't pick me up tomorrow for the ball, I don't need you as my plus one " with that said, I join the who is standing beside the door.

"Pick me up tomorrow for the ball, please. I don't want to go alone" I tell them when he pulls to our gate

"I will. Take care princess." he kisses my hair before opening my door for me.

For the first time in ages, I feel the need of making a friend. I think theo is not that bad.

I tiredly stroll to my room and looks like Thomas already visited. A note awaits with the normal writings which am used to by now;

'Your dress looks beautiful, See you at the ball princess "

I scrunch the note and drop myself on the bed sighing loudly.

Days of my life.

The red dress holds rightly to my body like a second skin, the high slit exposing the soft skin of my right long leg to my thigh.

My long hair is in a messy bun with a few strands falling on my face.

The makeup is on point. The red lipstick makes my full lips appear more beautiful. My blue eyes complement my skin perfectly and are proud to say, I look beautiful. I wear my black sandal heels with a single silver anklet, not the one Thomas bought though. My trust issues won't allow me even if he got it right.

I adorn my neck with a diamond chain necklace and a single Cartier silver bracelet on my wrist. Looking in the mirror, am confident. I hope River sees what I see because I need him.

Moving on to the most important part of my dressing, I load my gun and put it safely on my porch after confirming the safety pin is off. I grab my two knives and place them on my holster and admire myself again in the mirror. Such a beautiful yet deadly flower.

"You look extremely beautiful my queen," Theo says bowing dramatically when I walk down to our living room. He became officially my right hand but he doesn't know it yet. With the amount of enemies awakening, I need a person I can trust on my side and I think they will do just that.

"Thank you, Theo, you don't look bad yourself " it's only fair I compliment him too.

"Wait wait wait, you look so beautiful dear," my grandpa says rushing down the stairs. He looks at me with proud eyes smiling.

"Thanks, grandpa, I will check on you later" I kiss his cheek to leave before he starts telling his boring tales.

"Where is Carlos?" of course he would ask about him

"I am meeting him at the ball" I simply say signalling them to follow me.

"That's very wrong. I have to teach him how to treat a beautiful lady like you, have him come see me after the party" he shakes his head disagreeing with Carl's behaviour. I nod and we leave.

The party is already packed with people elegantly dressed, their appearances screaming wealth and power. It's a mafia ball meaning everyone here is from a crime family. The most dangerous place to be if you ask me.

I spot Carl conversing with his fellow businessmen and of course, he brought a date.

Today a brunette hangs on his arm and smiling like she just won a trophy. He probably is done with the one from yesterday. Carlos fucking Moreno.

Who can blame him though, the man is beyond attractive and he's using that to his advantage.

I pity his wife.

"Care for a drink?" Theo asks averting my gaze. He must be feeling pity for Carl's wife too.

"No thank you. I want to meet River first" I politely decline, I haven't met river before and I don't know what to expect. So I need my mind clear.

"Are you going to kill him?" he whispers softly

"No" I scowl at the " I need updates on his dad, and who will be a better informant than his son?" I don't just kill because I want to. I must have reasons and river hasn't given me one yet.

"Okay? I don't understand" he drags out furrowing his brow, clearly confused why am not killing my enemy's son.

"Theo" I hold his shoulders so he's looking in my eyes" as much as I seem bad, I don't take innocent lives or those who aren't a threat to me. Unlike

Greyson, am not killing his son because he's my enemy.No, I want information on his dad and his men. That's all." I explain to him

"You are gonna be a good queen, you know that right" he smiles brightly. His lip ring looks good on him everything about him is perfect and his character matches. Sam is lucky.

"Stop with the fluttering, see you later" I dismiss trying to locate the person who brought me here.

I spot River at the bar alone with a drink in his hand.

The first man is seen tonight without a woman on his arm. I decide to walk to him and just talk, no need for seducing game.

"Hello" I greet sitting on the stool next to him

"Hey," he says drinking from his glass without glancing at me. He's different.

"Where is your date," I say looking behind him.

Maybe she excused herself or something.

"I don't have one" he mumbles still not looking at me. He's not flirty like most men here.

"Really?" I act surprised

"Yeah, it was a last-minute call so I just had to appear," he says now lifting his eyes to me and they widen a little but he composes himself immediately.

His eyes quickly rake my body and he clears his throat. He liked what he saw.

"What family do you come from" I act like I didn't notice his surprise.

"Am here for my dad, he's out of the country "he takes a sip from the clear liquid in his glass

"Oh! cool.Am here for my uncle too" I smile slightly

"You are beautiful, where are you from?"

"From Italy. I just arrived here" I look at him. He's not bad either.

His looks are strict and he seems to be a man who sticks to his rules. He has brown short hair and grey eyes. He is clean shaved and I don't see tattoos on him unlike most men here.

"That's cool. I would love to know you more. If you don't mind that is" he smiles softly. Is he just pretending or this is the real him? Grayson is the ultimate devil unless this is not his son.

"Sure, I would love that too. It gets lonely when I visit and I could use a friend"

"Here is my card, call me before you leave okay? I have somewhere else to be right now" he says standing up.

"I will surely do," I say grabbing the card from him. It reads River Scott. He's truly the fuckers son, maybe it was just a facade.

"How did it go, " Theo asks sitting on the stool River just stood from.

"He gave me his card" I wave the card at him.

"Have you noticed anything or anyone out of place?"

I look at the people around and everyone is minding their own business. The note said that they will see me at the ball.

"Not is everything okay?" he looks at me alerted. I look into his eyes for a while and I know I can trust him, so I decide to tell him.

"I need to tell you something.., Someone has been....."I don't get to finish my sentence before gunshots ring out. Like I said the most dangerous place one could ever be at.

"Get down princess" theo pulls me down from the stool and we crouch down observing what's happening.

People are randomly shooting at each other, others taking cover while others rush out of the room. It becomes messy with dead bodies dropping and screams filling the room.

"Shit. It's boss" Theo says already standing up but I hold him back down.

"What about carl?

"The Russians are here. He killed their capo remember"

Oh shit.

"Where is he?" I ask worriedly

"He was..." he looks around " oh shit..let's go"

He leads me to the backdoor and there is a trail of blood everywhere. Theo opens the door to welcome the sight of carl together with his men and another gang pointing guns at each other.

" You killed my dad's capo and he send me to get your head," the leader says. He can't be any older than me and from his accent, he's Russian.

"Well too bad your father will never see you again, let alone my head " Carl smirks evilly giving his men a signal and the Russians drop dead, unexpectedly.

That's why I don't hesitate or tell stories when a gun is being pointed at me. It only takes milliseconds before the bullets hit you.

Carl laughs " If your father wants me, he should grow some balls and come for me himself not send me a boy"The Russian remains standing scared now that his companions are gone.

" Oh Carlos!" the unfamiliar voice says from the dark and the person takes slow steps towards where Carl and the boy are standing " He has a different accent.

Carlos" he repeats laughing hysterically. A forced laugh.

"You don't even know how to take care of your own woman. What kind of a man lets his girl walk in a ball alone while he has another woman on his arm?" he points at me and only then did carl realise am here and his face hardens more.

"What do you want?" Carl grits out angrily ignoring his statement.

"You know what I want Carlos," the stranger says, his face still hidden by the dark." The boy failed the test and he's all yours" he laughs again referring to the Russian boy.

"And if you can't appreciate what you have, just know I will happily kill for it" the stranger walks before me and I silently gasp.

The exact copy of Carl, He has black long hair tied up in a ponytail, his eyes are piercing dark brown, and he looks damn strong. The only difference between the two is that this one has a slight beard and Carl is cleanly shaved. I look from him to carl amazed.

Fuck me.

"Oh! I forgot to introduce myself, I am Rico Carl's twin brother"