Chapter 15

Equanimity

(n.) mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation.

Willow’s POV

“Western Merrier.”

I don’t know if that is the best place to rule a mafia, but I still want to go there. It has been my dream since I heard a girl in fifth class say she had gone there and had adventures. I also want to see the adventure she was talking about.

“Western Merrier?” I asked just to make sure, he nodded his head in confirmation.

“Not that your opinion matters but, do you have a problem with that?”

“No,” I shook my head and he raised an eyebrow.

“I’m just wondering if a Spanish mafia in Western Merrier is a good idea,” I said and he shook his head.

Maybe he saw the confusion I had on my face because he said, “Don’t worry, it will work perfectly well.”

And I believe you with my life, I thought and smiled at him. I couldn’t show my excitement. I was wishing it could be that day already, when are we even going to my dream place?

“That’s kinda good news,” he nodded and I got up, he also got up and walked to the window. I walked out of the room and bumped into Bradley, he almost screamed.

“Sorry, I thought you were Brielle,” he said and made a fake vomiting face.

“She would be lucky, wouldn’t she?” I said and he chuckled looking around us in fear.

“What’s your deal with her anyways?”

“She wants me to marry her,” I stared at Bradley and saw that he was really scared.

“Don’t you love her?” he gave me an annoyed look and I laughed.

“She won’t leave me alone,” he said and I shook my head.

“Let me leave you,” I said and went to sit in my car. I am gonna miss it but it’s not like I’m dying, it is just a vacation until things go south hill.

“What are you doing?” the familiar voice asked and soon his Nutella breath fanned the side of my face.

“Why are you here?”

“Checking on you?”

“Floyd, nerd, you don’t just get in people’s cars and rooms and houses for fun. That is fuc**ng illegal.”

He chuckled and said, “Illegal isn’t legal, and legal isn't illegal. And I’m not a nerd.”

“What?” i asked trying to understand what he said and he smirked, he just wanted to mess with my head.

”You are a nerd and you just proved that,” I turned to look at him and saw that he was wearing normal clothes today.

“What is the occasion?”

“Huh?” he hummed with confusion.

“You never wear clothes,” he laughed and I stared at his face without saying anything.

“I never walk naked,” he said simply and I chuckled. He likes acting smart.

“I thought you were blind,” I said and he chuckled pulling a rose behind his back.

“I am blindly in love with my first kiss,” he said and I stared at the rose, it smelt nice.

“Where did you steal it?”

“From one of the gardens. Don’t you like it?” he asked and I looked at the rose then at him. He hid in the back and before I could ask, an answer came to me when someone knocked on the car window. It was Darius.

I rolled the window down and he inhaled, “This car smells like Mallory.”

“Excuse me?”

“What are you cooking, Princess?” he asked and I tried to roll the window up but he held it down and I didn’t want to hurt my baby. Not after Diego repaired her for me.

“What do you want, Darius?”

“We are leaving in half an hour. Your clothes are packed and already sent to the meeting spot. Jace will drive you,” he said and I nodded my head. He inhaled once more and looked at me before walking away.

“Where are you going?”

“Western Merrier,” I said and he came to the front seat, he looked at me with a pained expression and I sighed, I brought my face closer to his and pecked his lips.

“Stay behind.”

“I can’t,” I told him and he stared at me then at the flower in my hand.

“I will see you again soon, Queen,” he said and took my hand, like a gentleman he is, he kissed the back of my hand and got out of the car. I sat there, staring at his back as he walked to the gates like he owned the yard.

Another knock on the window pulled me away from thoughts filled with Floyd to the window.

“Ready to go?” I nodded my head at Jace and he smiled before opening my car door for me, I passed him and walked to his car. He got in and drove me to the private meeting point.

Once we got there, I got out of the car and walked toward Diego. Before I could reach him, gunshots were fired and I ran to hide in Jace’s car. I didn’t have my gun on me. Guns kept going off and I could only hear them from one side, meaning Diego's team didn’t fight back.

As soon as they came, they quieted down. I slowly looked out through the back window and saw that it was the Italian boy from that one time. Behind him, I saw Kimberley. His eyes somehow met mine and he smiled before pointing his gun at me.

“Lorenzo!” I heard Diego yell and I was glad for his appearance. I saw Lorenzo walking toward Diego and I slowly made my way to the door. I got out and got pulled back before I could run toward Diego.

“Well, well, well. Look what the gunshots dragged in,” the girl said and I squeezed my eyes shut. I saw a red dot on my chest and I looked for where it came from. It was Floyd, he waved and I smiled at him. Knowing he could see me, even though I didn’t know which team he played for. But then the other part told me that he liked me.

Before the girl could take me to the Italian side, a bullet hit her shoulder, giving me time to run toward Darius, Bradley pulled me into a hug and I looked to where Floyd was, he was making the peace sign. I don’t know if it was for me or the girl. She started shooting at where he was even though her bullets didn’t hit him.

“Leave, Lorenzo,” Diego said and started walking toward us. Lorenzo pointed his gun and Diego and I pushed away from Bradley toward Diego. Before Lorenzo could shoot, a bullet was sent to his shoulder too.

“Are you okay?” Diego asked and I nodded my head. He turned to Lorenzo and walked back to him. I looked at Floyd and had a feeling he was going for Diego, I walked toward Diego and stood behind him, acting like a protective shield.

“I warned you, Lorenzo,” Diego said and walked toward the jet. I looked at Kimberley then at Lorenzo, I poked his bad shoulder and he groaned, I rolled my eyes and walked back to my new family.

“Are you okay?” Bradley asked and I nodded my head, I sighed and thought of how everything could have gone way worse.

“Where are your men?” I asked Diego and he sighed.

“I told them to stay with my mother. And Jace was here,” he said and I shook my head.

“You could have died.”

“I am alive aren’t I?”

“Because Floyd was there for you!” I shouted and regretted it later, I sat quietly on my chair and looked out of the window.

“Who is Floyd?” Darius asked and I stared at him and then at the girls who were also waiting for my reply.

“The guy who saved you.”

“What guy?” Diego was quiet all this while, the only person asking questions was Darius. Stupid man.

“Your boss is alive, isn’t he? Just, leave me alone,” the flight was long, the couples talking amongst themselves. I caught Diego staring at me a few times before I fell asleep.

“Hey,” someone shook me and I slowly opened my eyes. It was Diego.

“Have we arrived?” I asked and he nodded his head. Bringing his hands under my knees, he picked me up and walked out with me. He put me down and I yawned, I was about to walk to the car when I got face to face with Angelica. She had scars that she tried to hide with makeup.

There were three cars and two SUVs, I stared at the Bugatti, and I felt my mouth almost watering.

“Which one would you like?” Darius asked Celin and she pointed at the Koenigsegg 2015 model. Darius took her hand and walked to the car.

“We’ll take the Bugatti,” I said and didn’t wait for them to comment. I didn’t care whom I had to ride with, all I knew is that I was the one driving.

“I want to drive,” I stared at Angelica then at Diego. He didn’t say anything, I’m not letting her drive. I got in and started the car, hooting once I had my seatbelt on. Diego left her standing there and got in the car, I hooted again and she rolled her eyes before going to the back. I inhaled the car scent and couldn’t stop the huge smile from taking over my facial features. I don’t know why I am obsessed with Bugatti but maybe it’s because it was my first car.

Diego entered the address on the GPS, and I sped there. I knew it was making Angelica mad as her head kept hitting the window every time I took a sharp turn. I smirked and stopped the car in front of the café, Diego got out and went to grab something to eat.

“Stop driving like a bitch you are,” Angelica said and I smiled at her.

“Is your head well though?”

“I can drive better than the trash you’re doing,” I smiled and shook my head.

“Trust me, you can’t compete. You don’t even compare,” she gasped as Diego got in the car and handed Angelica a hot chocolate cup. He handed me the other one and I took a sip before handing it back to him.

“Where to?” I asked Diego and again, he put the address in the GPS and I started the car.

“Buckle up,” I said and started driving again. She shut the lid of the cup and I smirked looking at her through the rear-view mirror. I increased the speed and the beverage spilled on her face.

“Look what you-” before she could finish the sentence, I turned around the corner and her cup fell.

‘You have reached your destination.’ The car monitor said and I looked at Diego, we were on the side close to the forest, I looked at him just to be sure.

“Why are we here?” I asked and he handed me the cup before getting out of the car. He poked his head through and smiled at me.

“I’m talking to the face,” he said and closed the door. I got out of the car and found the other pair looking at me.

“You are a ruthless driver,” Celin said and her boyfriend stared at me.

“Depends on who taught me,” I said and she stared at me impressed.

“And who taught you?” Darius asked and I chuckled looking at the skies.

“My father,” I said and he nodded.

“Mr. Salvatori did a good job,” Bradley said and I shook my head.

“That coward is not a good teacher. He is not even close to being my father,” I said and Darius looked at Diego.

“I thought you said he was her father,” Darius said and I smiled. Diego looked bored like he didn’t want to be having that conversation.

“Who is your father?”

“Mr. Giovanna”