18

I took a step back as his gray eyes rested on mine, looking like they were looking into my soul. I took in his gorgeous looks, adding to my racing heart. 

His insanely tall figure, fluffy-looking jet-black hair, enchanting gray eyes, cute nose, tempting lips and nice beards that make my fingers crave to play with. 

He is gorgeous. 

Absolutely gorgeous whenever I look at him. 

He is so unreal. 

My heart raced faster as my eyes slowly fell on his exposed chest and mysterious necklace. Earlier, it was just three buttons left open, but now, all his buttons are open, and I can see his chiseled chest and some abs. 

When did he come back though? 

I thought he was out. 

God, I wish he could take his shirt off totally. 

Hell, my legs are begging to clench together by just the little I have seen.

Imagine what will happen if he takes off his shirt entirely. I will literally....

"Sir, Luna is ready for you," an unfamiliar male voice from behind me forced me out of my ridiculous thoughts. I threw him a glance and I saw him caressing the white horse. 

The horse is Luna? 

"Thank you, Ernesto," the Don said, placing me on the edge as usual. 

I lowered my gaze as I sensed him still standing where he stood. I also sensed the man behind me walking off the stables entirely with the horse. 

"What are you doing out here?" The Don asked, making my heart race the more. 

I looked at him. 

He is looking at me blankly. 

"I was...." 

"One thing I hate, little girl, is stubborn people," he retorted. 

I furrowed my brows slightly. 

"Especially stubborn brats who don't listen," he added a bit harshly. 

"I was bored in my room. I decided to.... I decided to take a walk," I said nervously, lowering my gaze.

How can someone make you feel excited and at the same time give you the creeps? 

"Your boyfriend will be back in a few hours. Remain in your room and wait patiently." 

Boyfriend? 

"That's not a hard thing to do, is it?" he asked. 

"He.....he is not my boyfriend," I said, looking at him. 

He stared at me silently. 

I stared at him as well. 

"Then you shouldn't be in my house if he isn't," he said, looking at me blankly. 

What?

"Stop wandering. I will kick you out if I catch you wandering again," he said without emotion. 

I felt a sting in my heart but nodded regardless.

"I apologize, sir," I said, lowering my gaze. 

He didn't say a word but walked past me. 

I let out a breath, still feeling the sting in my heart.

The neighing of the horse made me look behind me and I saw him getting on the horse effortlessly as the man, Ernesto, caressed the horse. 

The Don settled on the horse, looking breathtaking as he held the reins of the horse.

His eyes moved to me. 

I gulped slightly while holding his gaze. 

He averted his eyes from me as he moved the rein and rode away. 

I let out a sigh as I headed back to the house. 

He is breathtaking but mean. 

And he clearly doesn't like seeing me around. 

So much for being kind, like his sister-in-law said. 

*************

HOURS LATER....

NIGHT HOURS....

"Would you like to join me at the poolside?" Mario asked as we got on our feet. We just finished having a silent dinner with his family. Some are still eating though, but the majority of us are done. 

"Sure," I said, smiling at him. 

He smiled too, offering me his hand. I placed mine on his, and he was about to lead the way when one of the maids almost bumped into us. She looked between Mario and me momentarily before apologizing. 

She looks familiar. 

I can't remember her name. 

I have issues remembering people's names, unless I hear them more than once. 

But I remember her coming to my room just to check up on me. 

"Carmen, right?" Mario asked.

"Camilla, sir," she corrected.

Right, Camilla. 

"Get us two glasses of wine and bring it to the pool," Mario said, walking past her and taking me along with his hand still holding mine. 

"Good night, dad, mum," Mario said, about walking past his dad's seat. 

I glanced at his dad. 

"Mario," his dad simply said without looking at us as he sipped his wine. We walked past, heading towards the pool.

"Don't stay awake too long, Mario. You have classes tomorrow," I heard Candela say. 

Mario scoffed. "Mothers," he remarked, chuckling afterward.

I gave a tiny smile as he led us through a hallway with glass doors on both sides and blue lights igniting the place. I could see the pool through the glass doors as we walked. 

Apparently, I haven't been to this part of the mansion before. It looks nice and beautiful. 

We got out of the house and I took in the esthetics of the pool. There are tables and chairs for relaxation, a beautiful tree near them, shiny lights made of different colors and green carpet grass. 

The place is beyond beautiful. 

We walked towards the benches close to the huge pool. 

Mario didn't let go of my hand till I sat on one of the benches. 

He sat on the one next to me as my eyes roamed the place again. 

"You like?" he asked.

I nodded. "It is beautiful," 

"Yeah. My dad built it." 

My heart picked up, making me look at him. 

He is looking around. "He loves places like this." 

Me too. 

I love places like this too. 

"He must be creative," I said. 

He scoffed. "Creative is an understatement. My dad is incredible." 

I stared at him. 

"My biggest dream since I was a kid is to be just like him. He is my hero." 

I lowered my gaze as the Don filled my head. 

"Well, everyone's dad is their hero. Mine shouldn't be special but it is. Actually, it is beyond special." 

Yeah. I can tell. My day was my hero too. 

I looked at him. 

"You would say the same thing if you were in my shoes," he said. 

"Tell me more about him," I said. 

"My dad?" he asked, smiling. 

I nodded. 

"Your drinks, sir," the maid said, getting my attention. She is moving the tray close to us. 

"Awesome," Mario said, picking up the two glasses. "What kept you, though?" He asked, handing over a glass to me. 

"Thank you," I said. 

"I apologize, sir," the maid said. 

"Cheers to new friendship," Mario said, ignoring the maid as he moved his glass close to me. 

I moved mine and clicked it with his as the maid walked back into the house. 

I took a sip and so did he. 

The wine tasted delicious. I love it. 

"My dad is a man of a few words but more in action. You can tell by how he handled my little cousin's issue with that Neo bastard," he said. 

I nodded.

"Perhaps you must be wondering who Neo is." 

I guess I am. 

"He used to be my best friend until he decided to be a pervert and tried to force himself on Mimi." 

I furrowed my brows. "That's terrible." 

"He is a bastard. I made him pay, but he recovered and then decided to continue from where he stopped. At the same time, his father, Luciano, and my dad had a clash that made them rivals." 

Geez. 

"They are our sworn enemies now. Neo doesn't know what is coming for him once he gets to Lorenzo's lane. My dad can be deadly and emotionless. He might kill the bastard," he said, sipping his drink like what he just said was not a big deal. 

Terror washed me. 

I recalled the way the Don shot those men that ambushed us without looking back. 

It was terrifying. 

I felt Mario hold my hand, making me look at him.

"Did what I said scare you?" he asked. 

I shook my head. 

"He only kills miserable bastards, not innocent and harmless people like you" he said, smiling at me. 

I gave a tiny smile. 

No. Your dad thinks I am a spy. 

"He is sophisticated, strong, charismatic and very good-looking. I mean that is where I got my good looks from," he said, chuckling a bit. 

My heart raced as I thought about the Don's good looks. 

God, it feels weird hearing his son say this. 

But weirder because it makes things worse.

Mario doesn't know I have weird thoughts about his father. He will kick me out if he finds out, and I will be on the streets. 

"You should see how ladies react around him. He is every woman's dream." 

No doubt. 

"Any woman would kill to be with him," 

Literally! 

"But, my mum marked her territory very jealously that she would kill any bitch that dares to come near him." He said, making me gulp a bit as guilt washed me. 

It is only in my head, I promise. 

I am not coming near him. 

Never. 

Just my head. 

"Sometimes I feel like she is not right for my dad, you know," he said. 

I looked at him.

"I wish my real mum was still alive. I heard she and my dad had a loving relationship compared to what he and my aunt have right now," he said, sipping his drink. 

"What happened to her? Your real mum," I said. 

He shrugged. "She died a year after giving birth to me," he said, lowering his gaze on his wine. 

"I am so sorry," I said. 

"Nah. It's okay. I barely knew her. Aunt Candela has been the only mother figure in my life. She raised me as her own. I guess that's why my dad married her. For my sake and that of the family's. Well, mostly for the family's sake," he said. 

I stared at him. 

"My mum's name was Blanca. The first of the Altamira sisters. Aunt Candela is the second, then there is my favorite aunt, Dolores. The Moretti and Altamira families are bonded by marriage for some reason. It has been like that for a long time now. That's why my dad had to marry my aunt after my mum died, to keep the bond going and stronger." 

That means....the Don had no choice. And judging by the way he acts around Candela, he doesn't love her. 

He is just following instructions.

Why is this giving me some excitement? 

Mario scoffed. "Look at me telling you something as private as this," 

I looked at him. 

"Perhaps..." he paused, rubbing my knuckles. 

"You are really special to me," he said, looking at me in a longing way. 

I didn't know how to react to that, but I gave a tiny smile. 

"You are fucking gorgeous, Evelyn," he complimented, still staring at me in that type of way. 

I lowered my gaze, feeling awkward. 

"Like my mother said earlier, I have classes tomorrow. Do you want to come with?" 

I looked at him. 

He nodded. 

"Really?" 

"Yeah. We attend the same college, don't we? And I believe you miss that jovial best friend of yours." 

I nodded eagerly. "Yes, I do." 

"What's her name again?" he asked. 

"Imogen," 

"Yeah, Imogen. So, what do you say?" 

"I will love that. But....I thought you said it is not safe for me out there," 

"No need to worry. I got you. You are safe with me. You literally just started college. You need to complete your education. I will take care of your tuition and everything. You have nothing to worry about," he said. 

My heart melted. 

"Thank you so much. You don't know how happy I am." 

He shook his head. "No. Thank you for being my joy these past days. Looking at your gorgeous face makes me excited."

I smiled nervously. 

God, why does this feel weird? 

**********

HOURS LATER.....

I stirred on the bed thinking about all the things Mario said about his dad. 

The more he praises his dad, the more I fantasize about him. 

I can't even sleep. It is past midnight and everywhere is silent. 

Thankfully, I am going to school tomorrow. I will get to see Imogen and tell her everything. 

I heard it is better to share your problems with someone you trust to help you move ahead. 

Because this is really a problem. I haven't stopped thinking about the Don since I first saw him. 

He is married, and he is my Mario's father. 

And he doesn't even like me. 

Sighing, I laid on my back. I am so excited about tomorrow. 

I stirred again, feeling uncomfortable. 

I got out of bed and headed for the door. I walked out of the room and walked quietly along the quiet hallway. 

Seriously, Evelyn, you are really stubborn, as he said. 

What happened to, 'stop wandering, or I will kick you out?!'

Do you want to get kicked out? 

I am sorry but I can't help it. I need water. By the way, it is past midnight. He must be sleeping. No one will be awake by this time. 

I hurriedly moved down the stairs and headed to the kitchen. 

I took out a bottle of water and closed the fridge. I headed out of the kitchen with water and was about to head towards the stairs when....

"Uh...." 

I froze. 

"Uh..." 

Moans? 

"Uh," 

I furrowed my brows. 

"Oh, fuck," 

I raised my brows, convinced about what I was hearing. 

"Oh, God," 

My curiosity took the best of me as I followed the sound. I realized that I was going to the same pool Mario took me to hours ago. 

Through the glass doors, I saw two people on a bench. A familiar figure was naked and on top of the other, riding him at a fast pace. 

It was Candela. The tiny lights gave me a clear view of her full-bouncing tits. 

My heart picked up as I thought of who she was riding. I can't see the person clearly. Just his hair because he is lying on his back on the bench, and she is doing most of the work. 

Next, his hand slowly traveled from her belly, up to the middle of her tits and then to her neck. 

I took in the familiar tattoos, dancing from his fingers up to his arm as he wrapped his hand around her neck while she threw her head to the back still riding him at a fast pace and letting out moans. 

It was the Don.

I felt a sting in my heart.