Chapter 12

NICOLE

   He just pulled out a gun!
I stared jaw ajars at it and trepidation seized me. I tightened my hold on Raphael and closed my eyes, pressing my body against his.

  "You aren't the only one that knows how to use a gun Dante"I heard Raphael say. My eyes flew open and I saw Raphael slowly bringing out a gun from his pocket.
This was getting scary.

Raphael immedately cocked it and twirled it around his slender fingers.
"Raphael.."I whispered in fear.

He looked down at my frightened self and kissed my forehead. "Shhh Bella. I'm here ok"

I heard his grandfather falsely chuckle.
We both then trailed our gaze to him as he stared angrily at us. I don't get it. Why doesn't he like me? He just met me so why the dislike?

"You have the guts Raphael to go to Africa and pick a barbarian as a wife?! Just following the footsteps of your mother! What has gotten over you!?"He tonguelashed at Raphael as he turned red with fury.

Tears pooled in my eyes hearing the way he addressed me. Nobody dared to interfere. Leila, Lorenzo, Marco, Luca, Thomas, Emilio, Sofia and Aurora just kept numb.
  I wouldn't blame them. This man looked deadly. I felt this sudden discomfort and pain throbbing in my chest.

"Papa!"Raphael yelled back.

"Don't you dare raise your voice at me boy! You are truly growing wings! Going against my orders in the mafia, bringing this black as a wife. She is not even Italian. Can she even handle the gun? Harlot"

I noticed the man called Dante had a smile plastered on his face as he watched what was going on.

I never expected this part of Raphael's family to be this cold.
My lips drew in tightly as I fought the urge to break down in to tears.

"This is my life. She is my wife. And she will be given the respect she deserves. I don't need your permission to pick the girl I want. And I am the capo. I call the shots because this is my mafia. Yes I stopped your orders because I make the rules not you. Understand that!"Raphael raged like an angry bull.
He had hit the roof and I noticed his fists were clenching.

"Raphael your ego will cost you your life. I promise you that"Dante seethed with balled fist.
  Raphaels wrath became more obvious as he shot his step brother and icy glare and aimed the gun at him.

"Dontworry about me. Worry about yourself first"Raphael gritted his teeth in anger.

My eyebrows pulled up together in fear and tears streaked down my cheeks.

  His grandfather just exchanged glances between Raphael and Dante, mostly at Raphael. The temperature in the room seem to rise with the tension as well.

"Please Armani. Don't be angry. You are an elder. You understand Raphael and Dante are just kids. They are children. Please Armani"Aurora quickly interceeded.

I could see the fear coursing through her. Her tone was even faltering.
"You trained him right? You trained the boy. What sort of training did you give him. How to behave like this towards his own family because of this woman?"his grandfather grimaced to Aurora which got the elderly woman embarrssed.

Raphael was about speaking but I held his wrists immediately. He looked at me and I shook my head at him, telling him not to defend me.
  He rolled his eyes and exhaled.

"Lower your gun Raphael"I whispered in fear.
He did slowly and locked hands with mine.

"Forgive me Armani. I probably pampered him too much. Please don't be angry. He is but a child. Raphael has deep respect for you and Nicole is.."

He immedately upheaved his hands at her, cutting her off.
"Not another word about this woman"He scowled.

Aurora immedately nodded her head and had her eyebrows twitched slightly before adopting a pleasant smile. "Shall we have dinner? I prepared alot for your arrival"she requested.

I felt so hurt. It felt like a knife-like sensation watching eveything unfold. Raphael stood up for me and his brother here just threatened his life and Aurora's parental ability got insulted at the same time.

  Why does he hate me when he just met me?
Armani moved to the dinning area  with everyone following suite.
I stood still on the spot, unable to drag my legs.

  "Relax my love. Don't let what he said get to you"Raphael whispered to me before kissing me lightly on the cheek.
I gave him a faint smile and we went over to the dinning table.
Everybody sat down apart from the goons that came with Raphael's grandfather.

Aurora had ventured into the kitchen and later came out with a number of kitchen staffs. They began dishing out food and serving it.

  My eyes streamed around, taking glances at everyone as they ate.
I didn't imagine the atmosphere would be this tensed and filled with apprehension.

  His grandfather cleared his throat and began asking Raphael some questions about the running of the mafia. Gradually everyone began talking but just on a formal basis.

   I watched them discuss about their work without saying a thing and just keeping mute. It seemed his grandfather was ignoring my presence in the dinning table. Once again, I felt hurt by his attitude towards me but I masked my sadness and put on a stoic expression as I listened to their discussion.

"You mean under your nose, your goods were hijacked? Just wow! Are you becoming incompetent?"Armani bluntly asked with his voice rough.

I noticed Raphael's fists were began to ball and in an instant, I placed my hand on his thighs, caressing it.
He looked at me and I guess he knew I was telling him to calm down.

"It's not Raphael's fault. We trusted Alberto because he had been loyal over the years. But Raphael was able to handle the situation"Thomas spoke up. Wow. His boldness was incredible.

Dante huffed at his statement and Thomas gave him a satisfying smirk.
"But you all are incompetent! You are meant to incite fear in the minds of those ingrates so they won't even dare to double cross you!"Armani yelled as he hit his fists on the dinning table causing a loud thud that sent jitters round my body.

  He opened his mouth to speak but his phone rang which caught him short. He brought it out and gazed at the caller before cursing under his breath in Italian.
"Fanculo-fuck" he grunted before standing up.

"I'll be back"He said before walking out with his goons.