40

Riona woke up the next morning just in time to see Black staring intently at her. She blinked her eyes as she sat up in the bed a bit puzzled why she was the focus of his attention.

“Good morning Black, is something wrong?” She asked as Black just shook his head and kept mute.

“Oh okay, in that case, I am heading to the bathroom. You aren’t using it now, are you?” She said again but Black just shook his head. Weirded out by this, she shrugged and got her robe before locking herself up in the bathroom.

She stared at the mirror and wondered what Black was doing. He had never behaved this way before. Did Angelico tell him something? Or is he finally realizing that I look nothing like the Farah he knows and loves. Casita wouldn’t have spilled her guts already. Would she?
No, she may be threatening but she sure knows how to keep her word.

She switched on the tap, to wash her face but mostly to prevent the thoughts that were clouding her mind making it hard for her to think.
She went ahead to do her morning routine like every other morning and when she got out wrapped in her robe, she saw that Black wasn’t in the room. She didn’t even hear him leaving. She shrugged, after all she was getting used to his quiet disappearances. It was all part of his mafia get up. Even Casita and Mrs Selena were good at it and didn’t realize when they did it anyways.

She quickly applied lotion and wore a short gown showing her calves and she was busy trying to pack her hair into a ponytail when she felt a hand on her shoulder and a deep voice that said,

“Leave it, I like your hair when it is done.” She gasped as she turned around. It was Black, how on hell did he do that.

“Oh..I didn’t see you there. You gave me quite a scare.” She said as Black took the ribbon from her hand and dropped it on the table before pulling her to the bed where surprisingly a tray filled with food for the both of them was laid.

“I am sorry, I had to go check on the food. I want us to eat together. It has been long since we did something like that. I have been so busy and caught up in a lot of things that I totally forgot about being there for you.” He said as Casita shook her head and said,

“You don’t have to apologize for anything. Your sister got shot, you had every right to do what you did. Hell I will even be terrified if you were lackadaisical about it. You are a good man okay? And everyone has faults but you did nothing wrong and I have never thought way not once.” She said as Black nodded his head and said,

“Thank you for being there for me. I wouldn’t know what I would have done if you weren’t by my side.”


***
Dude I told you, I am fine. I don’t need a baby sitter. Mikey said grumbling as Michael was staring at him like a hawk as he changed into his clothes. His nurse was also in the room with a huge disapproval look on her face. She didn’t want Mikey to be released, he needed bed rest but Mikey had proven stubborn and the doctors had no choice but to discharge him.

“We still haven’t found out who shot you. So for now I am not taking any chances and I don’t trust any woman….no offense.” He said glancing at the nurse who shook her head and said,

“None taken. It is kind understandable why you have to leave but I don’t think it is a good idea for you at this time, but who am I? Your boyfriend obviously cares about you and will be a more better nanny than I after all, so I can rest assured that my patient is in good hands.” She said as Michael and Mikey both turned to look at her.

“Boyfriends? No we are not….” Michael quickly said as the nurse looked horrified and shocked.

“Please pardon me…I thought…well I saw… I didn’t know.” She managed to say as Mikey waved it aside and said,

“Don’t bother yourself about it. It is understandable. With the way he nags, I feel like we are married with kids.” He said earning a smile from the nurse.

“Speaking about kids, have you forgotten that we have left one at home with her nanny for so long. Literally the day we took her in.” He said as Mikey’s eyes widened in shock.

“Geez, I almost forgot. You are a bad father.” He said shifting the blame on Michael who had reached for his packed duffer bag and Michael rolling his eyes, hit him gently with the bag and left as the nurse squealed in delight and said,

“I am sorry, it is just you two are romantic.” She said as Mikey laughed while on the bed before he stood up and said,

“You are one of the best nurses I ever had. Too bad I can’t stay any longer. Thank you for taking care of me while I was here, and Michael appreciates you too.” He said as the nurse smiled and said,

“That is my job after all. Do me a favor and try not to get shot again.” She said as Mikey ruffled his head and said,

“Sure I will try not too.

MEANWHILE IN CASITA’S WARDS

“I can’t believe that you lied to us.” Rose yelled as she struck Casita hard with the pillow as she blocked it and said,

“I didn’t like to you guys. You never asked me and besides I didn’t want anyone to know.” She said as she tried to defend herself from Rose and Olive who were currently in her ward having their reunion.

“You didn’t want anyone to know? Everyone knows in school? Your workplace? Your madam called us begging us to beg you to forgive her for how she had been treating you and you shouldn’t report her or close down her shop. Do you know how much power you have and you have been letting it go to waste. We could literally go anywhere we want, find us a better paying job and yet you just….. You know what? I can’t deal with you now.” Olive said shaking her head as Casita laughed and said,

“How is Angela? Did she contact you guys? She must be worried sick about me?” She said as Rose replied,

“Oh you mean the kind nanny that was able to tell us the truth? Oh she is fine. She said since you were in good hands, there was no need showing up, but one of this days you have to call her. She is like your second mum and speaking of mums, I still can’t believe that my role model is your mum. Now I know why you didn’t see anything special about her despite her accomplishing a lot of things in her life other women couldn’t do. You really are your mother’s daughter.”

There was a knock on the door before it opened revealing Nycole who was walking well and was dressed in his mufti as he said,

“Hey guys can I join the reunion?” He said as Rose and Olive rushed towards him hitting him gently with pillow as Casita laughed on her bed. She was also getting discharged and she was dressed already.

“Nycole? Both of you are so incorrigible. I can't believe that we are friends with two mafias and they never told us. I mean is our friendship a fraud or what?” Olive said as Nycole laughed and said,

“Of course not guys. I am so sorry that I had to keep this away from you but believe me when I said it was all to protect you guys. Being a mafia or worse being in a mafia family isn’t all that rosy as you guys can picture. Sure there is the wealth but getting killed, kidnapped or watched 24/7 isn’t the goal.” He said as Casita replied,

“Exactly my point. Finally someone who gets what I am saying.” She said as they all sat down on her bed.

“So how are you doing now Cas?” He asked as he patted her head as Olive and Rose both awwned at this moment and said,

“Look at this cute love birds.”

“Hey we are not love birds. We are friends.” Casita said correcting them angrily as Nycole just laughed and said,

“You don’t need to be so uptight about it, they are just kidding.” He said as Olive nodded her head and said,

“Besides he was the one who helped in getting you kidnapped. Sorry Nycole, we forced Casita to spill her guts before you came, not that we are judging you or anything but I think your chances of getting her to love you just flew out the window.” She said as Nycole groaned.

“God, do not remind me of that silly mistake. Back then I was a kid with no brains now I am different.” He said as Casita gave him an are you kidding me look and said

“Back then? Dude you sold me out like a week ago.” She gave him a gentle jab as Nycole rubbed his shoulder and said

“The past is the past.”

There was another knock on the door interrupting the four of them as Ace walked in and said,

“Miss Casita, the car is ready. We need to leave.” He said as Casita quickly gave him a warm smile and nodded her head like an obedient girl as she said,

“Sure thing Ace, can my friends tag along and we drop them along the way?” She asked as Ace glanced at the two girls. He wanted to hesitate but he shrugged and said,

“I guess Mr Black wouldn’t mind us going off course. I will be waiting downstairs with your bag.” He said as he picked up her bag and walked out of the room leaving the girls to squeal with delight.

”Oh my God? Is that your personal bodyguard? He is so hot and muscular. I was literally drooling.” Olive said as Nycole rolled his eyes not seeing what the fuss was all about and admonished them,

“You do know he has got to be at-least 10 years older than you and trust me with someone who had a lot of bodyguards growing up, they are not interested in a relationship or a fling. They will kill you on the spot.

“Oh lighten up, Nycole. You are just jealous that we are not fawning over you like we did the cutie.’ Rose said as Casita stood up and said,

“He is actually my brother’s bodyguard and he is my personal favorite. But come on, we do not want to keep him waiting. I am pretty sure that uncle Mikey and Michael are downstairs too waiting for us so let’s go.” She said as they all stood up and left the room where they were completely flanked by bodyguards as they made their way to the elevator.

“I feel like a powerful CEO.” Rose whispered to Olive who said,

“I feel like a goddess even. Is this what power and authority feels like. Casita and Nycole are used to it already, look at them just laughing and holding hands. I definitely will ship those two.”

Downstairs, they met the rest of the people and a lot of cars and bodyguards as Mikey and Michael came to Casita and hugged her,

“Thank you for protecting e while I was unconscious Uncle Mikey and I am sorry that I am the reason you got shot.” She said as Mikey shrugged it aside and said,

“Don’t worry about that. You are like a sister to me. Besides I can’t die because of a few bullets.”

“Take care of yourself Casita, we will definitely pay a visit.” Michael added as he hugged her and Casita nodded her head and said,

“Make sure he takes his drugs too. He can be quite stubborn.”

“Do you guys even realize that I am right here.” Mikey said with a hurt look on his face.