Chapter 117: Someone's Pet
Chapter 117: Someone's Pet
Camilla
It has been a few hours since everything happened but no one found or bothered me as I continued to sit on the rocky beach off the highway. Maybe driving to the place where Adriano kissed me for the first time wasn't the smartest idea for my emotions but I didn't know where else to go and I still don't know up til now.
However, these hours have allowed me to breathe and actually think about everything I have learned today. I don't know what I am supposed to do now or how I can ever trust them again if I don't have all the answers. The only problem is that in order to get the answer I am looking for, I would have to see them again. I tear that encounter not because of what they represent but because I worry all I will want to do is go straight back into their arms.
But I let myself be pushed around and manipulated for years with Robin and I know I deserve better than to relieve that again. I deserve better than that. Yet, I am now struggling to imagine how I could live a life without them in it.
The worst part is that I wouldn't just be losing my men or Nancy or Susan. No, I would be losing a part of myself as well, the part that has only grown brighter with every second I am with them. A deep sigh falls from my nose, my body shifting under the hard pebbles beneath me.
I have to admit, the sound and smell of the waves hitting the rocks was calming and as I looked out to the seemingly endless body of water, I couldn't help but think of my father.
'What would he do if he were in that situation?'
I already know and I can practically hear his voice telling me to hold my ground. If my father were here, he would go to that stupid dinner Raphael invited me to, looking like the best dressed person in the room just to spite them. My father wouldn't falter as he would hold his head high, taking a seat like he fucking owned by the place and demand the answers he was more than entitled to.
A smile crossed my face at the image, knowing he would do exactly that and nothing else. Is it insanely suicidal to challenge who I am assuming to the leader of whatever mafia they were part of?
Yes, I am going to do that anyway.
Using my hands to help stand, I brush off the small rocks and dust that had clung to the back material of my jeans. I was insanely hot from the sun combined with my hoodie but the only thing on my mind right now was giving myself the courage to do what I am about to do. I am going to get the answers I deserve and then, well, I will figure out that part later.
For now, my attention was set on getting into my car, pulling back onto the roadway and heading back to Nancy's house. I still didn't really want to talk to her yet but I know I will have to eventually. It didn't take me long before pulling to her parking lobby.
And I guess I just didn't expect to see her sitting on the couch nervously as if waiting for me as I opened the door. I walked in and placed my keys on the kitchen counter.
"I am sorry," she said, looking up at me with a small smudge of mascara under her eyes.
"I am not an associate or anything but I do know what they do."
That is the only explanation she gave me, probably knowing just by looking at me that I didn't want to talk. With a small nod of my head, I left her where she was as I entered my room.
Although I am more relieved than I thought I would be that she wasn't in the mafia, I can't help but wonder how she could know what they do and still want to be friends with them.
My father is a murderer, I have seen him kill multiple times but I can accept that. I accepted them even though our first encounter was with a bullet shot into another by their own hand. What I can't accept, however, are things like human trafficking and all the other countless atrocities the Mafia is associated with.
I am disgusted to even think of the possibility of them being involved in that, yet another reason that I need to do this. I need answers and I need their prick of a father to know that I am neither a pet nor some little girl he can walk all over. It took everything in me not to lunge for him when he called me that but it seems I wasn't the only one either.
I don't think I have heard Adrano's voice go so dark, his eyes following suit. I had gotten goosebumps from his tone back then and even just thinking about it now threatens for them to return but they didn't though.
Instead, my skin warms as the doors to my closet open. I go to unzip the clear vinyl garment bag tucked neatly in the back. Keeping the hangers but discarding the plastic cover, my fingers brush over the silky material of the floor length dress. The same one Nancy got for me when we went shopping together. It was the fanciest piece I owned and I had a nagging suspicion that nothing about this dinner with Don Raphael would be anything less than over the top.
My heart raced at the thought of actually wearing this anywhere but I didn't have much to lose at this point anyways. Although, I still had to force myself to get out of my head as I stripped off my current clothes, entered the bathroom and had a quick and then put on the black layers of expensive fabric.
I never thought I would ever have an excuse to wear this anywhere but combined with the cut and strings of crisscross holding the back together, I knew it looked good and I would not show up under dressed. My makeup took me practically no time and the waves in my hair already looked mostly consistent and pretty. So even though it was already past six, I am now ready.
A small frown appeared on my face at the sight of my reflection in the mirror, although it was from insecurities but because of the reason I am wearing this beautiful dress. I guess I just wish I could have worn it under other circumstances. With a sigh and final glance in the mirror, I didn't give myself the chance to back out before I left my room.
My heels clicked against the floor with each step but I noticed I seemed to be the only one here now. Nancy was no longer in the living room as I moved past it but then a voice spoke just as I reached to grab my keys from the counter.
"Camilla?" She called, my head turning to find her leaning her arms on the hallway balcony from upstairs.
"They came looking for you, you know?" She said but I figured that already at the sight of their car being gone when I got back.
"You have every right to be mad, I was too. But give them a chance to explain." I simply nodded my head, forcing myself not to cry again.
I noticed her eyes flick over my dress, realization of where I am going passing through her mind.
"Raphael is as mean as he can get and knows how to manipulate people better than anyone I have ever met." She said, shocking me a little by her change in topic.
"He probably knows things about you he shouldn't be able to know and he will use it against you if he gets the opportunity. Don't let him see your surprise or really any emotions whatsoever. Although, as powerful as he is, Adriano won't let him hurt you. He is the mafia heir so use that to your advantage."
I listened to her every word carefully, blinking as I took in this information. This wasn't what I had expected at all from her, but I am thankful for it even if I was still more than upset.
"Also…you look absolutely ravishing."
I swallowed, slipping my fingers through the ring of my car keys as I took a step away from the counter.
"Thank you." I nodded, not just for her compliments but for her warning as well.
Despite what I was about to do, I wasn't an idiot. I knew Raphael is a powerful hungry asshole but nothing is going to stop me now until a car crash.
I had made up my mind whether I was sane or not, Raphael Jaxson is going to lose a finger or two the next time he calls me someone's pet.
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