Chapter 129: New Dagger
Chapter 129: New Dagger
Camilla
"How are you feeling about it all?" Susan asked, brushing some crumbs off her fingertips and never once did her eyes leave mine.
"I don't like it," I responded honestly, crossing my one leg over the other.
"I don't like that so many people I care about are in constant danger and no offense to you but I hate that the men I am in a relationship with have to answer to Raphael."
I had to make a valiant effort to suppress the goosebumps threatening to arise just at the thought of that horrible malicious man. I know he is her brother but the two of them have opposite personalities.
"I hate the fact that they are going to lead this entire thing one day too because selfishly, I don't know where that leaves me."
These are a lot of things I wasn't yet wanting to admit to my men but Susan showed no hostility or indifference towards me.
"It is not selfish to want to have some normalcy in your life. Goodness knows you more than anyone deserves some."
I took her words but ultimately knew nothing would be simple anymore in pursuing a relationship with these men. But it was worth it though.
Sometimes simple wasn't meant to be but even before I knew they were in the mafia, our lack of simplicity was what kept things so intense and exhilarating all the time.
"I know there is still so much I need to figure out but I do know that the three of them are what I want." I said with uttermost conviction and she knew it too.
"That is good," she nodded, truly knowing that they were what made me happy.
"But you don't have to take this all on your own, you know? I am willing to bet this whole thing has them just as uneasy about what the future holds as well."
Unbelievably, I would never even stop to think about how this might be stressing them out as well. I figured out considering they already knew about these complications for so much longer than I have, they would have already had the time to come to terms with it.
Never once did I consider that the stress of this could be the cause for the dark circles under Gregorio's eyes yesterday or why Adriano would sometimes randomly hold me in the middle of the night when he thought I was sleeping. Susan is right, I wasn't the only one worried about how the mafia plays a role in our relationship now that things are getting serious. Gosh, I love this woman.
"Thank you," I said, reaching over and squeezing her hand.
"I think I really needed to hear that."
She smiled as she returned my gesture before grabbing the chair for stability as she stood up.
"I have a gift for you."
She waved for me to follow her as she walked to the dresser by her bed, opening the bottom drawer and pulling out a box about the length of my wrist to elbow. It was a plain black color, the lid taped to the bottom as she stood up and grabbed both my hands with hers. Placing down the box, her silent nod towards it told me she wanted me to open it.
Helping her sit down back in her chair, even though she insisted she wasn't that old, I resumed my previous position as I peeled away the sealing, wiggling the lid until it pulled loose. On the inside, I found white paper packaging in which I gently removed, my eyes widening as I saw the content inside.
"Susan, I…."
"I have a feeling that you are going to need it one day and even if you don't, I am not taking any chance." She said, interrupting my words.
Delicately wrapping my fingers around the hilt of the intricately designed dagger, I removed it from the box as well as the scabbard around the blade. This weapon was a true piece of artwork and left me in a state of absolute shock and admiration.
"This is beautiful," I said, lifting my eyes from the blade to look at her.
"This must have cost you a fortune…"
"I am not taking it back." She cut me off again, smiling because she somehow discovered this was my favorite weapon to train with while growing up and still is.
"The blade is pre-sharpened and ready to make use of."
I swallowed, glancing back down to the dagger.
"Do you think I am going to have to use it?" I asked, my eyes trailing over every refined detail.
"I think only a fool would walk around unarmed now that someone like my brother, Raphael Jaxson has their eyes set on you." My heart skipped a beat.
"He is watching me?" I asked, feeling my palms go cold in fear.
"He watches everyone but especially you. He has killed people for simply blinking at him the wrong way yet you are still alive and unharmed. As yourself, what does Raphael have to gain by keeping a near stranger alive after doing things that are considered criminal offenses against the Don?"
An ice cold chill trickled down my spine at her words, hundreds of questions popping into my head.
"Do you know the answer to that?" I asked, brushing my fingers along the sharp edge of the blade and tracing it with my mind.
"Not yet. A small frown appeared on her face.
"But I fear it is something only you will be able to figure out."
So many questions and such little answers.
"I don't know what to do." I mumbled even as I felt a sense of empowerment just by the thought of using this against someone like Raphael. I am glad she thinks just as lowly of him as I even though he is her brother.
"Coffee helps." She gestures to the slowly cooling cup beside me.
"My advice to you is to keep your head sharp and think carefully about who you can trust. Everything will become clear soon but remember that even the strongest of forces can wield the largest vulnerabilities."
Her words struck me hard, the truth in them sinking deep and telling me more or less to keep my enemies closer. I needed to keep three steps ahead Raphael and be wary of who I let into my life. Easy for me, apart from Nancy, Susan and my men, there were very few people I opened up to anymore.
"I will," I promise her, knowing this entire conversation is not something I am going to forget anytime soon, if I will ever.
I had a strong feeling that last week's incident would not be my last encounter with Raphael Jaxson, but I have learned something recently that he doesn't know. I am going to gain the upper hand because his sexist ass won't even see it coming until it is too late to reverse my actions.
*******
I smiled to myself as I heard Susan call out to me as I exited the cafe. She no doubt saw the money I had dropped on the counter for the coffee and snacks and was on her way to hound me about my stubbornness.
I felt like so much of my life has been altered in the last few days but not this, this was the same. By the time her much shorter legs had carried her to the door, I was already down the sidewalk and unlocking my car.
With my dagger hidden and tucked up the long sleeve of my shir, I pulled on the door handle and slid into the driver's seat, gently tossing the blade into the small black console. Sighing to myself, I forced all of the questions from my brain temporarily, turning on the radio and starting up the car engine.
Honestly, all I wanted to do right now was go home and watch some movies for a few hours until my shift at the club. Using my right hand, I twist and grab my seatbelt, securing it over my body and listening as it clicked in place. Not wasting another second, I checked to make sure the road was clear before pulling away from the curb and beginning a steady acceleration down the street.
In just ten minutes, I could get back into my sweats for the day. That thought made for a fairly peaceful drive back but when I heard the familiar sound of my phone ringing, I sighed as it interrupted the song I was listening to and I reached back in search of my bag. Making sure to keep my eyes on the road, my hand blindly sought out my phone in the backseat but I tensed as my fingertips brushed against something that was neither the material of my bag nor the seats.
Flicking my eyes to the rear view mirror, my scream was stifled as a large black figure appeared in the backseat, revealing that I wasn't alone in this car. Doing the only thing I could think of, I slammed hard on the brake, silently praying the driver behind me wasn't on their phone and hopefully paying attention.
My seat belt snapped tight to my body, keeping me in place for the most part but the same couldn't be said for whoever was at the back. The hand that had previously moved to wrap around my mouth was jolted forward, along with the rest of the masked person's body.
My heart fumbled as I heard a series of loud honks coming from those behind me but their cars simply veered around me angrily. They were getting the hint, at least.
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