Zoey POV
Silence.
Silence.
It has been silent for a while now, unusual quiet. No drama, no chaos, nothing but silence. I don’t wish for the chaos and bloodbath, but it’s expected in the mafia life.
Two whole weeks of total silence, that I’m even scared. Scared of the unknown, the unknown danger lurking in the dark waiting to catch us off guard, or rather take me unaware.
Because I’m sure Marco and the rest of his family are always prepared for whatever comes there.
I am not, mentally I’m not ready. I may have known the kind of lifestyle they lived, but nothing can prepare me enough.
This silence, and the uneasiness in my gut, is telling me that it’s the calm before the storm.
The sound of a gunshot brought me but to present. Camilla took off her headset and turn to face me.
“Zoey, you seem distracted, are you okay?” She asked concerned.
I’ve been drifting away with my thoughts today, I shook my head at her.
“I’m fine.” I respond.
“Are you sure? We can take a break if you’d like.” She suggested.
“I’m fine, Camilla. Let’s continue.”
“Okay, your aims are terrible and sloppy. But that’s fine since you are still learning, I was worse.” Camilla was trying to be encouraging, soothing me from feeling bad.
I chuckled at her, she and Isabella are doing a fantastic job at keeping me company and also been good friends and younger siblings I didn’t have.
And I love them with everything I’ve got, they always have a way of cheering me up and making me laugh.
“Who was your teacher then.” I probed curiously.
“Oh… You don’t want to know.” She burst out laughing.
“Tell me.” I pressed.
“It was my dad, but he was too scared of me hurting myself. There was once through our morning runs when I fell and scraped my knee, he literally cried for me, and I was just staring at him wondering what’s making him cry.”
Oh my goodness, I couldn’t stop myself from laughing out loud, I was laughing so hard that I held my stomach and bending over.
Jesus! I can’t stop imagining her dad, the Almighty Alfonso’s trio brothers crying over a little girl. That gigantic block of a man crying, now I wish I were there to witness that adorable moment.
“My mom had to stop him from training with me because he was being too lenient. And then Marco took over, he’s so patient with me.” Her stare dazed off as if were reliving the experience. “But he will get me enough ice cream after every session, and I so much loved it.” She said, smile to herself.
I smiled too, wishing I had such family like theirs, but I’m grateful to be part of them now.
“Enough chatting, back to where we left off. Now grip the pistol properly, yes, that’s it.” She confirmed after inspection. “Your stance should be steady and firm, straighten up and slightly bend your knees and squarely facing…..”
I cut her off by the sound of my shot, I slowly open my eyes to see if I hit the target.
“Wow, Zoey, that’s huge progress.” Camila remarked, she was excited, clapping her hands and bouncing on her feet.
I didn’t hit the target square on the head or expertly at the heart, but on its hand. This is the first time I’m hitting a target, and I was quite surprise.
“Thank you.” I was grinning from ear to ear. Camilla and I have been training, since the last incident, and she is my trainer.
My aim of training is to be physical fit and ready, I want to be able to defend myself when the need arises. And not waiting to be saved like some damsel distressed, I intend to be able to fight my way physically out of any dangerous situation or at least tried to.
To be an asset to myself and not a liability to anyone.
“That was sexy and hot.” Marco whispered in my , he was standing directly behind me. His hands crawling their way around my waist and pulled me back to his chiseled chest.
I didn’t hear him come in.
“When did you get here.” I leaned completely on him, leaving him to carry my weight. I didn’t know I was this exhausted.
“Long enough to hear your little chat and witness that sexy move.” He trails his tongue along my ear to the earlobe. I was turning into a pudding until Camilla cleared her throat and I gathered myself back.
“She didn’t stress you too much, did she?” Marco ignored Camilla, still placing kisses on my neck.
“Hey!! I’m human too?” Camilla exclaimed.
I stiff a laugh as Marco ignores her again.
“I asked the maid to prepare lunch, come on, let’s get you clean and fed.” Marco led me away, leaving a very shock Camilla with her mouth hang open and Matthew walking closely behind us.
Writer p. o. v
As the warm afternoon sun streamed through the curtains, casting a golden glow across the room, Zoey and Marco lay lazily on the bed. The remnants of their delicious lunch still lingered on their lips, and a comfortable silence enveloped them. It was a rare moment of tranquility in their otherwise chaotic lives.
Zoey turned her head to look at Marco, her eyes filled with curiosity. “Marco,” she began, her voice soft and gentle, “Why did you choose to break up over telling me what was going on?”
Marco’s gaze shifted from the ceiling to meet Zoey’s eyes. He took a deep breath, his mind flooded with memories of that painful time. “Zoey, I made a terrible mistake,” he confessed, his voice tinged with regret. “Back then, I was young and my power over the situation was limited, breaking up with you was the only way I could have done to drag the attention from you.” Marco, pissed by the memories, his mind replaces the event and how broken and vulnerable Zoey was then.
He cursed himself for not doing better then, he could have chosen another solution to handle things.
“Now I know better, baby, I would never hurt you again.” He knew he has to amend his mistakes for the past, and swore he would be for the rest of his life.
Zoey went silent for a while, absorbing the information. She knew within herself that if Marco had told about the situation then, she wouldn’t be able to handle it. But still not agreeing to the fact that he had to hurt her to protect her.
Marco’s eyes filled with sadness and fear as he watches Zoey thinking, shamefully, hoping she won’t leave him.
“Many ladies should I be looking out for?” Zoey voiced, her tone wavering a bit as she tries to compose herself.
She didn’t want a case like Angela again.
“Fuck that shit. No ladies, baby, I didn’t have any other woman aside from you.” Marco hissed, slightly offended that Zoey will think of him that way.
“What about Angela?” This question has been crawling on Zoey throat for ages, and now it’s finally out. “Isn’t she your woman?”
“For fuck sake Zoey, Angela is not my woman, we only had business between us. My uncle and I saved her and made her one of us.”
Marco pull Zoey away a bit for him to stand up for the bed, he went behind the window. Looking out onto the endless green field, with some of his men patrolling the field equipped and ready for action.
He grips the curtain to control his temper, Marco knew he owes Zoey these answers but still find it annoying that Zoey doubts him.
Zoey, on the other hand, hugged herself as Marco left with the warmth he provides, she felt small and vulnerable.
“But you killed her.” She found herself asking, she has been craving answers. To know the man, she’s dealing with.
“I only knock her out, and if I didn’t, she would have had me killed by now.” Marco grits. “Her knocked out or me dead, which do you prefer?” He snarled.
Zoey felt foolish for always thinking the worst about Marco, but trust once broken is almost impossible to gain.
When Zoey didn’t say anything, Marco’s temper dropped, knowing he tone with her was improper.
“Baby I apologize for lashing out on you.” He pleaded, picking up from the bed on his arms. Her legs went around his waist, and her arms around his neck.
Marco buried his face in her boobs, inhaling and placing light kisses on it.
“Next week, I’m introducing to the company as the new owner.” Marco spoke, though his face still in her boobs.
Zoey gasped in shock and pull back a bit.
“What?” She squeak. “What company?”
“The one you worked for, is now yours.”
“I can’t, I’m not ready.” Zoey whisper totally not expecting for the info.
“I know but the company needs to know its rightful owner.” Marco explain.
“But we are not married yet.”
“We are baby, since we were kids.”
“What do you mean, since we were kids. I don’t remember getting married to you or anyone for that matter.” Zoey move to come down on her feet, but Marco’s grip on her waist won’t loose.
“You have a lot to know my love, but not today.” Marco kissed her plum lips silencing her before she could say anything.