CHAPTER TWO

RAPHAEL’S VIEW POINT

“Tell him that Igor Bortsov wants his beloved back.” I said calmly, making Giovanna’s head whip to me. She went wide eyed as she took in my exhausted self, proving that she knew nothing about my attack. I felt relieved, my fear of being alone in my relationship abolished. Giovanna rushed to me, touching my torso lightly while examining my face. I smiled warmly, her care making it seem like I was completely healed.

“Orsetto! What happened? Who did this to you?” She asked frantically, whipping around to who I supposed was her brother.

“Were you the one, Pietro?”

“No.” He replied simply, studying me intently. He was a middle aged man with already balding hair, having dark features, just like Giovanna, and putting on a cheerful expression, even though I knew he wanted me dead. From the argument I had heard them having, Giovanna had apparently gone away from home to be with me. I wasn’t one to support improper behaviours but she was running from a life of crime and deceit. I couldn’t blame her.

“Of course, you look like this. Does he only own shirts from Louis Vuitton as well?” He commented with a laugh, making Giovanna speak up. although offended that he saw me as a typical French fuck-boy, I brushed off the thought

“At least he’s not ugly like you.” She shot, making me chuckle despite the tense moment. He glared at her before shifting the harsh stare to me.

“How did you get like this?” He expressed concern from my injuries in a very nonchalant manner. Giovanna smacked his tummy but turned to me with puppy eyes. I smiled at that, finding it attractive how she switched expressions so quickly.

“You don’t have to explain anything to him. Talk to me instead. But first, have a seat, my love.” She said sweetly and led me to sit down. I slowly did, my body still aching from the punches. I considered not telling her about the Russians and talking to her father directly, but if she was in trouble, she needed to know to be careful.

“The Russian mafia did this.” I let out despite my fears of being taken as a fool.

“You told him about our family?!” Pietro exclaimed, already stressed about my knowledge on who they were. Giovanna rolled her eyes but urged me to continue, wanting to know the full story.

“I was attacked in the parking garage of the hotel. They told me to tell your father something.” I stated simply, making her gasp. She looked at her brother with fear rather than disdain for once, something foreign on her features. Usually, Giovanna was calm and collected, only ever being frantic when she had to run from authority. I wasn’t used to seeing her so scared. It worried me a bit. Pietro’s laugh however, made me doubt that something was wrong.

“Well I’ll be damned. The Russian mafia has a message for father. That old man finally caused more trouble than he can handle.”

“Aren’t the Spanish still on his neck?” Giovanna asked worriedly, making Pietro nod.

“Yes. He’s wanted by the Chinese as well. That man puts our lives in danger for gratification.” Pietro laughed, taking his phone out of his pocket and dialling a number before going out to answer it. When he left, I looked at Giovanna, who was staring worriedly at me. We remained speechless for several minutes before she broke the quiet.

“I always wanted to tell you, Ralph. I just didn’t know how to explain it to you. Now that you’re involved in it, it’s going to be much more complicated” She admitted lowly, slowly making her way into my lap.

“Baby, it’s okay. I understand. It doesn’t change who you are to me, and how much I love you” I told her, meaning every word. Giovanna was worth running from a mafia for. I realized that I didn’t want to leave her, despite the trouble being with her was going to cause. I was an adrenaline junkie anyway, and not at all afraid of death. I only feared for my family and Giovanna.

“Are you sure, Ralph? The cartel is no joke. My father has killed a lot of people and I’ve become so accustomed to death that it barely phases me.” She informed me, cupping my cheek in her hand. I leaned into her touch, its effects warming my heart. I didn’t even pay mind to the fact that she had just told me she was a potential murderer. Her presence was intoxicating. Addicting too. I wanted to love her so well that she forgot about the chaos in her life when she was with me. My goal in life was to make her as calm as she made me. That was all I lived for now; Giovanna’s glorification.

“I am. I’ll go to the ends of the earth for you, Gia.” I told her truthfully, kissing her lips passionately. She wrapped her arms around my neck and deepened the kiss, her lips moulding perfectly into mine. I sighed, glad I still had her with me.

“I love you, Mr. Yves.” She said against my lips, pulling away to look at me with admiration. I gave the same expression, taking her soft lips once more. Almost immediately, we were broken apart by Pietro interrupting our moment. I kept her close to me but paid attention to him, wanting to know the next action to take. I figured they were going to leave me alone after the message was delivered, so I didn’t worry.

“I can’t say I’m happy with you marrying outside our lifestyle, Gia.” A gruff voice spoke, making Giovanna wrap her arms tightly around me. I couldn’t see who was speaking, but from the tone of his voice and his cultural profiling, I suppose he was her father.

“I love him, papa and he loves me too. He faced the Russian mafia for me.” She complained, clutching my head tightly. I remained quiet, trying to read the situation as it progressed.

“I’m afraid I can’t let you be with him. He is not experienced in our ways of life. If all comes to worst and I die, who will take care of the business?” He reasoned, making my eyes crack open a bit, thankfully hidden by Giovanna’s chest. I shrugged off the feeling of impending danger that fogged my mind, knowing she was never going to, since her brother was also going to run the family business instead.

“Pietro is more than capable!” She yelled with a shaky voice, not wanting to let go. I, on the other hand, just realized that Giovanna was in fact bad news, and all the talk about loving her despite her past was shit at this point.

“Yes, but you’re my baby girl. You never disappoint me- except now.” He stated, laughing. I was panicking under Giovanna, who had followed her father through a dark tunnel of humour. I just saw the future in front of my face, the police arresting them and I used an accomplice in seconds. I didn’t need the drama or danger, no matter how much I loved Giovanna. It was better to be heartbroken than dead.

“What message did Igor Bortsov have for my father?” Giovanna asked, pulling away to look down at me. I tried to hide the fear in my eyes but failed woefully. She looked forward at her brother, who also noticed the discomfort on my face. We stayed in silence for a few seconds before he sighed and reached behind him. For what felt like the tenth time today, a gun was pointed at me. After my crazy morning, I wasn’t even phased. I knew he wasn’t going to make the shot if Giovanna was seated in my lap, for fear that he’d hurt her.

“Pietro, what are you doing?” She yelled at the older man, not even scared of the weapon in his hand.

“He’s a liability. If Bortsov wants any kind of information from him, he’ll crack. We can’t risk being exposed because of someone you think you love.” Her father explained, making me sigh in exhaustion. I wanted to be excluded from this more than anyone else. It wasn’t something I found amusing nor did I support any of it. Dealing drugs and coordinating illegal activities was wrong, no matter who did it.

“I do love Raphael, papa! Give me a chance to convince him. Just a few days.” She pleaded, even clambering out of my lap to the floor so she could beg, on her knees. Pietro looked to be in thought before he lowered his gun from me, staring at his sister on the floor. I was dumbfounded, only remaining quiet and watching the family interact, as I didn’t want to say anything that would get me killed; especially since I was now vulnerable.

“You’ve never begged before, Gia. You usually scream like a bitch until you get what you want.” Pietro laughed, using his gun to scratch his stubble.

“Three days. We’re going back to Italia with or without him.” He instructed, snatching his phone from the table. Giovanna got up slowly and nodded, moving toward her brother. It happened so fast, I didn’t catch it. I only saw Pietro clutching his cheek in pain before he recoiled to give a slap back to Giovanna. My fatigued body moved before my brain did and I took Giovanna into my arms, saving her from harm’s way. Pietro might have had a gun but I definitely had bodily advantage. I stood protectively in front of Giovanna, assuring her safety even though I was beyond disappointed in her from keeping this crucial detail of her life from me. But if I was being honest, I would have continued our relationship if she had told me beforehand. And even now, I couldn’t imagine being away from her as much as I tried. Which was why I was faced nose to nose with a gun, glaring at the person that held it.

“And who the fuck does this French boy think he is?” Pietro spat, still not shooting but having a very firm grip on the handle.

“Leave. Right now, or I’ll kick your ass.” I warned, making his hand shake in annoyance before he slowly let down the gun and glaring harshly at the sound of his father’s voice.

“Make sure you come home with him, Gia.” Giovanna’s father said to no one in particular but Giovanna gripped my shirt tightly and pulled me away from the steaming Pietro. I wasn’t angry, but so much adrenaline was flowing through my body, I was sure I was going to knock his teeth in, if given the chance. Also, I needed someone to take out the aggression from this morning. If he made one threatening gesture to my fiancée, I was going to mess him up.

“I apologize for my children’s behaviour. They’re so spoilt, they don’t know how to act around strangers.” The older man said. I ignored him, keeping an eye on Giovanna’s crazy brother. He huffed and spat on the floor before walking past me, and out of my home. I turned around to Giovanna, looking at her teary eyes. She was scared, I could see. I found myself being equally as terrified when my adrenaline levels came down and reality dawned on me.

“I’m so sorry, Orsetto. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.” She whimpered, holding my face in her hands. I wasted no time pulling her into my arms and hugging her tightly, not wanting to think about all of this but spend precious time holding my darling, while I could.