Chapter 63: Ambush

Chapter 63: Ambush
Isla
I grabbed my bag tighter. Seeing her reminded her about the little scene she had with Dante. Now thinking about it, it doesn't feel so small anymore. As if that wasn't enough, she was here. On my first day. Here? Every form of words dissolved before I thought of what to say. "You work here now? That's unexpected."

"It's my first day."
"Ah, that explains the glow." Her eyes dragged over my face down to my shoes, then up again. "Or maybe Dante is the reason you are glowing. Who knows?" My stomach flipped, she was testing me.

"I don't know what you are talking about." I began. "If you want to book an appointment, you can just meet the receptionist." I announced, I tried to side track her , when she moved sideways to stop me.

"You must be trying to fit in. I never thought I would see the day where you would be working talk less in Palermo." Her Italian accent slipped through her words. "Let me guess, Dante put in a good word for you? Or did you sleep your way to his heart to influence his decision?"

I balled my fist around the handle of my bag. I kept staring deep into her as I see her eyes almost dilated. "You don't get to speak to me like that."

"Actually I do, if you think you can warm your way into Dante's heart. Then you have another thing coming."

"What is it you are actually going here? Because if you have nothing to say, I have to go on my lunch break." Bianca was tall and graceful, dangerously beautiful. Her hair was tied back in a sleek twist. Her makeup soft and expensive. She wore a cream skirt suit that looked like it had been sewn directly on her body. Everything about her screamed confidence and ownership.

"Oh, don't pretend." She said, stepping closer. " We've known each other longer than one dinner. You may not know it but it's true. I see things, Isla. I see the way you look at him. So don't play coy with me."

Her perfume was sweet but sharp, it made my eyes sting. "Bianca...I don't..."

"Don't worry." She smiled sweetly a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "The engagement is more than politics at a play. I'm sure Dante must have filled you in. Two families are aligning their strength as one. For me and him, two strong willed hearts are merging as one. Our families need each other. Dante and I need each other. That's just how things work in Cosa Nostra." Her tone dripped pity, but her eyes burned like they were digging holes into my soul. A chill crawled down my spine.

"I don't think he wants it. Any of it. You are just forcing this on him, driving yourself crazy so he would spare you a glance." I said quietly, surprising myself.

"Maybe, maybe not." She shrugged. "But he agreed. And you...well, you don't fit in the picture, darling. Not even a little." My pulse hammered. Bianca reached out and touched my arm lightly "Do yourself a favour and stay out of his way. You are new here in Palermo, new to this company and this whole new world, you have stepped into. You don't want to be caught in a crossfire you can't survive."Her fingers slid away. Her eyes softening, which was worse. It was pity mixed with something darker.
"Enjoy your lunch break." She whispered. Then she walked away, her heels clicking like a countdown. My breath refused to steady even after she had vanished. Something about the smoke she left me with, it wasn't normal. It felt like a warning. A promise.
I forced myself to walk to the far side of the garden. I sat on a stone bench under a lemon tree and tried to eat. I couldn't go to the cafe as the designers who were having lunch together were there. I didn't know if I could pretend to be friends with anyone, not even my bones were joking with fury. Every bite of my burrito, tasted like sand. My hands wouldn't stop shaking. Was she right? Was I in his way? Was I thinking everything? Maybe there was more to his marriage with Bianca. Even with that crack head of hers, her eyes carried secrets. I wanted to peel them off her in that second.

My phone buzzed, from Dante. 'Cesare would pick you up early. Traffic is changing quickly, don't want to take any chances.' I rolled my eyes. His hyper sensitivity could have a little off timing sometimes. I couldn't blame him if all he wanted was for me to be safe. It was a strange message but Dante never did anything without reason. I grabbed my bag and hurried towards the front steps. The wind shifted, cold and sharp.

When I reached the small walkway leading to the company's private parking area, I noticed two black cars parked across the streets doors tinted. Engines humming. Something inside me twisted.

Unease, danger. A familia feeling. I walked faster as the main entrance was a bit far from down the Street when I got lunch from. A man stepped out of the guest car, face partly hidden under a cap. Another man stepped out of the second, eyes trained on me with cold intention. My pulse exploded.

Ambush. It was an ambush. I stumbled backward, clutching my bag. Before I could scream, a dark suv screeched around the corner. Cesare, my driver. I saw my fingers, I had already clenched the emergency phone which had signalled him without even realizing. "Signorina, inside now!" My feet didn't move fast enough. The men were closing in. Their boots hit the pavement with quick, sharp sounds. I turned to run. A hand grabbed my wrist. I gasped but it wasn't a stranger.
Sicario.
"Where did you come out from? How did you get here?" His grip was firm and steady, pulling me behind him. He brought out his gun.
"Stay behind me." He said calmly, stepping forward like the shadows obeyed him.
The two men paused when they saw him, hesitating measuring. Sicario's voice dropped low and deadly. "Walk away right now. They don't have to be blood shed in front of the street cameras." The first man reacted for under his jacket.

"Tesoro, get down!" His voice roared behind me as my legs refused to listen. I closed my ears to the sound of gun shots. Everything began to blur as my heart changed his beat against my rib cage.