Chapter 75: At The Club

Chapter 75: At The Club
Isla
"I think we need to tell him." I urged Rosa, trying to convince her. "Keeping it from him isn't going to make things easier." I knew how grumpy he is when he finds out how much we are keeping from him. Honestly. I felt terrible, but then a part of me wants to hold on to it. Having that kind of power was going to change the little humanity he had left in him. I didn't want that, but then this was his family legacy. I couldn't push him away from it even if I wanted to. Rosa's reason might be that the hidden enemy would move faster while we were being distracted by Rafael but I sat with it longer. Dante talked about the government corruption, illegal wealth routes, and allies. He might be a target too. No one would want to have their can of worms hanging over their head. No one. Not even a mafioso.

Rosa sighed her hands grabbed the wheels tighter. "Do you trust me?"

"Yeah."

"Then listen to me when I tell you, he is better off. In two days he would be elected, and we've made certain his initiation would be smooth. After that, we can bring the cat out of the bag." She added. "For now, we need to party."

"The last time we partied, Rafael almost killed me." It was the first time I saw him, a splitting image of his brother but more daring. I couldn't forget it, it was the same day I found out I was pregnant with Dante.

"Well, this is safer. Carmen would be there." I grimaced.

"Who is Carmen?"Rosa blinked, her lips parted about to let the words slip through but she swallowed it. "Is she a ghost or something?"

"Technically no. But she's betrothed to one."

I chuckled, tilting my head in disapproval. I couldn't wrap my head around it. I figured. "She was given to Costa as part of his inheritance. A contract marriage of some kind sealed by blood. If he doesn't marry her, he will lose everything. If he does, half of the company will be owned by her family as a down payment of her dowry. It is the way shit works in Cosa Nostra." I figured this Costa guy was the ghost in question. After listening to this, I didn't want to know why he was called that. Everything about him was already sounding problematic. I hated the fact that women were used as a bargaining chip in these circles. Passed off from fathers to men due to selfish reasons. Inside my bones boiled by thinking about it alone, it disgusts me.

"That's sad."

"Yup." Rosa sighed. "I know the same happened to you but Dante's attitude was more calculated. It doesn't make it okay."

"No, it doesn't." I gritted.

"So this Costa, he allowed her out of his sight?" Something told me, he didn't. I mean, if he were a mafioso, then possession and protection are their sole duty to keep their properties in check, in this case, his betrothed.

"Let's say she ran away. We need to keep that between us, away from Dante. I am going to try to protect her just as I did with you."

"Why?"

"First, she's my friend. Second Costa is nothing more than a monster. They used to be best friends but life messed them up and turned him into this unrecognisable person. Costa is Dante's right-hand person. So..."

"They'd always protect their interests." I filled in her words. It was this code they live by that made everything so annoying. I watched Rosa as her face contorted into anger, punching the brake harder than the last.
"Protecting Carmen seems really personal to you. Is there anything you are not saying?" I asked, not pressing. She tilted her head, as if in thought. She stared at me, almost teary. Her laughter tried to hide it well.
"Yes. I was betrothed once. It was why I ran away from my parents. He abused me for months until Rafael came to my rescue. Killed him off. My parents tried to retaliate but were killed in a crossfire between them and their betrothed. I didn't care much, they sold me off to him because of some cheap contract." I sighed, it made sense why she was stuck in this life with her cousins. They were the only family she had ever known, the loyalty ran deep. Deeper than any friendship.
She smiled. Looking at her rear view mirror, amending her makeup. We arrived at the venue, the glowing lights filled the pool and the highlights of the sky. We had arrived. The music hit first. It wasn't inviting or soft. It was loud heavy bass that pressed against my chest. As soon as we stepped into the club, light flashed into low pulses of gold, red, and purple. Sliding over bodies, over glass over shadows that didn't stay long to understand.

Rosa didn't hesitate. It was how she switched from sad mode to happy mode in a heartbeat. We already met Carmen at the entrance, a delight to be around. "Come on, you feel the music from within the room." She said, grabbing my wrist, pulling me deeper into the crowd. I stumbled slightly, trying to keep up. Rosa was already ahead of us, weaving through people as she belonged here, sathe me with Carmen. If she weren't trying to show me around, she would have been far ahead of us by now. It was clear they've both done this a thousand times before.

"This is a bad idea." I muttered, leaning closer to Rosa so I could be heard.
Rosa burst into laughter. "Everything we've been doing lately is a bad idea. At least this one has music." We got to the bar, Carmen turned, her dark hair falling on her shoulders, her eyes were sharper than they should be for someone who just claimed she just wanted to be away from Costa for a bit.

"Drinks? Anyone?" Carmen said simply. She was too relaxed for someone who was running, yet she was deeply observant. She didn't ask. The bartender nodded as he recognised her. Or maybe he recognized trouble when he saw it. Three glasses were placed in front of us within seconds. I stared at mine, as something wrong had just occurred.

"I don't think I should..." Rosa shoved the glass into my hands.
"You should. Tonight, you are not thinking about Dante or Bianca or that cursed book." I rolled my eyes. She always knew how to bring the drama into the most trivial things. I stared at the drink in front of me, hesitating. I didn't wait, I rushed the whole drink in one big gulp. The burn hit my throat fast, strong enough to make me cough slightly. Carmen smirked,

"First time?" She asked.

"No..." I said quickly, thinning my lips. "Just...not like this. It kinda went wrong the last time."

"Relax." She said. "No one's looking for you here." I wasn't sure I believed her. But for a moment, she tried.

"You seem to know a lot about that." I cornered my lips, hiding my pity behind closed words.

She searched my eyes. "Rosa has already filled you in." She breathed. "We seem to be attached to men who are monsters in this world. I just need to protect myself or die trying." I tried to rack my brain, searching for courteous words. Then, there was nothing to tell her that wouldn't come from pity.
"I'm sorry. If there's any way you want me to help, just let me know."
"Oh please. You are a friend already but we need to forget our problems and dance to the music. I don't want to ruin a perfect moment to unwind."

We danced. At least, Rosa and Carmen did. I moved more slowly, more aware of her surroundings. My eyes drift towards the darker corners and exits. My eyes moved towards the men who stood still while everyone else moved. Something felt off.
"You are doing it again." Rosa chimed in appearing beside me.

"Doing what?"

"Thinking too much."

Isla sighed. "I can't help it. PTSD, I guess."

"You are safe. At least just for tonight. Rafael won't be showing himself here."
Safe. The word didn't feel right. Before I could respond, Carmen suddenly stiffened. It was subtle but quick enough to notice.

"What is it?" I asked.

Carmen shook her head. "Nothing." Her eyes had changed, they were scanning searching. I followed her gaze and that's when she saw him. A man near the far wall, watching. He wasn't dancing or drinking. It could only mean two things. He was either here for Carmen or me.

"Do you know him?" I asked, feeding my curiosity as the fear began to settle.
Carmen's jaw tightened. "No."
I scoffed. "You know more than you are letting on, Carmen. I can tell."
Rosa chimed in, leaning closer as we formed a tight circle. The music was blaring from underneath us.
"I may be paranoid but he might be one of Costa's men." She shrugged it away like it meant nothing.
The music seemed louder, heavier. The man moved, not toward them but closer.
Very close now.