Chapter 78: Chapter Seventy Eight

*Gabriela*

The place was surrounded by his father’s men, and it was leaving me feeling a little uncomfortable. My stomach was in knots and nausea swirls in the pit of it. Heading downstairs to get a glass of cool water I couldn’t help thinking how badly this all could go for everyone. I promised him I wouldn’t leave this house and I planned to keep that promise. But it didn’t stop all the worrying.

Both Maria and her daughter stare out of the kitchen window, both of their faces etched in concern. Ernesto and his boys were out in the fields with the other workers, so I was sure she was worried about her family being surrounded by all those men. I don’t blame her. I would too. Especially when none of them knew what was going on right now.

“Ah Mija, do you know what’s happening right now?” Maria asks me as soon as she spots me coming in.

I quickly explain what I could without spilling to much of what was really going on. After learning that it was Giovanni’s sons and Enzo’s father she relaxes a little. Drinking the glass I got for myself I couldn’t watch out the window with them and headed back to my room. Sitting on the bed, I rub my stomach where the tightness and nausea was still sitting there like lead.

A moment later I couldn’t hold it down any longer. Slamming the cup down on the little night stand I race to the bathroom and heave everything I had in the toilet. My heart pounding, my stomach churning, and my face flushed with unshed tears I couldn’t help thinking of the horrible things that could happen in the next twenty-four hours.

Rinsing my mouth out and patting a cool wet cloth on my face I head back. Looking back out the window slightly I watch as the men head back to their cars while Enzo, Papi Gio and two other men come walking to the house. The man walking next to Enzo had to be his father. They looked so much alike that there was no mistaking it. The other man was a bit bigger, bulkier, and was head shaven. He had to be the other son.

They all walked with a purpose, Papi Gio leading the way. Nervousness and anxiety swirls all within me and I quickly shut my door as if willing to block them out when they came in. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I didn’t want to face it. Face them. Sitting on my bed my mind begins to race. About the kidnapping, Dom disappearing, Enzo’s family getting ready for war, and I come with one conclusion to make it all go away.

I will need to talk to my father.

But I already know what the outcome was going to be. Nothing I say will change his mind about anything. He was that hellbent on getting me married to Dario Moretti. I wasn’t sure but my father had seemed off lately. He seemed more tense and impatient. But at the time I just didn’t care. Now however with everything that has happened so far I was curious. Why was it so important that I marry Dario? And him of all people?

And Ivy…why was she determined to get Enzo? Lord knows she doesn’t love him. Hell she used Domenico just to get to him. She knew my father would never approve her marriage to Enzo, his bitter enemy, and yet she was hellbent on snatching him up as well. There just had to be a reason for all this.

I tense when I hear the door open, and men’s voices talk lowly down below. Closing my eyes I pray they don’t come up here unless it was just Enzo. I hated feeling scared. But his father didn’t want his son associating with me any more than my father wanting me associating with him.

I jump when Enzo’s booming voice shook the foundation. “We don’t have time for that!”

He sounded angry and frustrated. Standing up I head for my door and silently open it to listen to the conversation downstairs.

“Calm down Tesoro. We can’t just barge in there without a solid plan.” Giovanni calmly states.

“You’re just a child throwing a tantrum like always. If you’re determined to get Dom back so soon then you’ll listen to what I have to say, and you’ll do it too.” The voice that spoke was hard and cold.

That had to be his father. He sounded just like hers. What was it with these warlords that they feel the need to speak harshly to their own flesh and blood? I didn’t like the sound of his voice and if I could never hear it again for the rest of my life it would be a Godsend. Their voices became lower to where I couldn’t make out the words.

Shutting my door once more I go back to sit on the bed, waiting to see what was going to happen next. I don’t know when I fell asleep, but I awake to a hand gently grazing the hair off my face. It was gentle and kind. Slowly opening my eyes a shadow was bent over me.

I didn’t realize that I had slept for so long as night had fallen, the sheer curtain slightly opened for moonlight to flow through. It was quiet in the house, and I blink my sleepiness away. Looking at the shadow I smile.

“I thought you were leaving?” I whisper reaching my hand up to graze his face too.

But then his face comes closer where the moonlight shimmered over it, showing me his features clearly. With eyes widening a scream was ready to be ripped from my throat before he slams a cloth over my open mouth muffling the sound. I struggle trying my hardest to fight off the intruder but whatever was in the cloth made me drowsy and lightheaded. My body became slow, and I was getting weaker by the second. I knew that face and it terrified me. Grabbing my throat tightly and leaning in he whispers harshly,

“Hope you had your fun dear fiancé, because the party is over.”

My eyes roll back, and the darkness takes over.