Mom was right. Sometimes, things don't unfold as we'd like them to. We often get frustrated when life doesn't align with our desires. Little do we know, it's for the best. It didn't happen for us because it was intended for someone else, and sometimes, even better things are in store for us, more than we could ever hope to achieve.
We spent a few more hours at Gio's parents' house. I felt at ease with Mommy because she was always kind to me.
"Mom, we need to go home."
I looked at Gio, and our gazes met instantly.
"Oh, sure. Take care on your way home." Mommy came over to hug me once more. "Visit us frequently, alright? Our door is always open for you."
I was touched by Mommy's words and also bid farewell to Dad.
We got into the car, and all the joy I felt disappeared instantly. Once again, it's just the two of us-me and Gio.
The fear I had momentarily set aside earlier, when Gio and I weren't together, resurfaced as we were alone again. I think I owe him an apology, but it seems he doesn't want to accept it. He made it clear earlier that he doesn't need it. Gio wants you to follow what he says, and if not, he won't accept any apologies from you.
"I'll increase your bodyguards. I will reassign Mariana."
He immediately grabbed my attention with his words. I glanced at Gio, who was comfortably seated on the other side of the backseat, looking ahead.
"W-Why? Mariana is doing fine with me." I was afraid that if Mariana wasn't with me, Gio might do something not so good for her.
"I will assign someone else. Mariana is irresponsible in her job-"
"Gio, don't hurt Mariana. She's done nothing wrong."
Gio turned to look at me. My courage waned when I saw how his eyes burned with anger.
"Don't cut me off when I'm speaking, Millie." He massaged the bridge of his nose and exhaled deeply. "I won't do anything to Mariana; I'll just give her a more suitable job. Guarding you is not suited for her."
I wasn't thrilled with his news, but I was happy he wouldn't do anything to Mariana. As long as it stayed that way, I wouldn't insist on what I wanted.
"I'm sorry about earlier. I really had no idea you had someone else in that room-"
"Do you know who the people I was meeting with were? You just stepped into a lion's den! You stepped inside a room full of murderous people." I felt the weight of every word, but Gio was still trying to speak to me with calmness and composure. I couldn't decide which was scarier: him yelling at me while showing his anger or this self-restraint.
But what did he say? Murderous people?
Gio shook his head again. He signaled to the driver, and I saw the partition between the backseat and the front driver's seat close, giving us more privacy to talk without worrying if someone was listening.
"Those people are part of organizations we don't have an alliance with yet. Meeting them is like inviting them to kill you."
I shivered at every word I heard. I am still ignorant about the mafia world. I haven't fully grasped its intricacies. You don't understand everything overnight! My life growing up was nothing like this, so I'm still adjusting. I had no idea it was like... that.
"I need to tighten your security, or else they will see it as an opportunity to attack or target you, especially when I'm not by your side."
When I entered this, I thought the only thing I needed to consider was whether I would cooperate with Gio or if he would hurt me. Now that I hear this from him, it adds to my concern that he might be planning to kill me.
"Millie..." I looked up at Gio, and I shivered. This isn't his usual expression, the one I see every day. There's something in that expression that sends shivers down your spine. It screams superiority, great power. "You're no longer just Millie Pearce. You are now a Locatelli-my wife. And I am not just an ordinary person; I am part of a mafia organization and the boss of it. We have many enemies, and many are looking for a way to bring me down. People will try to kill you, and they will try to attack you, especially those who are against me and my family, simply because you are my wife. If you don't want to meet your end, you will listen to whatever I say and don't challenge me, got that?"
Even the quickest nod that could have been my response to him, I couldn't manage to do. I just sat there, staring blankly and processing everything Gio had said.
Challenge him? I wouldn't dare. Because now, I'm not just afraid of him or my father. The list of people I'm afraid of has grown.
I gulped, attempting to swallow all the anxiety I was feeling, but it was futile. Being Gio's wife is like digging your own grave, waiting for someone to bury you alive.
~*~
I proceeded straight to the room. I quickly grabbed some clothes and entered the bathroom. I stayed there for a while because my mind was filled with thoughts, and having Gio in the same room would only further disrupt my thinking.
I emerged once I had calmed myself. I found Gio wearing sweatpants, which were hanging loosely on his waist, revealing a tantalizing V-line.
Gio had nothing on his upper body. One of his hands was resting casually by his side while he was talking on the phone. I couldn't hear a word he was saying because my eyes were fixed on his bare torso.
I could clearly see his armband tattoo on his left arm. 'Locatelli' was inscribed on Gio's armband tattoo in an Old English font, with some additional intricate lines that enhanced the beauty of the tattoo. His masculinity exuded even more due to his tattoos.
His back tattoo didn't escape my notice either. In the middle of Gio's back, just near his nape and shoulders, was a raven tattoo. It wasn't too big or too small; it was just the right size. The craftsmanship of the tattoo was so impressive that it left me in awe.
I returned my gaze to his V-line. I gasped when I noticed a tattoo there! I squinted to get a clearer view. I couldn't decipher what was written, but the tattoo was artistically inked in Roman numerals.
II•XXIX
That was the tattoo on his V-line. I had no idea if it had any specific meaning.