Chapter 124 Day off - Bella

Chapter 124 Day off - Bella
"Your father is worried about you."
I drop the spoon in my cereal bowl, and look up at my mother who is busy tidying the kitchen. I worked until closing time last night, and like the true whore that I am, I took a cab to Elio's place. Only, he wasn't there.
The door was open, though, and I went inside, found it empty, but there was a note and a key for me with instructions on how to disable the security system.
I don't know what to make of that.
And why the fuck is he always leaving the damn door open? He was assaulted, should he not be scared of something like that happening again? And he's in the damn mafia, he's moving like he's invincible.
Typical fucking Elio behavior.
"What is he worried about?" Funny, he didn't mention anything to me, probably couldn't wait to get home and tell her something.
"The fact that you're going out every single night." She looks at me with a judmental look in her eyes.
I love my family. We do everything for one another, but lets just say they could sometimes be invasive.
"I'm twenty-two, Ma, I think I can go out whenever I want." I pick up my spoon again.
I've never regretted staying with my family. I don't need to stay here for financial reasons, I'm staying because I love it. I love Ma's hovering lile I'm still a little child. My siblings say I'm spoilt, and they're not wrong. They also didn't bother staying behind and help with the restaurant. I don't blame them. Dad always said we should find our own lives, but I just wanted to stay with them.
"I know, Bella." She sighs. "I've been telling your father that you are more than capable of taking care of yourself. But you know how he is, you're his baby girl."
I don't think my parents got the little princess that they always wanted when they had me. My older two siblings are male, so when I came along, they were very happy, dressing me up in pink and frills. However, I like black, looking more like a punk rock singer than the feminine girl they desired. And yes, I can take care of myself ever since my oldest brother showed me how to punch someone in the face.
I sigh deeply. We've had this conversation countless times before. "Maybe in the next lifetime he wouldn't worry so much."
"Your father will never stop worrying about you." Ma smiles. "It's just a parent thing. Where have you been going? You're not doing anything illegal, are you?"
I try to keep my expression cool. I know they would hate it if they find out that I am working for Vincent on the side. They respect the DiCassio family, who has bailed out my family a few times over the years, especially after the pandemic when a lot of restaurateurs took big hits. But they do not want me to be associated with them.
"Of course not, Ma." My mother is definitely a little naive, especially since my bedroom has a lot of computer screens, and I have a record of hacking into systems. I told her I'm a gamer, hence all the equipment.
"It's just, the last time you were out so late every single night, was when you were involved with that Elio boy." Ma shudders while she's wiping the counters, as if Elio has an infectious disease that will wipe out all of mankind. "Your father didn't like that at all. He even warned the boy to stay far away from you or there will be consequences. Imagine threatening the mafia boss's nephew."
Everything in me freezes. "What do you mean?"
I'm even scared to hear the answer, because that would mean everything I've believed for the last six years, has been a lie.
Did Elio play me? And not in the way I thought he did?
"You know how your father can be." Ma makes a dismissive move with her hand. "He was worried you would get involved with the wrong crowd. Elio was waiting for you outside and your father had a word with him. He stopped coming around after that."
I remember that night so vividly. I texted him when he didn't show up, then the next day I caught him with Chloe. Everything makes so much more fucking sense now. Him telling me he loves me, then the cheating, and Chloe telling me it was all for show.
Elio never betrayed me.
I get up quickly, ignoring Ma shouting after me, and I get dressed in record time, not even wearing my usual makeup, or taking a shower first before I grab the keys to my car and get out of there.
Elio might be a menace, but he's a habit of creature, and I find him exactly where I thought he'd be, training at the boxing club.
I try not looking at the way his hair is wet from the sweat, looking extremely cute with it plastered against his forehead, or the way the veins are protruding in his arms from doing pull-ups.
He smiles salaciously when he spots me storming towards him. "Well, well, well, looks like someone missed me."
His eyes go over my attire that probably looks very unlike me.
"Don't bullshit me, DiCassio." I narrow my eyes at him, my tone calm when inside I'm seething. He could have told me what was going on. Instead he lied to me, and he broke my fucking heart.
"Ooh, calling me by the last name, must be special." I want to slap the grin from his boyish face, but that won't get me to the truth.
"What happened the night before I caught you with Chloe in the bathroom?" I cut right to the chase, because I have no time for bullshit.
The smile on his face falters, and he looks around the mostly empty gym. "What do you mean? Nothing happened."
"Quit fucking lying to me Elio!" I'm about to lose my temper, and he knows that never looks good.
I let him grab me by the elbow, and lead me to the bathroom.
How fucking ironic.