Chapter 8 Grave Danger
Parties are honestly so exhausting, I’ve been walking around, forcing a smile and talking to whoever Carlos approached me to. I’ve talked to quite a few people now and honestly it’s draining because each time they ask me about myself, I go numb, I have nothing to tell anyone because I don’t even know who I am so how could I possibly be able to tell someone about me?
At the party, I noticed that the majority of the crowd were Italian, which made sense, considering Carlos was an Italian mafia king. Though I had expected a more varied crowd, I guess this event was strictly for mafia families, leaving me feeling a bit out of place.
As the party wore on, I couldn’t shake the feeling of emptiness. There were no familiar faces around, and it made me feel like I didn’t belong there, as if I was not supposed to be there. I don’t have friends so I didn’t expect anyone to come on my behalf but I did expect Fiona and Richard to be here for me. They tend to always be there for me and now that they refused to come, I can’t help but feel like they are extremely mad at me that they couldn’t even stand the thought of being around me again.
Talking to a couple of other guests, Carlos turned to me and said, "I think I should give you some alone time now. I’ve been carrying you along for quite a while."
"I don’t mind though; I’m okay walking around with you," I said, even though I knew I was just trying to cling to some semblance of comfort. The intimidating men surrounding us made the atmosphere feel heavy and a bit scary for me.
He scoffed lightly, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Well, I think you should have fun. I have a couple of business discussions to handle, and I don’t want to bore you with them, so maybe you should just hang around and enjoy the party."
"But what am I supposed to do around here? I don’t even know anyone," I said, feeling a bit lost in the unfamiliar surroundings.
"You could grab a drink at the bar," he suggested with a casual shrug as if it were the simplest solution.
"Okay," I replied, glancing at the bar and then back at him, trying to gauge his expression.
"Yeah, just get whatever you want, but please don’t embarrass me or try to talk to everyone. Not everyone here has good intentions," he said, a hint of concern lacing his voice. It was clear he was trying to protect me from something I didn’t fully understand yet.
"Okay," I said, already aware of the unsettling atmosphere. The wary faces around me were enough to signal that not everyone had my best interests at heart.
Carlos turned away from me, and I headed over to the bar, the low hum of conversation and clinking glasses filling the air. "Can I please have a drink?" I asked the bartender, who nodded and turned to grab a glass. Moments later, he returned with a vibrant drink that looked like a margarita.
"It has alcohol in it, doesn’t it?" I asked, a sense of unease creeping in.
He nodded, "Yes, it does."
"Oh no, I don’t drink. Do you have something without alcohol? Maybe a Coke?" I asked
The bartender's eyebrows shot up in surprise, and he opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything, a voice from behind me interrupted. "Coke?" The man asked, looking at me with a hint of disbelief. He was sharply dressed in a sleek black tuxedo, his demeanor exuding confidence.
The guy next to him, sporting a brown tux that matched the atmosphere of the party, couldn't help but chime in. "You’re at a party, and you want Coke?" His tone was playful as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
Caught off guard for a moment, I hesitated before responding, "Or should I go with Fanta?" I asked wondering if Fanta is a better option
As if I had just cracked a joke, they both erupted into laughter. I was left sitting there, utterly confused, not having the slightest clue what was so funny. I glanced between them, my expression a mix of bewilderment and curiosity. The man in the black tux noticed my lack of laughter and abruptly halted his chuckles, his eyes widening in realization. "Holy shit, you are serious," he exclaimed, a hint of disbelief in his voice.
"Yes, I am,"
He let out a slight chuckle, clearly still processing the situation. "Oh, I’m sorry, I thought it was a joke," he said, his tone light but with an edge of sincerity.
"Why would I joke about that?" I shot back, my annoyance creeping in as I felt the weight of their laughter directed at me.
"Honestly I don’t know but why would you be ordering a soda at a bar? You should be ordering a margarita or a mojito," he said as if I’d made a grave mistake ordering soda
"I can’t. I don’t drink," I replied, trying to maintain my composure.
They exchanged a knowing glance, as if they found my innocence amusing, then slid into the seats next to me. "You seem quite innocent. What’s your name?" he asked
"Nala,"
"Oh, you’re the lady married to Carlos Mendoza, right?" he asked, and I nodded, "Well, I’m Brad, and this is my twin brother, Alex," he introduced, gesturing to the man beside him.
"Hi," I replied, and Alex offered a warm smile, though he seemed more reserved than his brother.
"You seem like a very lovely girl. Carlos must be so lucky to have you," Brad remarked.
"Thanks."
"By the way, may I ask how you and Carlos met?" Brad continued, clearly eager for more of my story.
I hesitated for a moment before I responded, "Outside a bar."
He smirked, "Now what is a girl like you doing outside a bar?"
"It’s kinda personal," I replied, trying to shorten the conversation as I recalled Carlos saying I shouldn’t talk to people.
I turned away from Brad and ordered water since there was no soda. I could feel Brad’s gaze on me, but I refused to acknowledge him. However, it was so hard to do what especially since he was sitting right next to me.
My anxiety started to creep in as I waited for the bartender to get my water so I could walk away from Brad and just be on my own. I really hate being around people, especially when I don’t know anything about them.
After a moment, the bartender finally handed me my water, and just as I reached for it, Brad leaned over and touched my hand. I looked at him, feeling self-conscious, and he smirked, saying, "Ohh, I didn’t think you were drinking that; I was just being tasty." He caressed my hand lightly.
I instantly pulled my hand away, and he smirked at my reaction as he took the water into his hands. Immediately, I turned my gaze around, searching for Carlos. I couldn’t stand being around Brad any longer; I just wanted to find Carlos and be with him.
I couldn’t spot Carlos from where I was so I stood up and started walking away, ignoring Brad as he called out, trying to get my attention.
As I scanned around the place in search of Carlos but I didn’t see him anywhere and just then, a voice turned my attention. "Are you looking for someone?" I instantly recognized the face; it was Alex, the guy who came with Brad. His expression was casual, but there was something unsettling about it.
"Yeah, Carlos. Have you seen him around?" I asked, trying to keep my tone steady despite the knot forming in my stomach.
"Yes, he’s outside. I can take you to him if you want," he offered, a hint of eagerness in his voice.
I hesitated, weighing my options. The last thing I wanted was to be left alone with any creep, so I finally nodded and agreed. As we walked away, Alex glanced back at me and said, "Sorry about Brad; he’s a bit of a weirdo."
"Yeah, but it’s fine," I replied, attempting to shrug off the awkwardness of the situation, though my heart raced with unease.
We stepped outside, and I scanned the area, but there was no sign of Carlos. I moved a little further, my hope dwindling with each passing moment. "Hey, you said Carlos is here; where is he?" I asked, turning to Alex with a mix of frustration and confusion.
Alex smirked, an unsettling glint in his eyes, and said, "I lied." At that moment, Brad emerged from behind him, and they both locked eyes on me with a dangerous glare. My heart dropped as I felt the tension thicken in the air, and everything spiraled downward when Brad walked in closer and said, "You’re trapped with us now, princess." The weight of his words sent chills down my spine, and I realized I was in grave danger.