Chapter Thirty-two

LUNA

We both turned around and saw the one face that we thought we would never have to see again: Bianca, accompanied by Viper. I swore under my breath, and Giovanni tightened his grip on my arm.

“Bianca. Viper.”

“Gio, it’s good to see you. You no longer come around the house,” Viper said, smiling. Revealing teeth destroyed by years of smoking, and probably drinking.

“Well…”

“Can’t say I blame you.” His eyes strayed to me, roaming the length and breadth of my body, settling on my hips and my chest. “If I had a thing as beautiful as this, I wouldn’t want to leave the house, either.”

Giovanni remained silent, but he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer. I did the same. The closer I was to him now, I could hear his erratic breathing, and I knew that if care wasn’t taken, a fight would break out here.

“What do you mean, Viper? There’s nothing much to look at there.”

“Well, there’s more to look at there…” He nodded at me “…than here…” Bianca gasped, and despite myself, I choked on a laugh. Bianca narrowed her eyes at me, the promise of death in them.

“Do you think that Giovanni would settle for a nobody, a church rat such as yourself?!” she asked in a high-pitched voice. I looked around and saw that her question had attracted the attention of some of the patrons.

“Well…she is my mate, Bianca, so, she wouldn’t need to worry about me ‘settling’ for her. The only time I would have settled, would be if I had ended up with you. I can do better.”

Giovanni turned us around and began walking away when Viper spoke, stopping me in my tracks.

“Beautiful necklace.”

“Thank you,” I answered without turning. My heart began to beat faster.

“You know, I had a…um…friend that used to have something like that.”

“Oh. Really?” I knew who that friend was.

“Yes.” I could hear the smile in his voice, almost as though he had just hit jackpot.

“Where is he now?” Viper’s laughter rang out clear and loud in the room.

“Dead.” I fought back the tears that threatened to spill, and Giovanni walked us out of the hall into a garden through one of the doors. We walked farther into the garden until we got to a bench where we both sat.

“Now sounds like a good time to tell me what business you have with Viper.”

“I don’t have any business with him…”

“But?”

“He…he killed my father.” I could feel Giovanni stiffen up beside me.

“I’m sorry.” I shook my head.

“Don’t be.”

“Do you want to tell me how it happened?” I took a deep breath and narrated the ordeal of that night to Giovanni. How my father had called me, taken me to an empty pier, how he had hidden me under a truck, and how I had watched as Viper shot my father, and had his body dumped into the river.

By the time I was done, my body was wracked with sobs, and I was holding on to Giovanni for dear life.

“I will kill him.” That right was reserved for me.

“If I don’t get to him first.” I looked up at him and smirked. He let out a mild chuckle and pulled me back to him. We stayed in that position for a while, with my face buried in his shirt.

“Do you think you’re ready to go inside now? The auction has started.” I wiped my cheeks and nodded. He stood and took my arm, leading us both back inside. We were led to our designated table by an usher, and my smile dropped when I saw Viper and Bianca at our table.

“What are you doing here?” Giovanni hissed at them.

“This is our table also. You might want to thank your uncle for that.” Viper smiled a sick smile, exposing his blackened teeth, while Bianca just sat there, looking like a pretty snake, biting her lip and looking at Giovanni.

Giovanni sighed and turned to me, lowering his lips to my ear.

“If you’re not comfortable with us sitting here…”

“It’s okay. I’m sure I can manage two idiots.” He pecked my cheek and pulled my seat out for me. I sat and grabbed Giovanni’s hand as soon as he was seated. Bianca caught the movement, and I could see the fire in her eyes. The auction began, and I stared in awe at the beautiful pieces of artwork and jewelry. And guns. The pieces showcased made me want a gun.

An interesting piece of jewelry was next. Judging by the sounds from the audience, I could tell that the price was going to go crazy. The voice of the host rang loud and clear through the microphone.

“This piece right here…” he pointed at the necklace next to him “…is one of a kind. Gifted to Princess Tatiana by her husband on their wedding night, and worn by her only once before she was assassinated the very next day.”

“Why would anyone want to auction this out?” I asked in shock. Giovanni shrugged.

“I can’t fathom. Though, the Russian mafia doesn’t hold on much to sentiments or sentimental values.”

The necklace was a layered pink diamond necklace, with a gold circle holding the three pieces together at the front. Befitting royalty. I raised my drink to my lips and tried imagining something so majestic around my neck. I grabbed my necklace and thought about how they would look good together.

“We’re starting off with ten million American dollars…” Almost thirty hands came up.

“Okay. Do I hear a twelve million?!” Some hands came down, but a significant number of hands were still up.

“Fifteen million, do I hear fifteen million?!”

The prices kept going up and up, while I just kept my eyes on the necklace. I felt Giovanni lean into me, his breath fanning my ear and cheek.

“Do you like it?”

“I love it. it’s beautiful.” He lightly pecked my cheek.

“Do you want it?” I turned my head sharply and looked at him. I looked at the necklace, and back at him.

“Yes…but it’s expensive and…”

“Do you want it?” I looked at the necklace again, and back at him.

“But…”

“Luna. Do you want it?” I slowly nodded my head, and he smiled.

“That was all I needed to hear.” By now, the price had gone through the roof, and there were only ten hands up for the price of twenty million American dollars.

“Do I hear thirty million American dollars?!” A hand came up “Okay…going…going…”

“Fifty million American dollars!!!” Giovanni yelled from his seat, raising his board up. The whole room became silent. So silent that if an ant had walked past, everyone would have heard its footsteps. All eyes fell on us.

“Do…I hear a higher figure?!”

“Sixty million dollars!!!” By now, murmurs were beginning to rise from the crowd. The host looked at Giovanni.

“Seventy million dollars!!!” Giovanni looked over at the man, and the man on the other side of the room puffed out smoke and threw a salute.

“Going at seventy…”

I sighed. I didn’t want this to escalate.