Chapter 48 Chapter Forty-eight
Nikolai's POV
"Look over there," Matteo nudges me. I frown when I can't find anything interesting. All I could see was just a bunch of idiots, trying to make out in the open.
My gaze wandered back to Shannon, who was still sitting alone, having those furrowed brows, when she saw Rafael coming out with Arabella by his side instead of Elena.
"What's there to look at?" I snarled
“Elena,” Matteo’s voice cut through my thoughts as he slipped a glass into my hand, my gaze snapped towards him instead of the crowd where I knew Elena would appear, if he was spotting her somewhere, he snickered, "You are so whipped," I glared at him “Gianna is gone?” I nodded once, then he studied me. “You look like hell.”
“I'm fine.”
“Liar.” I didn’t respond. My gaze had already shifted across the hall. And there she was. My heart felt a sudden relief as soon as I saw her.
Elena had already sat beside Shannon, their heads tilted toward each other, shoulders brushing as they laughed over something private. She wasn’t looking for Rafael. She wasn’t scanning the room anxiously. She looked light, happy, and enjoying herself. My eyes wandered to Rafael. It didn't take long before my gaze betrayed me, and then I looked back at Elena. The one who had caught my attention. She and Shannon were checking something on her phone, laughing hard, I guess she was having a video call, I could see Shannon waving at the screen
Matteo followed my line of sight and sighed dramatically. “You’re staring again, yet when I say you are whipped, you tell me...”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
I took a slow sip of my drink without breaking my focus. “Can you just shut up, or look for someone else to annoy?”
He leaned closer. “You’re becoming creepy.”
“No, I'm not." I swing my neck side by side, "I’m observing.”
“From across the room, for the last five minutes. Just one spot.” I ignored him, because something about her laugh did things to my chest I didn’t appreciate. She wasn’t faking it. It wasn’t the polite smile she wore when she greeted guests. It wasn’t the strained composure she had around Rafael.
It was real, and somehow, I wanted to know the reason behind the smile before I could think further, the large doors at the entrance opened again. Carson Moretti walked in. The younger brother of Don Valkor Moretti, who happens to also be Elena's uncle. The reckless charming one. The one who smiled too easily for a man born into blood and power. The one who didn't have to sneeze before girls fell at his feet. He is a notorious playboy; rumors had it that he is changing, and yet again, I wondered the motive behind it.
"What is he doing here?" My gaze snapped to Matteo, who was already fuming.
"Why? Do you have issues with him?" I asked retrieving my gaze from Matteo, back to Elena and Shannon. Shannon's face lit up, immediately he saw him, she didn’t hesitate. She practically leapt from her seat and ran straight into him.
Carson laughed as he caught her mid-jump, spinning her once before setting her down. His arms stayed around her longer than necessary. They seem close, I didn't know those two were but why wouldn't they? They are practically family. Shannon had lived with the Morettis for more than six years.
Then I felt it, the shift, the room suddenly grew darker like the air was fuming, my gaze tilted to Matteo, who was beside me; he was already cursing, as if that wasn't enough, across the room, Don Moretti stiffened.
He didn’t say a word, didn’t move but his jaw tightened. His gaze lingered a fraction too long on his younger brother’s hands resting on Shannon’s back. Possessive tension, silent warning, all I could feel but no, not Carson. Carson either didn’t notice or didn’t care. He pulled a small paper bag from inside his coat. “For you,” he said, handing it to Shannon.
"Chocolate!" She whispered as her eyes lit up like a child’s. She tore it open and immediately split the bar in half, without thinking she handed one piece to Elena.
Carson clicked his tongue. “That was for you”
Elena raised a brow. “Then where is mine?”
“You didn’t call me uncle,” he replied smugly. I laughed. I couldn't believe these three were acting like they were in Moretti's living room, not a mafia gathering.
She crossed her arms. “Little uncle.” He burst out laughing. The sound was easy, and genuine. Sometimes, I wish I had this kind of life. Life where I'm carefree, not watching my back, not scared of my own shadow.
He reached into his coat again and pulled out another pack, tossing it toward her. “There, for my favorite niece.” She caught it effortlessly and grinned. Then she did something that made my heart flutter. She broke it in half and shared it with Shannon.
Carson watched her with amused fondness, "You see why I say you two are such a baby?" He teased both of them, and Elena pulled his hair slightly, messing up his hair.
"Hey, stop that, you don't want these females here to think I am a kid like you two." He tried to arrange his hair while Shannon leaned against him, as if she belonged there.
"Hey, stay still, let me help you," trying to fix his hair, "and how possible is it that you could appear, here almost after the call ended."
"Because I'm Santa!" Elena rolled her eyes.
"Oh please!" They laughed harder
Across the room, Don Valkor Moretti pretended to focus on his conversation with the other men, but I saw the way his fingers drummed once against the armrest. While Matteo gripped the glass tightly, I smirked; it was my turn to tease him. I elbowed him. "Easy man!"
“What?”
“Stop staring.” he glared at me.
“I’m assessing.”
“No, you’re jealous.” he shot me a look.
"You are not turning the tables on me, are you?"
I smirked. “Am I?"
"Of course, you're." He scoffed but his gaze was back to Shannon and Carson.
"Relax. If you burn holes through Carson’s skull, it’ll ruin the decor, and you would not get away with it, because Moretti will hunt you down even though he also wants to rip his brother's hand off her.”
"You are mean." He whispered, I laughed then turned back to the table. Carson had taken a seat with them.
That entire section of the hall was officially reserved for the women, wives, daughters, sisters, those who aren't involved in the mafia world. A softer corner of a brutal empire, yet Carson sat comfortably among them. Shannon nudged him. “This party is boring.”
“Oh?” he raised a brow.
“I expected gunshots. Blood painted the walls. You know. Mafia aesthetics.”
Elena laughed. “The mere sight of blood makes you faint.”
Shannon shrugged dramatically. “That was one time.”
“Three,” Elena corrected.
"Was it three or four?" Carson added, and Shannon hit his shoulders. They both laughed again. Carson leaned back in his chair, stretching his arm casually along the backrest behind Shannon.
Matteo's fingers tightened around his glass, while I was enjoying the view, my right-hand man was dying slowly, I don't know how I was able to pick their voice from the crowd and music. I leaned closer to Matteo. “If you crack that thing, you’re paying for it.” he ignored me, while I chortled, watching Elena.
The way she teased Shannon. The way she tilted her head when she laughed. The way she didn’t once glance around looking for Rafael, who had left the party a few hours ago, then the doors opened again. Rafael walked in with Arabella clinging to his arm like ivy on a stone. I wondered what game Rafael was playing, and Don Valkor hadn't said a word.
Elena saw them, the exact second they appeared, but her expression didn’t change much. Just a flicker then nothing. She looked away, didn’t care, didn’t flinch, didn’t chase, just continued the chatter with Shannon and Carson.
Something dark and satisfied stirred in my chest. Proud of my girl. Matteo noticed too. “Interesting,” he muttered
“Shut up.”
“I didn’t say anything.” he defended himself
“You were about to.” He laughed quietly. Music swelled louder, and more guests filtered in. The illusion of celebration thickened.
Carson said something else that made Elena throw her head back laughing. Shannon leaned closer to hear him better. Too close. Matteo set his glass down.
I groaned. “Please don’t.”
“I’m not doing anything.”
“You look like you’re about to start something.”
“I’m not,” he sighed. I studied him for a second, then my expression shifted. Subtle, and serious, my gaze darted across the room
“You feel that?” I asked, he nodded, the air had changed, immediately the door swung open, and Luca Brasi, Arabella's father, walked into the room with Rasmus Salvatore.
Across the room, Don Valkor’s conversation had gone quieter, I could feel the uneasiness in his body movement, and Amara was clinging too much. Several of the men adjusted their posture.
One of the guards near the entrance subtly touched his earpiece. Carson and his group didn’t notice. Of course, why would they notice, when they have no idea how dangerous this gathering his?
Shannon was still talking about how she had expected more drama. Elena teased her again. “You’d pass out.”
Shannon shrugged. “At least it wouldn’t be boring, who goes to a party with just drinks and Music?”
Matteo muttered under his breath, “Careful what you wish for.” I turned to ask how he was able to hear their words, but my voice wasn't heard before everything shattered.
The first gunshot shattered the music. Screams followed instantly, glass exploded. Chairs overturned. The illusion of elegance evaporated in less than a heartbeat.
My eyes snapped to the terrace; they were masked gunmen.