Chapter 55 Chapter Fifty-five
Elena's POV
"I think we should leave now." I heard father announce as I darted upstairs to get my things, the morning air was colder than I expected. When I finally walked out of the mansion, pulling my bag with me, I stood beside the black car with Shannon and Carson, while the men finished their endless round of goodbye. My father stood a few steps away with Amara beside him, facing Don Alessandro and Rafael. The gravel driveway crunched softly beneath their shoes as they shifted around, talking in a low voice.
"I apologized again," Don Alessandro said for what felt like the hundredth time, I understand him, in the mafia world, it's better to have friends than to have enemies. "Last night should never have happened.
My father waves a hand dismissively, "I told you already, I'm no longer angry, you should know me, when I say something I mean it." I knew that tone, even though father was saying otherwise, when he used such a tone, he simply just wanted the matter to end, he didn't want to argue.
Rafael stepped forward, then glancing briefly toward me before addressing my father, "I hope you'll forgive me as well," he said calmly, "for following Elena's instructions."
My father chuckled lightly, brushing it off, "I understand," he said softly, "women could be a handful, but as a man you should know when not to listen to them, even when they are controlling."
I rolled my eyes, while Shannon snorted beside me, if it was left for Shannon, we should just tell everyone that Rafael was having an affair with that bitch Arabella. But I still don't have evidence against them.
"I will take note of that, sir," Rafael said, like he was one to be told. For a brief moment, I had wondered how I ended up blinded to most of his actions. Rafael was a two-faced man. Then the men began walking towards us. Rafael reached us first, and he smiled at me softly. The practice smile he would give me. "Baby, I wish you didn't have to go." I rolled my eyes inwardly. What a pretender. I knew he wanted me gone, like yesterday.
"Me too," I said softly, playing along, "but I have to," his face dropped dramatically. I pulled his cheeks playfully, giving a fake smile that didn't reach my eyes, "Please don't be like that, I can always come back."
"Oh, Valkor," Amara said sweetly, as they got closer, "they are missing each other already, maybe we could fasten the wedding, that way they don't have to be apart from each other." My eyes throw a dagger at her, who the heck told her to say that rubbish? I feel like smacking her head against a wall if that is the only way she could stop speaking nonsense.
"Oh Amara, things are not done like that," it was Carson who spoke lazily, the young man is always too tired to speak, "and my niece is way too young for that," Carson added.
"But..."
"Let it be, come on, kids, say your goodbye, let's leave." Father cut Amara off; she sighed but kept quiet.
Rafael ran his arms on my forearms, "baby," he said softly, "you should call me when you arrive in Russia."
I gave him a lazy nod, "Sure, I will" I said moving towards Shannon
Carson looked between us with amusement, "I still think you should all stay until New Year's Eve," he said suddenly, "it's tradition for our family to spend it together."
Shannon brightened instantly, "Or maybe, you could come with us."
Carson raised a brow, "To Russia? Nah!" He shakes his head
"Why not?" Shannon asked folding her arms under her bosom.
He ran his hand on his nape, "I didn't bring clothes, I had just this."
I shrugged, "You could always buy some when we get there."
"Like window shopping," Shannon added, that was Carson's thing, every time he visited, he never came with a bag, and the next day, the three of us are out on a window shopping.
His eyes lit up immediately, "You know what? I think..."
"Carson!" My father's voice cut him off. Dad knows when Carson says those words, the next thing, he is hopping into the car with us, "Go home to your father."
Carson pout, "Please, brother, I promise I will be good,"
"No," father declined, "you should go home."
Carson frowned dramatically, "The old man is probably scared I will steal all the attention from his girls." Carson was right, whenever he is around, we forget about my father, because with Carson, you could even flirt with a boy and he wouldn’t see anything bad.
Dad slowly turned his head towards Carson, "What did you just call me?"
Carson blinked innocently, then he winked at Father, "handsome young man, bro."
Shannon and I stifled our laughter, because we both knew that wasn't the word he had originally said, my father shook his head fighting a smile, he pulled Carson by the back of his neck, "you this naughty boy," he smirked, "run along," father said, "and if I hear that you didn't go home, I'm going to skin you alive including the girls you flirt with."
"I'm a changed man," Carson interrupted quickly.
Rafael snorted, "Once a Playboy, always a Playboy,"
Carson rolled his eyes, "You know you shouldn't badmouth me to my brother if you want to marry my niece."
"C'mon bro, you know I'm just kidding." Rafael wiped out visible dirt from his shirt. “You are a priest.”
"Better," Carson gave him, one of his Playboy moves, then he turned to Shannon and me, "I will visit Russia one of these days," he told Shannon and me.
"Bring chocolate when coming," Shannon said.
"Always for my baby," Carson playfully touches Shannon's face while he pecks my cheeks, "I will go on big brother." He waved to my dad, who just nodded to him, and with that, Carson climbed into his car and drove off down the long driveway. After Carson left, a few minutes later, we were on the way to the airport, the car ride was quiet, I stared out the window the entire time, watching the countryside blur past, and trying not to think about a certain pair of dark eyes or was it grey eyes, but the more I try not to think about him, the more I just can't get his face off my head and somehow the memories of his lips press against mine floored my head and goosebumps spread across my skin. I bite my lower lip, preventing myself from smiling.
The private airport wasn’t crowded, our private jet waited at the far end of the runway, gleaming under the pale morning sunlight, once we boarded my father gestured toward the seat beside him, "Baby, sit here,"
I paused, then glanced at Amara. She was already heading towards my father, the woman was clinging and annoying, "I think your girlfriend should sit there," I said calmly.
My father raised a brow, "Are you angry with me?"
"Yes," I didn't hesitate.
He sighed, his brows deeper, "Why?"
I crossed my arms over my chest, "Why would you say you want to pay Nikolai for protecting me?"
My father leaned back in his seat, studying me, before his voice came up, "I don't want to be indebted to that man."
"C'mon, Dad, that man has a name," I muttered.
"What exactly is going on between you two?"
My head snapped towards him, "What?"
"Yes, what's going on between you two?" he repeated his words, "I noticed something last night in your eyes."
"My eyes?" I asked softly my voice almost inaudible.
"Yes," he replied calmly, "your eyes seem to follow him,"
"Father," I couldn't help but exclaimed and heat rushed to my face, I turned away quickly and walked towards the other side of the jet where Shannon was sitting, behind me, I heard my dad chuckled, "you will find your way back here and hug me eventually," he spoke softly but loud enough for me to join, "between you and Shannon, I'm not sure who is more scared."
Shannon grinned, "I'm improving, Uncle."
My father chuckled, "Improving? You nearly ripped my hand off a few days ago." He raised his hand to show the faint red mark. Shannon must have dug her fingers into the back of it, when they were flying here, burst out laughing, while Shannon covered her face with both hands, feeling embarrassed.
"That was an accident!"
"Your accidents are dangerous," my father said dryly. He then tapped the empty seat beside him, "Both of you, come here." Shannon and I exchanged a glance. Amara sat quietly on the other side, watching the scene unfold. I could feel the anger boiling inside of her. If given the chance, she would jump on Shannon, beat her up, and then throw her through the window.
"Don't worry, Dad," I said sweetly, "Shannon and I will manage over here. There is only one seat anyway, and I am still very much mad at you."
My father groaned softly, "Don't be stubborn""
"I'm not."
"There is nothing wrong with compensating the young man," he argued, "it is the proper thing to do."
"Everything is wrong with it," I snapped. He frowned. "First, you say you don't like him," I continued, "and now you're treating him like some servant you can pay off."
"Elena!"
"That is disrespectful,"
My father rubbed his temples, "Elena!" His voice was full of frustration as he sighed when I wasn't even attempting to drop the topic. "Fine," he said finally, "if he doesn't contact me, then I will assume he doesn't want the compensation. And I won't bring it up again."
I blinked, then I smiled slowly, "Good?"
"Good?" He looked up, "Just good?"
"Yes!" I leaned over and kissed his cheek, "I love you, Dad."
His expression shifted immediately, "love you too, baby," he said, then tapped the seat beside him again, and gestured for Amara to move, "come sit beside dad," he said softly. I hesitated for half a second, and then pulled Shannon with me because wherever I stay. That is where my baby is. And just like that, Amara was off her previous seat, and it's just the three of us, the only family I know and wanted, and no one extra, but maybe, I had a little space for Nikolai and my unborn child. I choke on my thoughts, that was a wide one, as the jet engines started humming softly beneath us, I leaned back and close my eyes, Russia await, home await, but in the pocket of my jacket, my phone rested quietly, and inside it, one phone number, one dangerous connection that my father would almost kill me if he find out that I'm connecting with, still I love everything that man did to me, heat rushed to my face. I tried not to smile but I failed because no matter how far this plane flew, some part of me had stayed behind with Nikolai. I'm falling for him.