Chapter 39

Aliyana 'Have you seen the new La Crosse coach? He is sex on wheels, he can rub me up any day," Kylie says in her Southern twang. Her long black hair and deep honey eyes keep you entranced by her natural beauty. Right now, it is keeping me laughing, as she wiggles them in the crazy way only Kylie can pull off. But it is her light olive skin and feminism that really hooks a person. I recall the day when I met Kylie. We were younger then. It was months before we started attending University. She was dressed in a short pink dress and heels so high that when she marched over with Ren to introduce herself to me, I had to look up. When she hugged me, I had my face in her boobs. That day still brings a smile to my face. I never had a female friend before her. Especially one as famous as she was. Her name was always in the news, not often in the tabloids. The Bray family were one of the richest families right up there with Delroy, Stone, Bezos and Gates. Her father was a respected man all over the world. When he spoke, everyone listened. He was a ruthless businessman known for his smart mind when it came to business. I know because I did an assignment on him for my Eco class a few months ago. It wasn't long after I met Kylie did, she introduce me to Diamond. Where Kylie is night, Diamond is the star that lit her up. She has white golden hair, as long as my own and the biggest eyes that you can't forget, they are so blue. Her skin is so pale but it is the way she stares at something or someone, that leaves that impression which really gets a person hooked. She caught the eye of Ren and my friend was hooked from that first day. It was like a meant to be moment. I knew, he watched her and I felt it deep inside. Beautiful, forever. The thought of Ren causes that ache in that familiar place to pain. Reminding me it never went away. The pain felt from losing someone never goes away, it bruises you, but it gets easier because you learn to live with it. Sometimes, like this moment, it reminds you that it is never going to fade. Diamond is a known genius, but one with a lot of secrets and one of those secrets I know is the reason my friend is dead. I knew more than she would allow any body to see because my extra-mural activities might have been on hold for now but I had friends that knew me, friends that knew they wanted to stay friends. She rolls her eyes when Kylie takes her phone out and starts showing me pictures, I can't help but look at. Josey remains occupied with the gaming app she's been creating. Josey, I met recently. A few months in College and there she was at the bottom of the staircase. We became close and though her offer of becoming my lover if I ever wanted to swing her way was always open, she didn't suffocate me with that knowledge. Kylie shows me a particular picture of a zoomed shot of the coach's butt in shorts. 'An ass that tight, you needa grip it hard and dig deep," Kylie says in a husky voice as my skin turns beet red, knowing that Kylie has had sex many times. One night after Ren's passing, I visited her and Diamond. We got drunk on shooters and long island ice tea. The sex topic came up and my friend was very descriptive when I asked her what it felt like. She was also thorough with the different ways it could go down and how it worked. At the time I was still hoping I would get the chance to test out all those things with Marco. So, I soaked it up and took mental notes, even going as far as to research some of the stuff. 'What time did we say we starting?" Josey asks Kylie. 'Any time after we open the door, Sugar." 'Can I use your laptop quick?" Josey queries. 'Of-course, just mind the porn," Kylie answers winking as Diamond opens the door to jump out already over the conversation of Kylie's dirty mind. The two of them are so far from having anything in common. If you didn't know them you would think they were sisters and put up with each other. I knew different. I leave Kylie, Diamond and Josey at the mansion. Watching Kylie in her distressed denims, Jordan's and loose vest waving her bangle arms that were covered with bracelets and leather straps she called mourning bands, flirt with the guard in front of her door. I don't confirm whether I will be attending the party as I leave the house laughing. Truth is? I am not sure if I want to go any longer after hearing Leonardo was going to be there. I avoid him, like I wished Marco bodily harm whenever I saw him. 'Jere, you know if Papa's home?" 'Yes, Miss Capello, he is in a meeting with Mr Catelli." 'Which one?" Jere doesn't say anything about my million questions, as I have asked this many times before. Matteo normally asks me questions on top of mine giving me nothing. I normally proceed with a few very colorful words Papa would not be thrilled about hearing coming from my mouth. 'Marco." The name brings my nerves to an all-time high, and I hate it. His name just makes me mad. But also it is not surprising in the least, he is there. 'Can you wait for me to get dressed and take me back to Kylie's house Jere?" 'Yes, Miss Capello. Mr Deno Catelli will be joining your house too." My face gets red as I see Jere smile from the rear-view mirror. The people in the Famiglia are nosey, and because Deno was a Catelli news spread like wild fire of my not too personal or private platonic friendship with Deno. But then, nothing about that particular Catelli was private except for the conversation we needed to discuss. 'He is just my friend Jere," I clarify before I jump out of the car and rush inside ignoring Jere's chuckle. It takes me thirty minutes to change. Guilia and Filippo are gone out so I don't need to make chitchat which works for me because I want to get out of this house before I see Marco and lose my shit. Today my temper seems to be riding on the surface. And I knew it was because of the man who was currently in my home, down the hall locked in an office with my father. Papa doesn't leave his office, but I know he has been alerted of my arrival and departure. Barely 20 minutes have past since I got here. The bottom part of Kylie's place is filled with our Campus. 'We are so creepy, doing this." Josey mumbles as we both sit by the window peeping at Leonardo. She was sitting with the biology majors when I arrived and rescued her from making a fool of herself. She has been crushing on Linda Glade since the biology major helped Josey find her phone. But Linda isn't interested. Josey and I are in the same boat, except I avoid a confrontation with Marco while she goes all in. Either way, we're both aren't getting what we want. Or better yet, who. Leonardo says something and starts laughing. The guy is something to look at, but right now he is looking at a very fleshy brunette and her D-cups. It isn't the first time I imagine what Ren would do now if he were here. I miss him, every day. 'Do you ever plan on talking to his brother? I am sure if you did he might just surprise you. He doesn't seem like the dark and brooding type. I am sure his brother is the same. Still can't believe he is part of the Syndicate." I roll my eyes, as my knees remain planted on the couch and my fingers on the curtains. 'I told you I can't, he is with Camilla now. I am only half Italian." I don't tell her Marco doesn't talk to me any longer. Or that we kissed thrice or the last time he physically removed me from my door without so much as a grunt. I am short but not light. Some secrets just needed to remain secrets. I have no idea why I even admitted that I had a crush on Marco. If Josey tells Kylie, she will know exactly who he is and what I am going through. Because Kylie is in love with Vincent and just like me, he doesn't love her back. A hard re-sounding sting burns my ass that I almost topple off the chair. Someone helps me and I spin around to look at Kylie and Diamond who are laughing so loud. The music blares and other people's loud conversations drown out most of it, which makes it difficult to say anything and be heard much less have a conversation with all of them. Kylie tilts her head as the music blasts through the house with another song. I turn my head from habit while I begin to walk with my friends, and see two bikers walking behind me. Diamond cuts them out of sight as she gently puts her hand on my back and walks next to me. That speeds up my steps as my nerves go on end. What is Rosco doing here? I last saw him when I was twelve. The only man to ever leave the Famiglia alive. I know because up until now I thought he was dead. His long hair, shaved skin and new clothes don't make him a different person. I would recognize him anywhere, after all he is the splitting image of my uncle. What is he doing here? When we get to the black door, Kylie refers to as her ‘man cave', she keys in the code and we get inside. Dark stained oak shelves greet us as the lights go on, and the hundreds of ornaments adorning them from different parts of the world. 'Did you miss me sweet thang?" The unknown biker says as I spin around to face him. He has unkempt hair that looks like he jumped out of the shower and ran his fingers through them as a means of a comb. His whiskey eyes are small and currently stuck on Kylie. He must be the greener pastures Kylie was talking about when she said she wasn't crushing on Vincent any longer. Though I believed it for what it was, a lie. I said nothing. I take a seat on the lone sofa as Kylie talks to the man. My cousin comes to sit next to me. 'Aliyana, you look like you've seen a ghost," He whispers. 'I thought you were dead," I mumble. He says nothing but I feel his confusion coming off him in waves. 'Liya, want a drink sugar?" 'Yes, Hennessey." My Papa said Hennessey was a drink to be had when you had stress. Right now, I am very stressed. There were four guards around here, and Leonardo. Rosco was considered a defect to our kind when he killed off an entire family. The thought of that tragedy still makes me bitter but his loss makes me understand when a man reaches crazy. 'My phones behind me, put your number in and leave it there," I say without moving my lips much, a habit I learned from Papa. 'Knight, stop staring at my friend, you making her uncomfortable," Diamond barks at him as she walks toward us with two Coronas and I release a sigh of relief when I feel his fingers touch my back as he takes the phone. Diamond's boyfriend jeans are tighter than what I remember she used to wear. She has filled out recently. She hands Knight, as they call him, a Corona. Josey says something to the biker that is with Kylie and brushes past him. Kylie and Josey take the brown leather sofa, closest to the closed door. Kylie's easy nature dissipates, as she stares at my supposed to be dead cousin, looking almost bored. 'Jokes aside, what really brings you here?" He sighs and takes a sip of his beer, 'We're lookin' for YOUR brother, Vincent." Vincent? His name has me getting up and moving toward the guy in the middle of the room dressed in leather. 'What do you want with Vincent?" Vincent is a distant cousin of mine but he is a Capo now and a strong member of the Famiglia. He is also a second cousin to the Catelli brothers. This isn't good. 'I don't discuss club business." The man in front of me states and crosses his arms, trying to intimidate me. Marco Catelli is intimidating, Deno too. This biker doesn't scare me. 'He isn't part of your club. He is a member of the Famiglia. When his name left your mouth, it became my business." I glare at him, as I point out the obvious. It is my father's business and I am my father's daughter. We stand in a stare off. 'Why don't you go on and pour yourself a glass of that heat you wanted sugar," Kylie chips in. She has a knack for sensing danger. I stand stationary for a few seconds longer before I walk away. I go straight to the cabinets filled with alcohol and do just that. I tune them all out as Kylie tells them to fuck off in a nicer way. There are a few things that my father needn't know about today, but I needed to tell him about this. He'd want to know the bikers are looking for Vincent. Kylie waits for the two men to leave and opens up the other part she keeps hidden in this ‘cave.' My mind fizzles out and my mood, though it seems light to my friends, is anything but. Our day falls into an evening as Kylie entertains us about her encounters with The Satan Sniper's Motorcycle Club, and her brother, Kevin AKA Killer Stone who was part of the club along with my cousin which I didn't share with my friends. Ignoring the look Diamond gives me when I leave to fetch my phone from the sofa in the front room. I further ignore the look I get from Kylie when I ignore the phone call from Deno and the other one from my sister in favor of a glass of Hennessey. It's passing 6pm when I get back home. To say I am a bit tipsy is an understatement, I am border line drunk, but thanks to the likes of Gabriel and Mero I can handle drunk. 'Guilia." I scream from the bottom of the stairs as I slip off my peach pumps smiling at the light spin, I feel doing such a mundane task. 'Guilia," I scream again. My phone beeps and I decide to check my News Alert. My eyes are a bit squinty before I gather my shit up enough to actually read a coherent sentence. Billionaire Business Man, Marco Catelli and Heiress Camilla Moretti engaged I close my eyes as a million emotions flood my mind. I don't need to read the rest of the headline to know I won't like it. I knew it would come eventually. I am not surprised, even as my body feels like it just took a massive weight of lead and swallowed it. Marco can marry her for all I care. In a few years time I will have moved on. He is an arrogant asshole and I am glad I got to see it sooner. I hate him. My sister comes from the back of the house, my father's office. 'How was your day, I stopped by the ice-cream shop to get some chocolate kisses for you," I say ignoring the turmoil going on inside of me and the slight need to barf at the thought of him and Camilla together in anyway. 'ALIYANA." I have seen my sister's face like this before, it was the day I told her I was leaving for Chicago. I rush to Guilia, meeting her half way, drunk state forgotten. My worry is instant. 'What is it Guilia? Is Papa okay?" She crumbles right to the floor in a fit of tears and I bend down with her. Please God, don't let it be Papa. Ignoring the sounds of the men's shoes that come toward us. 'I am so sorry, so sorry, I said no, but Papa..." She is hysterical. I frown, thinking, what more could possibly go wrong? 'What is it Guilia? Is Papa okay?" I rub her back as she cries. Repeating my words as I pat her back. My brain racks up a possible answer to her hysteria, but even this can't keep the flash of words that just a few minutes ago, lighted up on my screen. Marco was engaged. 'She's getting engaged," The voice I hear is not my sisters, or my Papa. I am a bit more than tipsy, because it takes me a good few seconds to separate my thoughts from reality. My thoughts on Marco and his buxom fiancé. My reality is that said Marco standing right next to my sister and me who are both on the floor. Engaged. My sister is getting engaged. 'Ssshhh, getting hitched isn't the end of the world," I say ignoring Marco and the fact that his shoe is touching my leg. 'She's getting engaged to Leonardo," Marco voices when I still don't look up at him. I should have known that he wouldn't be too far behind. He has been here almost every day. And though I have wanted to hear that voice directed to me, those are not the words I want to hear. Wrong words, wrong time. I don't lift my head to acknowledge he is even here. I knew this day would come. 6 months ago, I would have felt the sting, but even then I knew. Papa doesn't like the Catelli's but Ren told me his father wanted a marriage between our families to happen. Guess he got his wish. 'We were just about to leave. I'll see you soon Aliyana. Sartini." Marco says standing there, waiting for me to lift my head. He will carry on waiting. Asshole. Finally, he turns and walks away and I let out the breath of air I've been keeping in since he stepped into the same space as me, crowding it. He takes something with him when he does. I am just not sure what it is yet. 'Come Guilia, you can sleep with me tonight." I don't ask her anything more, and my sister doesn't offer the words I should be hearing. I ignore my Papa looking so confused. I never told him, it is my fault. I didn't tell her either. I take the Chocolate Kisses and my sister up the stairs. I ate the box of kisses as I held Guilia that night, knowing that the next few months were going to be challenging for her. Her loyalty to me would be her biggest obstacle to overcome. My silence was set in stone. No one could know of Marco and I. She was my sister, and I wanted to believe our blood and bond was thicker than the dealings of a heart. I should have known I was wrong, very wrong. I should have known that my silence was powerful but also very dangerous. Marco Catelli didn't like to be ignored.