She was different. Very different from the woman I knew her to be.
And I didn’t know if it was a good or bad thing.
Seeing Mira again had altered my brain chemistry. I had dreamt of it for so long but nothing could prepare for seeing her at the auction that night. I was completely blindsided. Her looks were not the only thing about her that had changed. Her deanor had too.
It was bittersweet realization.
On one hand, I loved seeing her exude so much confidence and carry herself like an untouchable queen. On the other hand, I was on the receiving end of her coldness, probably because I had caused whatever led to it.
My fists tightened around my steering wheel at the thought of Massimo touching her.
Taking one last look at the building she lived in, I sped out of there.
But as I laid in bed that night I knew that I wasn’t going to let her go without a fight. Mira belonged to and no one else.
~
"Boss," Tomas walked into my office looking all suave the next day. He was LA again. I knew it was tiring for him to go and back and forth sotis.
"Tomas." I said, acknowledging him.
He took a seat opposite .
"Mira is back in town." I told him.
He didn’t seem surprised.
"She’s with Massimo Ricciardi." He finally said.
I scowled deeply. The ntion of that motherfucker’s na irked even more now.
How was he even able to get Mira? It didn’t make any sense.
"How did you know?"
Tomas chuckled, like I had asked him a silly question. "I have eyes and ears everywhere boss."
I leaned back on my seat and watched him. "So, how co you couldn’t find her all this ti?"
He swallowed and I saw a flash of guilt in his eyes.
"What the fuck?!" I slamd my hands on my glass table. It didn’t shatter but there was an obvious crack.
He barely flinched but he got up on his feet and took a step back.
"I thought I could trust you man." I was hurt and I let the hardness of my voice show it.
"I can explain."
"Get on with it!"
"Donna asked to not let you find her. And to be honest, her reasons were valid." He stated quickly.
"What the hell?" My brows furrowed. "You betrayed my trust and you’re telling the reasons my mother gave you were valid?"
"Jace, you and I know Mira needed to be away from you for her own good. The chaos was too much for her."
"That’s not for you and my mother to decide." I gritted out.
"You wouldn’t have let her go if we didn’t do it this way."
I swallowed hard.
Yes, maybe they were right but it was not their decision to make. I felt betrayed nonetheless.
"Just go," I said with my back turned to him. I couldn’t deal with him right now.
I heard the door shut as he left and that was when I sat and heaved deep breaths. No one understood how dark my mind had gotten after Mira’s disappearance. And now that she was back, I’d be damned before I let her go again.
~
My phone rang while I was at the golf course. I was here for business talks but it was also a way to unwind.
I saw the flirtatious stares from different won as I played but all I gave in return was a stern scowl.
It was my mother.
I sighed. Ever since I moved out of New York, I saw her less. We only spoke when we needed to and now that she was calling, I could tell why she was doing it.
"Hey mom," I said.
Her calm and collected voice sifted through my ears. "How are you doing, Jace?"
"I’m alive. How are you?"
"Very well."
"Hmm," I humd. There was a beat of silence before she spoke up again.
"Mira called today. I take it you’ve seen her already."
"Yes." I answered clippedly.
"Don’t do it."
I frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"Give her the divorce. I know for a fact that she doesn’t want half of your properties."
We didn’t sign a prenuptial agreent so I could risk that happening. But that wasn’t even sothing that bothered . With several offshore accounts, no one could ever know how much I was truly worth.
"I’m not letting her go, whether she wants my properties or not." I told her plainly.
I heard her sigh in exasperation. "Here we go again, Jacopo. Can you stop being so stubborn? She’s with another man now."
My jaw ticked in annoyance. My wife would never belong to another man.
"Mother, you need to stay out of my business."
"Suit yourself then." She ended the call.
I didn’t let it get to . It was obvious we would never be in good terms even if I wanted us to be. I was the ssed up son and her favorite had been killed due to my father’s recklessness. And sohow she blad for it.
~
On so Friday nights, I stayed in my ho and worked like an engine. But on this night, I wanted to unwind. I had been stressed.
And as a plus I needed to get laid.
I missed out on the opportunity to do that when I saw Mira at that auction event. When my date tried to get cozy, I had my driver take her to a hotel and book her flight back to whatever country she flew in from (I didn’t care to know) while I slept on my own thinking of one woman.
I was seated in the VIP section of this club. It wasn’t mine. Since the last incident that happened few years back, I purposely steered away from my businesses that involved mbers of the public. I didn’t need any more dia drama in my establishnts.
"Don Romano,"
I knew that voice and every ti I heard it, it brought trouble.
I fought back a sigh. He didn’t deserve a reaction from .
"Lorenzo Castillo. I see you’re still in the habit of stalking ." I said smoothly.
He scoffed, "Stalking? You flatter yourself Romano."
I observed with a bored expression before facing my drink.
I had no ti for a surly looking motherfucker. I ca here to clear my head and not discuss any mafia rivalry.
"My father wants to speak to you."
"Your father?" I asked with brow raised.
"Yes."
"Why?"
He shrugged. "How would I know? I guess you have to et him to find out."
"Alright."
Lucky for him, he was smart enough to leave be.
The older Castillo had been trying to reach for months now. I was avoiding him and pretending to be oblivious.
First it was Caterina, now Lorenzo.
What did this people want from ?
Yes, we may not have co to a truce after all our back and forths but the attacks had reduced ever since.
That ant they had either given up or were planning sothing bigger.
I was sowhat curious to know what he wanted to say to so bad.
~
My flight to New York was scheduled for a few days later.
I hadn’t been there in a while and it was about to be quite a trip.
I had texted Mira a few tis and she either did not respond or her responses were vague and unenthusiastic. I wasn’t going to give up though. When I returned we would have a talk whether she liked it or not.
~
I landed hours later and my driver was there to pick up. I insisted on driving as I did want to be carsick.
A wave of nostalgia hit as I arrived at my mansion.
It stopped being ho after Mira left.
When I moved to LA, I considered buying a mansion there but decided against it. A penthouse was more than enough space for my solitude.
I heard the whisperings that I was a runaway Don. What these people didn’t understand was that I had let the one thing I claid to despise into my being and hurt myself in the process.
If that made a weakling, then so be it.
Mira made realize how human I was and even when I wanted to keep up with the hardened exterior, a part of still ached for her so badly.
"Where’s my mother?" I asked the staff who surprisingly seed excited about my presence which was now a rarity.
"She stepped out sir,"
"Okay let know when she returns." I said, climbing up the stairs that led to my bedroom.
I walked through the hallway and eyed the art pieces. Everything looked the sa. It just felt different.
My gaze trailed the walls until they landed on the door to the room opposite mine where Mira used to be. Her stuff were still in there and I made sure the room was thoroughly maintained in my absence.
I fought the urge to in there and went into my room instead.
Instant flashbacks of all the crazy things I we did in here, filled my mind.
I imdiately regretted getting in here.
Impulsively, I took my phone out of my pocket and made a video.
I thought of a nice caption for it and smirked as the idea ca. I typed it in, and sent it before I could change my mind.
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