Skyscrapers Fall |18+|

Part IX

| DAISY |

My heart hammers in my chest as I stand close to Vito, feeling incredibly out of place. I feel his arm snake around my waist and pull me into him, but I know it's not to comfort me. It's for show, to make sure everyone knows I'm his.

What a psycho.

When we entered the lavish ballroom, I could feel people's eyes on me, studying my every move. Men with their lust and women with their jealousy.

Normally I'd love the attention, I've always yearned for the spotlight, but I can't help the prickling nerves from taking hold of me. Especially after Vito explained how dangerous the people here would be.

We've only been here about twenty minutes and already Vito's been swarmed with men wanting to discuss various arrangements. Most of them wear red masks and a handful have blue.

I'm yet to see anyone aside from Vito wearing a black mask.

Just as my train of thought reaches the final stop, the man speaking with Vito finally acknowledges me, "and who's this lovely lady?"

His question is for Vito but he's looking at me, and not at my face. I feel Vito's arm tighten around me as he pulls me closer to his side, clearing his throat to divert the attention back to him.

"My fiancée." He says no more.

The man registers Vito's words and I can see the cogs turning from behind his crimson mask. He seems surprised. Puzzled, even.

"She won't be the only one, I'm sure," the man chortles, patting Vito on the shoulder as he makes his leave. The air feels cleaner once he's gone, like his presence was clogging up the airflow.

Vito seems relieved too, "I've always hated that man."

"Who is he?" I ask, my voice in a whisper-like tone.

"No one of importance," he replies, checking his pocket watch, "come, we must find Pigeon."

Pigeon?

I open my mouth to ask what on Earth he means, but before I can speak I'm ushered away into a quieter, darker area, filled with tables of men talking in hushed voices and playing poker. Many of them are smoking and doing lines of questionable powdered substances. I cringe. This is exactly how I'd imagine a mafia meeting to look.

"Vincenzo!" A British voice booms from halfway across the room, scaring the living daylights out of me. Through the sea of testosterone, a drunken man emerges, excitement bursting through him at the sight of us.

I stand there awkwardly as the long-haired stranger hugs Vito with irrational enthusiasm, swaying back and forth in their embrace. Vito looks anything but happy.

"I don't care how valuable you are, Pigeon, I will blow your fictitious brains out if you do that again."

So this is Pigeon. Interesting.

"My mistake, brother," the columbidae says, casting his eyes to me, "I forgot you were with company."

I smile at the man, aka Pigeon, and as I look at him more closely, I begin to recognise him. He was there with Vito when we set off for the ball. By the drunken state of him and the white powder around his nose, I have to assume he arrived here before us.

"Pigeon." He states, holding out a hand for me. Tentatively, I shake his hand but before I can let go, he pulls me in for a hug. Quite the hugger.

"I've heard so much about you," he whispers in my ear, quiet enough that Vito can't hear him.

Just as I'm leaving the embrace of this strange bird-named man, Vito pulls me against him as if by instinct. It all happens so fast. Alarms go off around the building and everyone snaps into action, racing for the nearest exit. Vito and Pigeon exchange a look before I'm hoisted up in the air. Vito carries me bridal style through the shrieking masses and out the building without saying a word, leaving no room for argument.

I'm pulled so tightly against him I couldn't possibly move even if I wanted to, his arms holding me firmly into his chest.

"Are you okay, gattina?" He breathes once we've made it outside, his eyes are searching my face for any signs that I'm not. Pigeon must have taken a different route out of the building because he's nowhere to be seen, it's just Vito and I. I shut my eyes briefly and attempt to control my breathing as I process tonight's events. It had been a long time since I'd heard a gunshot and I was suddenly overwhelmed with panic.

"I'm fine," I say, "w-what just happened?"

He swallows and glances over my shoulder at the building behind us with not a single hint of emotion written on his face. I go to turn and see what he's looking at but he stops me, holding my head between his rough hands.

"Are you sure you're fine?" He asks, concern lacing his eyes. I wasn't sure if he was concerned about me or concerned about himself, but all I could think to do was stare up into his eyes and nod.

"I'm okay," I tell him.

He seems to accept that and pulls his phone out of his pocket, sending a message, presumably to one of his men.

The loss of his touch sends me back into spiral, my breaths quickening and heart hammering as the gunshot registers in my brain. It all comes rushing back to me.

~ flashback ~

I hear three loud bangs at the door before it's forced open and several large men burst through.

"Daddy, Daddy!" I scream, watching as my father's grabbed and thrown onto the floor by two of the men, "Daddy no," I sob leaves my throat and tears begin cascading down my face, next to me I hear one of the men laugh at me as he continues to kick my father on the ground.

I claw at the man's legs, desperately trying to pull him away from my father, but he's bigger than me and easily kicks me away.

"Where's our money?" One of the men asks, lifting my father up by his neck, "where's our fucking money?"

My father laughs, refusing to answer the question, which earns him another punch to the jaw.

"Daddyy!" I scream, but I'm too late. One of the men pulls out a gun and aims it at my father.

"He asked you a question, what've you done with our money?"

When my father continues to ignore them, the man holding the gun pulls the trigger, shooting my father right between the eyes.

Bang.

The flashback awakens something in me I'd spent years trying to repress. I try to make a noise but all that comes out is a squeak.

"V-vito," is all I manage to say before I collapse to the ground, everything going black.

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To be continued....