The Mafia's Flower (ON HOLD)

Chapter Twenty-One

Summers.

"Fiona, where have you been?" Michael asked, his grey eyes darkened more by the moonlight as they narrowed their way at me. I gulped, why did I feel like I'd done something bad that I wasn't aware of.

"I went shopping... With a friend."

"A friend?"

"Yeah. Abel? Michelle's cousin?" I hated mentioning her name.

Michael tilted his head to the side a bit, as if in deep thought before he spoke again. "And it never occurred to you to come back home sooner than dark?"

Was that what he was angry about? That I came back late? It wasn't even fully dark yet. I glanced briefly at my watch. "It's only past 7."

"And yet, it's dark."

"Well, I didn't know I had a curfew." I said in my defense. It was strange how my countenance had slowly morphed from fear into irritation. All this questioning was really unnecessary.

"Well, now you know."

I raised an eyebrow at him but I was sure he couldn't see it as he already started making his way towards the garage by the corner. I didn't even notice but he looked dressed and was on his way out. "Seriously? A curfew?"

"Why are you acting like this is news?"

"Because it is! I mean, I thought since I turned 18 that whole 6 o'clock curfew was history."

"Well that's what you get for assuming wrongly." The beep sound of his car sounded briefly, the sharp silver headlights beeping twice for a second when he pressed his car key. "Now you're grounded, for the next week."

My jaw dropped. "Grounded?" My voice was two octaves higher now that I was sure whoever was home could hear me with ease.

"Yup."

"What did I even do? I mean, it's not like I went out with a complete stranger? It's Abel! I mean, Abel!"

Michael's eyebrows seemed to knit together for a second while he paused in his steps. He twisted his mouth to the side for a bit, as if what I'd said only infuriated him more. Why was he in such a bad mood? And why was he directing this anger at me?

He suddenly turned and started walking towards me. "The fact that you'd even go out with someone and not tell me about it, is enough offense on its own." He said, pointing his car key at me.

"Since when do I have to tell you everywhere I go to and with whom I go with to those places?"

"Since you've been my ward. And my responsibility." I was about to counter that but he beat me to it. "And I will not condone you talking back at me. When I talk, you listen and you obey. Got it?"

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Really? You want to use the ward-card? Really?"

"Fiona." He warned.

"I did not even do anything!" I basically screamed, throwing my arms out.

"Okay. That's two weeks of grounding." He resumed his walk to his Benz. My jaw dropped again.

"Michael!"

"Three weeks and counting. We can keep going at this Fiona." He didn't even bother to look back at me this time.

I stared at him dumbfounded. I could feel my irritation morph into anger now. My teeth grinded against each other and my knuckles were probably white from clenching them into tight fists. For someone I felt like hugging and running into his arms all day, I really felt like punching him in the face right now. And I didn't even do anything wrong. Since when did going out with Abel become a crime? And what was this about informing him every time before I went out? What was he? My father?

As I stood there and sulked, Michael reversed out the drive way and sparing me one last glance, he made his way down the long driveway to the gate and left the estate.

I was so furious I didn't even feel like entering inside the house. I brought out my new phone and the piece of paper I stuck in my jeans from earlier in the day. Dialing the number, I waited for the three beeps before the receiver at the other end of the line picked up.

"Hey Jasper. It's Fiona. I think I might need a ride."