From Heart With Hate

A Knife?Are You Flirting?

"What happened 20 years ago?"

I rolled over and looked into his eyes, placing my arms on his chest. His eyebrows frowned as if he was trying to recall something deep down from his memory.

"Your father Luca Bernardino was a crooked man; maybe that is why our fathers were childhood pals. He was crazy over his father's second wife, Niccolo's mother, Andrea. He grew angrier as the days passed, for he couldn't woo her. The man divorced your mother for Andrea, but she didn't accept him. All that felt like an insult to his 'manhood', and finally, he killed her."

"So your father killed my mother too?"

"He wanted revenge, so he killed your mother just like your father killed the love of his life; you were just a few months old, so he gave you to your mother's older sister."

My eyes widened in shock. My aunt knew all this. And she wanted me to go to Germany because she knew my life was in danger. And all this time, I misunderstood and cursed her for nothing?

"When father was on his death bed, he made Niccolo swear on his dead mother to find you and kill you on the day Andrea died."

"But I was a baby; how's all that my fault?" I protested.

"This is how mafia works, Caterina. We kill the whole family if someone decides to take revenge in the future."
I nod understandingly. So this is why Niccolo is so hell-bent on taking my life. I won't let him kill me unjustly like his father killed my mom for a bastard like Luca Bernardino.

______

I was in my room getting ready for my performance when I heard a feeble knock at the door. I saw Carolina drenched in sweat, indicating she had just gotten off the stage. I smile at her as she enters and makes her way to the couch.
"Wine ?" I raised my eyebrow as I held the bottle in front of her.

"Yes, sir ." She chuckles as I fill our glasses, clicking them before taking a sip.

"You look happy today." She chirped.

"I'm always happy." I shrugged lightly as I sipped the beverage.

"I thought you're happy 'coz you're leaving today."

Leaving?

My eyes widened as I checked the calendar behind me—28th November.

I will bring you back a month before the day I kill you.

I couldn't believe I was going to leave this place today. The seven months I spent here was genuinely the best time of my life. Never in my life, I've felt so powerful and happy. I still remember the day I came here, so naïve and weak. My lips twitch into a smile on remembering my first performance. My journey from Caterina Angelo to Nikki Valentine. Oh, how I am going to miss this place. The Penthouse Club.

Suddenly the door opens, revealing Alessandro's bodyguard, Vinci.

"How many times do I've to tell you to knock the dog?"

He rolled his eyes.
"Sir wants to meet you now."

"Now? What about the performance ?"

"It's cancelled." He said as he closed the door behind him.

Niccolò

"How about I return your money?"
Alessandro cried out in frustration.

"I am here to bring her back; unless you don't want to die, you won't come in my way," I warned him.

"But-"

"ENOUGH, bring her to me RIGHT NOW."

He sighed, accepting his defeat as he ordered one of his men to get 'Nikki Valentine'.

Soon I heard a knock at the door; my head turned immediately, my eyes wanting to see her after so long. I accept I have seen her from the cameras installed quite a few times before, but this felt different.

She looked almost unrecognisable with that blonde hair and green lenses. She looked curvier than she used to be—her pierced nipples peeked out of her golden bralette, turning me on.

Her eyebrows raised slightly in amusement when our eyes met briefly before she broke the contact and turned towards Alessandro.

"I heard you cancelled my performance today." Her voice was raspy, like she had a sour throat.
She snatched Alessandro's glass and sat beside him; their shoulders collided.

"Mr DeVille was being a little impatient, Valentine." He chuckled as he snaked his arm around her waist.

"Mr DeVille should have waited to see me perform; I am sure he would have loved it." She giggled as she took a big sip from the glass.

My fists clench in anger. I knew why exactly she was behaving that way.

"You have five minutes; get your stuff and get to the car." I threw my cigarette in the ashtray and stomped out of the room.

Caterina

"You're ruining your makeup, Care." I chuckled as I hugged her tightly.

"It's waterproof, bitch."
She hits my shoulders, pushing me back lightly, making us laugh.

"Call me if something happens, okay ?" As I made my way out of the club, I assured her for the last time.

I threw my bag in the back seat as I opened the door and sat in the front, feeling his intense stare at me.

I was about to put my seat belt on when suddenly he grabbed my neck, pulling me into the seat. He jerked my neck sideways, making me face him. I didn't close my eyes; instead, I looked into his eyes fearlessly.

"You have changed." He said it in a way like he had made a huge discovery.

"I see you haven't," I smirked, mocking him. I could see the rage in his eyes.

"Tsk tsk, are you mad, my love ?" I grinned evilly, pissing him off even further as his grip over my neck tightened, making me choke. I desperately tried to reach my jacket's inside pocket.

Finally, my fingers wrapped around it as I pulled it out, placing the cold metal near his waist. His grip loosened as his gaze went down, noticing the blade piercing through his white shirt as blood oozed out of the little cut I marked on his body.
His eyebrows raise in amusement as his lips twitch into a beautiful grin.

"A knife? Princess, are you flirting with me?"

A/N

I like Caterina more now

Did you like NicRina's reunion?